I am Guy, and I suffer from a hearing loss. I never quite understood why I was different until I was diagnosed as a teenager. After that, I was so scared of being different that I tried to mask my condition and act like everyone else. I had to work harder to understand people and I felt so self-conscious.
I felt ashamed and like I wasn’t good enough. I had to get that little hearing aid, and I was so embarrassed to wear it all the time. My family was supportive, but I still felt alone. I had to go to speech therapy, and it was so hard for me to focus on my lessons.
I was struggling to cope with my hearing loss, but eventually I decided to start accepting it. I started talking more openly with my family, and even my friends, about it. I was slowly starting to be more comfortable with my hearing loss, and I refused to let it define me. I started to understand how to cope with it and how to use it as a learning experience.
I found so much peace by continuing to grow and learned to view my struggles as a challenge. I didn’t give up, and I’m so proud of how far I’ve come. Now, I look at my hearing loss as a reminder to be proud of my achievements and always keep pushing for more.
My hearing loss will always be a part of my life, but it no longer defines me. I’m proud of who I am, and I hope that by sharing my story, I can encourage others suffering from hearing loss to never give up and to always embrace who they are.