Inherited Passion
02/15/2023
My mother, MaryEllen, and grandpa, Howard, were both hard-of-hearing. My mom underwent ear surgery that left her with a profound hearing loss, and my grandpa struggled to hear for as long as I can remember. I still recall talking into his pocket where he carried his body aid—those memories stuck with me.
I started working with hearing aids in 1999 and I loved it from the beginning. I took all the courses and earned extra accreditations, including Board Certification and designation from the American Conference of Audioprosthology.
Growing Up in a Hard-of-Hearing Household
Because I was raised in a household where hearing loss was part of daily life, I’ve seen firsthand the frustrations and misunderstandings that come with it. I watched my dad, Ed, get frustrated when he had to repeat himself over and over. I saw my mom, who loved social events, begin to avoid noisy settings altogether because they became too overwhelming to navigate.
When Karen married into our family, I saw her go through the same learning curve. Her feelings were hurt when she thought my mom wasn’t listening to her. It was true—but it wasn’t intentional. Both Karen and my mom loved to cook, but the kitchen is an acoustical nightmare. When they cooked together during holiday meals, I’d have to stand in the middle of the kitchen and serve as the translator. Between the exhaust fan, clanging pots, and clinking dishes, it was no easy place for conversation—especially between a high-pitched female voice and someone with a profound hearing loss.
Turning Personal Experience into Purpose
A few years after I entered this field, I was able to re-fit my mom with technology better suited to her lifestyle—more social, more demanding, and more personal. I helped Karen understand that she wasn’t being ignored. And I helped my mom become more aware of how isolated she was beginning to feel.
That’s the heart of what I do.
I don’t just fit people with hearing aids. I help bridge the emotional gaps that hearing loss can create between people who care about each other.
This is why I’m so passionate about hearing health. I truly understand the emotional toll hearing loss can take. The frustrations. The disconnections. The feelings of being left out or misunderstood.
I’m deeply grateful that I get to do what I love every day. I get to serve other families facing similar challenges and help improve their communication, connection, and overall quality of life.
If you or a family member is struggling to hear, let’s talk.
Call us for a free consultation or contact us online and let’s see how we can help you reconnect through better hearing.