Civic Duty and Hearing Loss

Heather Zahn Gardner photo

by Marsha Ward

Today I will report for jury duty in the county seat at Globe, Arizona. Lest you think I'm at this rather imposing edifice, I'm not. The modern courthouse has a far lower profile.

I'm terrified that if I get put on a jury, I won't be able to hear as much as I need of the testimony. Yes, I'm revealing a deep dark secret. I've lost a significant amount of my hearing in the last year or two. On my last visit to my now-retired physician, out of the blue he asked, "Didn't you hear that?" Evidently the electronic thermometer in my mouth had gone off, and I hadn't noticed it. Maybe I was daydreaming, or maybe I really didn't hear it. Whatever the case, he noted it in my medical record.

Actually, for more than twenty years, I've struggled to hear complete conversations, especially in social situations, where ambient noise may be compared to a dull roar. My children complain that I'm always asking them to repeat themselves. Maybe my ears hear slower than they talk? I don't know about that. I do know that hearing loss is impacting my relationships and other aspects of my life (television sound level, hearing all the notes I'm playing in church, etc.).

However, I can hear the clock across the room ticking. Sometimes, that is quite annoying. Especially if I'm having trouble getting to sleep.

You're going to tell me to get hearing aids. They are astronomically expensive. Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover the cost of them. I think Uncle Sam wants us to remain deaf, blind, and uncomplaining.

Okay, enough of that tangent. If I'm back in two weeks (and I'd better be, because I have plans for May that involve money already paid out for adventures), I'll tell you how it went today.