Sometimes I forget that people don't necessarily know that Troy lost his hearing in his left ear almost 12 years ago. He was working at camp on out trips and got an ear infection which seemed like no big deal. This ear infection was a viral one, something they cant do much for to begin with since antibiotics don't help with viruses.
This was the summer before we started dating, while we were dating we went to a specialist for ears, nose and throats only to be given little hope of finding anything to help. He also went to a hearing clinic to have his hearing tested in hopes that maybe a hearing aid would help. They told him it would only amplify the sounds he already hears and not help much. Feeling a bit helpless and not sure how to offer comfort in this we realised this would be our normal.
I don't really think about it much now since we adjusted life in little things like letting Troy drive when we are together so he can hear me when I talk to him. I don't think he notices but when people are talking to him he turns his head slightly aiming his good ear toward the people that are talking to him. Big group settings are challenging because he cant tell direction of sound and often doesn't hear people trying to get his attention.
A little while ago Troy mentioned to me he had found an article about someone who had similar hearing loss as he does and that they had found a hearing aid helpful. I was all for having his hearing tested again even if there was a slight possibility they could do something to me it was worth it. Troy is a little harder to convince to go to a DR or anything of the kind so over or Easter/Spring break seemed like the best opportunity. There was no way I would have been able to convince him to drive 2 hours to go.
I am so thankful today for the advances in technology. After testing him they found he could hear close to 50% in his left ear and above average in his right ear. With a plug style hearing aid he should be able to about 75% in his bad ear with a total of 92% hearing from both ears! Such an answer to prayer! Troy is still not sure about the hearing aid, not that he is self conscious of wearing one. The thing he is unsure is the cost it is going to be to our family. We moved here over 5 years ago trusting God to provide for our need and not necessarily our wants. I am trusting that God is going to help us in this area of finances so we can afford this. Since he had to get the custom fit one it is going to cost $1895 for the hearing aid.
I am thankful that he will be able to hear better no matter what the financial cost.
