By Betty Goss

I was born in 1950 with a cleft palate and am told I almost died because of not being able to eat properly. I was in the hospital for two and a half months before I was able to go home. I had cleft palate surgery at about age 3 (the surgeon who did it ended up being surgeon general of the U.S. Army). 

I had hearing problems all my life and speech therapy through grade school. I always say that it was as a result of speech therapy that I do not really have a Texas accent! (Although some people would disagree.) I don't know why I didn't have hearing aids as a child, but I always sat in the front seats of classrooms to be sure to hear. 

It was much, much later in life when I finally broke down and realized that I needed hearing aids because my hearing was getting so much worse. The wonderful thing was that the hearing healthcare professional in San Antonio who helped me also wore hearing aids, so he could understand completely everything about what I could hear and not hear and also what emotions and frustrations I was feeling. 

That was the clincher. Had it not been for him, I don't know if I would have gone through with getting the hearing aids as easily. It was March of 2010 and I was 59 and a half years old. So it was way past time.

I got my second set of devices in 2017 from HearUSA, which operates hearing centers, because I could get a discount through them. I surely wish there was a more affordable way to buy hearing aids, and I am hoping I can use HearUSA again when I need new devices again.  

Both my younger sister Mary and I have had hearing issues all our lives, though she has worn hearing aids much longer than I have. Our father also wore hearing aids. Wearing masks has been a challenge as it is hard for us to understand some people, particularly if they have a foreign accent. We hope more and more people wear clear face masks to help us see lips and faces. 

I turn 70 in October, and am thankful to be healthy and hearing.