Before My Surgeries
As I mentioned in the "Growing Up with Microtia" section, I used a BAHA from birth until I was five. The BAHA buzzed and got misplaced sometimes, but the BAHA worked pretty well. Whenever I watched TV, I would wear the BAHA.
Initially Post Surgeries
Your Turn
Reading about the hearing challenges that I have faced socially, on the field/pool/court and in the classroom might make parents of babies with microtia nervous. Bear in mind that I'm just sharing my own personal experience. Without a doubt, I have had to adjust. Remember that every child will have a different, unique experience.
Also, remember that kids tend to be great at adapting and figuring out how to solve issues on their own. The most important thing is to have complete confidence that your child can achieve whatever she or he sets out to accomplish.
For a while after my atresia repair, I was able to hear a small bit through my right ear. It was good to have better directional hearing. However, over time I have lost virtually all of my hearing on that side.
Making Adjustments and Coping
At the same time, I have grown up and learned to make adjustments in order to hear people (or at least cope) socially, in sports and in the classroom.
Socially
Socially, I have a hard time hearing people. Especially in places like restaurants where there is a lot of noise bouncing off the walls and outside where there might be street traffic making noise. When I'm walking with someone, I always position myself with my left ("good") ear to them. I spend a lot of time spinning around to the right side of people. I explain (or remind them) it's so that I can hear them better.
Socially, I have a hard time hearing people. Especially in places like restaurants where there is a lot of noise bouncing off the walls and outside where there might be street traffic making noise. When I'm walking with someone, I always position myself with my left ("good") ear to them. I spend a lot of time spinning around to the right side of people. I explain (or remind them) it's so that I can hear them better.
Playing Sports
When I play sports, I am acutely observant of where my teammates and members of the opposing team are at all times. My condition has made it so that I am always extremely alert. Also, my teammates know to scream really loud! To read more about sports, see the "Sports" tab.
In the Classroom
Finally, in the classroom, I have a hard time hearing and understanding the teacher. Although I sit in the front row, I sometimes still can't hear what is being taught, and I don't want to slow down the class by making the teacher repeat everything. I've also learned that some teachers get really annoyed when you ask for clarification. I've learned to read the textbook in advance of class (and sometimes review it during class) and also do a lot of outside research, looking up YouTube videos and reading related material. For more information, see the "School" section.
Watching Movies and TV
I always have the closed caption on when I am watching TV or movies at home. It just makes it a lot easier to know what's going on.
No Limits
I enjoy sports, school and learning new things. Academically, I love science, especially Chemistry, but History is a favorite class, too. In my down time, I enjoy cooking, playing the piano (which I started to teach myself during Covid) and Iearning Sign Language. After school, when I'm not training, conducting research or studying, I mentor younger students at my school on scientific research and teach middle school age Rohingya children English by Zoom. The Rohingya are an ethnic and religious minority group in Myanmar. The reason why I refer to them as "middle school age children" and not "students" is that they are not at school; they have fled from their homes in Myanmar and are living in a war refugee camp in Malaysia. I've been volunteering at a soup kitchen for years - cleaning, chopping vegetables, cooking and delivering food - and I find it a lot of fun to work there, too.
Does my microtia actually help me to be more focused, driven and sensitive to others? Maybe. If that's the case, I think that's not a bad thing!
My "little ear" is part of who I am.
I would not change a thing.
Your Turn
Reading about the hearing challenges that I have faced socially, on the field/pool/court and in the classroom might make parents of babies with microtia nervous. Bear in mind that I'm just sharing my own personal experience. Without a doubt, I have had to adjust. Remember that every child will have a different, unique experience.
Also, remember that kids tend to be great at adapting and figuring out how to solve issues on their own. The most important thing is to have complete confidence that your child can achieve whatever she or he sets out to accomplish.