When I was about 7 or 8, my mother brought me to Columbus Speech & Hearing to get a hearing evaluation and fitted for the best hearing aid to fit me. Ann Wheat was the one who helped my mother get everything she needed for me. So we kept going to her, and Ann was always able to get the right things I needed.
When I was in high school, Ann suggested getting a cochlear implant (CI). I myself didn’t want it yet, so she fitted me into another hearing aid. When I was 20 or 21, we found out that I could get at least one more hearing aid, because my hearing was getting worse, and she suggested again to look into getting a CI, but once again, I declined. So, when I hit 38, I decided to take her suggestion which was in my mind for the longest time, I was struggling so badly, and I wasn’t hearing as well, and I depended on lip reading. She did tell me when I was younger that this was a possibility, and she was worried.
It took stepping onto a road when a truck approached, and my dog stopped me to realize I could no longer hear. I didn’t want to believe anything for a long time. When that happened, all I could think of was, wow, one special person in my life was actually really helping me, and all I could see was Ann saying look into getting a CI. So I went and had the surgery done, and when my partner and I moved back to Ohio, she was the first one I wanted to see and show her that I had it done it. I don’t think I have ever seen her with the biggest smile, and she looked so relieved to know I would take her advice. When I saw that smile, I wanted to cry happy tears.
I did have a lot of trust issues while dealing with losing my hearing, but now I trust her and CSH. I don’t think I will ever be able to find anyone like her.
Sincerely yours,
Ryan Sharp