Post by Paul on Dec 26, 2004 17:23:54 GMT 9.5
RHONDA & LEGRA
Just imagine, twelve years of age and your hearing is going and by the time your reach fourteen, it's gone. No more the sweet sounds of living, a child's laughter, the birds singing, and the patter of gently falling rain.
This is the way a young Rhonda faced the world her defective hearing slowly plunging her into a world of silence. Gamely she continued her education and then bravely faced the world as a young adult until she met her life's mate, Ross. Most young men when courting give their girlfriends flowers or perhaps trinkets of jewellery to win the heart, but not Ross, he purchased a hearing aid to help Rhonda once more hear the sounds that she missed.
They married and set up home and as the children arrived Ross proved yet again to be an exceptional person. Rhonda was unable to hear the children so it was Ross who acted as the ears of the family and got up for the children during the night.
One day while visiting a doctor she was told she may as well suck a dummy as wear a hearing aid. The deterioration in her hearing was so bad the hearing device was useless. Rhonda then got herself a dog and trained it to advise her when the phone rang, the kettle boiled or someone knocked at the door. The dog helped but the profound deafness she suffered was having a detrimental effect on her self- esteem.
She had the feeling that people were talking about her and had to deal with bemused shop assistants who had spoken to her while she wasn't looking, a puzzled look on their face while waiting for an answer. In addition she often gave wrong answers to questions, totally misreading the word formation on people’s lips. Then confusion in the family when communicating with them, brought out the writing pad and pen.
Rhonda persevered through the silent years with the aid of one dog, then another and finally Legra, another 'Mutly' who she versed in the art of being her ears. Her dogs were her ears and companions and in all the years her husband worked long hours she never was afraid of being on her own, her trusty dogs always letting her know if something was amiss.
The good news is that Rhonda has now had an ear implant and when it was turned on she heard the voice of her husband for the first time in years. When she returned home she heard the long forgotten sound of a dove cooing, the telephone, Legra barking and his paws tapping away as he crossed the lino floor in the kitchen. So long was it since she had heard sounds she had to ask her husband what one sound was, it was rain falling on the roof of the verandah.
Rhonda Smith's confidence and self esteem have returned in volumes. She is a happy person with a zest for life and her extended family. Once again she is a person who admits talking to her dogs, telling them that she was counting on them and needed their help. Rhonda also told me the story of another deaf lady who was involved with a dog, cat and horse. The lady told Rhonda she would spend hours talking to all three animals, telling them that she was deaf and they would have to help her. It may seem funny to some, but do you know, talking to your animals’ works.
In a strange twist, Rhonda has become the ears for her dog Legra, who is now fourteen years old and almost deaf. During the interview the old dog lay sleeping on the carpet close to Rhonda's chair, content in the knowledge her life's work is done and she can spend her remaining years close to the person she cares for most.
©Paul Springthorpe, Media Production Services. Extracted from ‘It’s a Dog’s Life’ 1990. All rights reserved.
Just imagine, twelve years of age and your hearing is going and by the time your reach fourteen, it's gone. No more the sweet sounds of living, a child's laughter, the birds singing, and the patter of gently falling rain.
This is the way a young Rhonda faced the world her defective hearing slowly plunging her into a world of silence. Gamely she continued her education and then bravely faced the world as a young adult until she met her life's mate, Ross. Most young men when courting give their girlfriends flowers or perhaps trinkets of jewellery to win the heart, but not Ross, he purchased a hearing aid to help Rhonda once more hear the sounds that she missed.
They married and set up home and as the children arrived Ross proved yet again to be an exceptional person. Rhonda was unable to hear the children so it was Ross who acted as the ears of the family and got up for the children during the night.
One day while visiting a doctor she was told she may as well suck a dummy as wear a hearing aid. The deterioration in her hearing was so bad the hearing device was useless. Rhonda then got herself a dog and trained it to advise her when the phone rang, the kettle boiled or someone knocked at the door. The dog helped but the profound deafness she suffered was having a detrimental effect on her self- esteem.
She had the feeling that people were talking about her and had to deal with bemused shop assistants who had spoken to her while she wasn't looking, a puzzled look on their face while waiting for an answer. In addition she often gave wrong answers to questions, totally misreading the word formation on people’s lips. Then confusion in the family when communicating with them, brought out the writing pad and pen.
Rhonda persevered through the silent years with the aid of one dog, then another and finally Legra, another 'Mutly' who she versed in the art of being her ears. Her dogs were her ears and companions and in all the years her husband worked long hours she never was afraid of being on her own, her trusty dogs always letting her know if something was amiss.
The good news is that Rhonda has now had an ear implant and when it was turned on she heard the voice of her husband for the first time in years. When she returned home she heard the long forgotten sound of a dove cooing, the telephone, Legra barking and his paws tapping away as he crossed the lino floor in the kitchen. So long was it since she had heard sounds she had to ask her husband what one sound was, it was rain falling on the roof of the verandah.
Rhonda Smith's confidence and self esteem have returned in volumes. She is a happy person with a zest for life and her extended family. Once again she is a person who admits talking to her dogs, telling them that she was counting on them and needed their help. Rhonda also told me the story of another deaf lady who was involved with a dog, cat and horse. The lady told Rhonda she would spend hours talking to all three animals, telling them that she was deaf and they would have to help her. It may seem funny to some, but do you know, talking to your animals’ works.
In a strange twist, Rhonda has become the ears for her dog Legra, who is now fourteen years old and almost deaf. During the interview the old dog lay sleeping on the carpet close to Rhonda's chair, content in the knowledge her life's work is done and she can spend her remaining years close to the person she cares for most.
©Paul Springthorpe, Media Production Services. Extracted from ‘It’s a Dog’s Life’ 1990. All rights reserved.
