Dorothy Westerman
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 28/04) - The sound of music is but a distant memory for Margo Audet of Yellowknife.

"It's my biggest loss," said Audet, who has suffered from hearing loss for much of her adult life.

Margo Audet, a member of the Yellowknife branch of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association, says a hearing impairment in a world of sound is a great challenge. - Dorothy Westerman/NNSL photo

"There is distortion regardless of the volume. I can't hear the tunes."

Born with a congenital hearing defect, Audet slowly lost her hearing until, in her 30s, she required a hearing aid.

Because her hearing loss was gradual, Audet said she was fortunate to be able to develop her speech and language skills.

While she can carry on a conversation in a quiet environment, Audet says it is difficult when everyday noise interferes.

"I'm always afraid that when people speak to me in passing and I don't respond that they'll think I'm stuck up," she says.

Seclusion brought on

Such an instance only illustrates the seclusion brought on by being hearing impaired, however.

"Many people try to hide the fact they are hard of hearing," she noted.

And in group situations, Audet says it is almost impossible to follow several conversations at once.

"We can't interrupt people constantly to tell them we didn't hear them," she notes.

"I always appreciate people who make an effort to include me in conversations," she said.

"I think of what Helen Keller said. 'When you are blind, you lose touch of things, but when you are hearing impaired, you lose touch of people,'" she says.

While communicating is a big challenge, the outside world poses not only challenges, but risks.

When travelling, Audet says she must rely on airline staff to tell her when to board the plane because she cannot hear the overhead speakers.

On a bus, she says surrounding noise make it impossible to hear the bus driver.

And when walking down the street, Audet says she cannot hear any noise approaching from behind, such as bikes or skateboarders.

"A hearing aid magnifies the sound, but it often distorts it. And traffic noise is loud and uncomfortable to hear," she notes.

Even at home, Audet said some things taken for granted by those with hearing cannot be by those without.

Shake one awake

For example, not being able to hear an alarm clock means having to use a device put under the pillow which will shake one awake.

Also, Audet says visible fire alarms should be an important requirement in new buildings.

"There are people who cannot hear standard fire alarms," she notes.

While a stigma is often present around being hearing impaired, Audet says it is less so now.

Thanks to a support group in Yellowknife -- the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association Yellowknife branch -- she says everyone learns they are not alone when dealing with the challenge.

Esther Braden, a founding member of the group, which was started in 1993, says while there were "very few" members attending then, the group has expanded to about 15.

"We're trying to break down the barriers and reach out to more people and tell them there is help out there," Braden says.

The group discusses not only challenges, but new equipment available to assist hearing.

"We tell people,'if you have a vision problem, you wear glasses, if you have a hearing problem, you wear a hearing aid,'" she says.

May is hard of hearing month across Canada and Braden welcomes new members.