So after a very long wait, I finally made it to the audiology clinic in Maidstone. I had attempted to go for an appointment 2 weeks previously but my temperature was too high. In fairness to me, it was a very hot day and I had one ear with an infection and the other was hot and sweaty having had a hearing aid in it!! Anyway, I was prepared this time, we had both windows down in the car, a cool wind lapping round my face and I took my remaining hearing aid out so my ear wouldn't get sweaty, but with the added bonus so I couldn't hear my husband talking... (Only joking Johnny!) We drove into the car park and I could feel my palms getting sweaty. My blood pressure was definitely feeling high as I walked up to the entrance and so I nonchalantly walked up to the person with the ear thermometer and offered my infection free ear, praying the whole time while trying to look really unconcerned (behind a mask). She took my temperature, scribbled it on a piece of paper and sent us through to audiology.
Honestly, I felt like jumping up and down doing star jumps yelling, yes, I'm in! But thought better of it, I didn't want to escorted out of the building once I'd got in it. Johnny and I waited at the clinic with our clear lipreading friendly face masks on. At one point a man walked past and he seemed to stare at me a little longer than necessary and then carried on walking. I thought perhaps he had smiled at me, but how was I supposed to reciprocate if I couldn't see his face. When I mentioned it later to someone else, they pointed out that he could have been simply admiring my lipreading friendly mask, but it was a bit disconcerting not being able to read his face. Anyway, we were finally called in. I feel I need to say at this point that absolutely no staff had clear masks at all in the hospital, they were all cloth and this is because they have to wear the masks that they have been issued with. Anyway, my friendly audiologist kept his mask on throughout so luckily I had my wonderful husband as a translator. How anyone else copes I have no idea, I'm so grateful that my husband was allowed in with me. Finally, the audiologist gave me my new hearing aid and his speech seemed a little clearer to hear but still a bit muzzled. I asked whether they had looked into getting clear masks and he said that they had, but none had managed to get approval. So I'm hoping that one day the approval will happen. Anyway, I left that hospital on cloud nine, striding confidently back to the car.
I don't know how you all feel, but I find a mask really difficult to navigate, especially with having hearing aids and glasses behind my ear. I've been home a few more days and I can really feel that my confidence has grown a bit more and I'm feeling less anxious about everything now my 'normal' hearing is back. Sadly I know that my anxiety will return with it becoming compulsory to wear a mask in shops but that's another blog, and for now, I feel like a new woman!!
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