How my invisible disability effects voting and everyday life
by Beth
I lead four memoir-writing classes for Chicago senior citizens every week, and 94-year-old Wanda Bridgeforth is in one of them. Wanda has had a significant hearing loss since childhood, but her hearing impairment was not detected until she was a young adult. Here she is with an essay about invisible disabilities, and how hers affected her schooling and her experience voting during elections in the past.
The whole class celebrated Wanda’s (on my right) 94th birthday last year. Photo courtesy Darlene Schweitzer.
by Wanda Johnson Bridgeforth
Diminished vision and limited mobility are evident and basically understood by most people, but hearing loss is not. I live with an invisible disability.
In my 94 years of life, I’ve never let my hearing loss prevent me from doing anything I want to do. That includes voting. My Grandmother was not allowed to vote in her home state of Mississippi. She didn’t vote in her first election until she was 80 years old and moved to Illinois. She was one of my life heroes, and in her honor I never miss an opportunity to vote in an election.
One time when I voted, the poll worker seated at the table asked my name. I answered, and she lowered her head to check the precinct register. Head still down, she said something I couldn’t understand.
I can read lips, but not when someone looks down into their chest when they talk!
When I asked her to repeat, she heaved her shoulders and mumbled some words. “I have a hearing loss and hear better when I can see your mouth,” I said calmly. “Would you repeat the question?” Between clenched teeth she asked, “What’s YOUR ADDRESS?”
I can read lips, but not when someone talks with their mouth clenched!
When I picked up my ballot at the end of the table, I looked back and saw her mouthing something about “that old senile deaf woman getting on her nerves.” As I was leaving the polls I looked directly at her, smiled and said in a very loud voice, “Thank you, have an enjoyable evening!” Others waiting to vote there applauded.
When I was a child there was little known or acknowledged about hearing loss, an invisible disability. Many adults considered me impolite when I didn’t speak to them. At drama club rehearsals I missed cues on my left side. Teachers made me stand in the hall because I was talking out loud and disturbing the class. That, or I was looking around the classroom when I should have been reading or writing an assignment. Trouble was, I hadn’t heard the teacher tell us that was what we were supposed to be doing.
Some parents forbade their children from playing with me because I wasn’t ladylike. They said I was uncouth because I laughed and talked too loud. I interrupted others. I often didn’t respond when spoken to.
For years I cried through earaches and wished I could reach inside my ear and remove the cause. Shortly after my husband was discharged from the army after World War II, I had an earache. He dropped sweet oil into my ear and applied heat liniment to the outside of the ear. The earache worsened. A friend recommended an ear nose and throat doctor in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.
When the ear was healed, that doctor gave me an audiogram. The diagnosis was a hearing loss in both ears. The doctor asked how I had gotten through school. I had no idea. I received high marks for academics, but low ones for deportment.
The doctor sent me to an audiologist who fitted me for a hearing aid. I remember my reaction of joy and tears when I first heard a dove cooing in our back yard.
Over the years, time and ear infections have taken their toll and my hearing has diminished to Legally Deaf level. I use a caption phone at home now. The screen lights when the phone rings. The number and name of the caller is printed on the screen. It prints out what the person on the line is saying and can store the conversation for further reference. It has a personal directory to store all personal phone numbers. With the volume control and the caption I can talk to all of my soft talking friends.
There is still much to learn about hearing and the function of the mini-microscopic bones of the ear. Thank Goodness research has made some progress and we are becoming more aware of the symptoms, causes and treatment of Hearing Loss, an INVISIBLE DISABILITY.
March 21st, 2016 at 3:38 pm
Wanda, Your are an inspiration. It is a privilege to know you and to hear your essays about your life experiences. Thank you for sharing.
March 20th, 2016 at 3:38 pm
With a lifetime basket full of struggles, you are an example to all of us for your sense of humor and open compasion for life. I am so glad I know you, Wanda.
Annelore
March 20th, 2016 at 9:46 am
Congratulations Wanda I am proud of all your accomplishments You are my hero! Marion Jackson
March 19th, 2016 at 11:24 am
That’s our Wanda! She’s made it through a lifetime of challenges too long to mention here. One strong woman. I admire her so. (Me, Myself & I member)