health
March 11, 2026
At 56, I woke to silence: the strange, sudden loss that changed everything
Since the US has no federal mandate for hearing aid coverage, I found myself in a quandary – I couldn’t communicate with the hearing or the deaf
TL;DR
- The author lost her hearing completely at age 56 after a COVID-19 infection.
- She faced significant challenges with her insurance provider, UnitedHealthcare, which denied coverage for hearing aids and necessary surgery.
- The lack of federal mandates for hearing aid coverage in the US creates barriers for individuals with hearing loss.
- Learning American Sign Language (ASL) provided a new means of communication and a sense of community.
- The author advocates for greater accessibility, insurance coverage for hearing aids, and the integration of ASL education.
- She contrasts the US system with countries that have universal hearing aid coverage.
- Despite advancements in hearing aid technology, their high cost remains a barrier.
- The article emphasizes that deafness is a solvable communication problem that society often chooses not to address.
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