He had several ideas on what could have caused it. I was born *very* premature, which in itself can cause hearing problems, but also my liver wasnt working correctly. The medicines I was given to treat my liver problems were later found to cause hearing loss in infants.

I am not deaf, as in totally lack hearing, I am roughly 60% impared in both ears. Since I have worn hearing aids for as long as I can remember, they really pose no inconvienence to me. I used to work with young children who had just gotten theirs and were having a hard time adjusting.

There was a case of a young boy in my school who was 5 and had just gotten his first pair. At the start of the school year he was so put out with them he would throw them on the ground and stomp on them. He was so afraid he wouldnt fit in with his friends or that they would make fun of him that he would rather not hear everything than wear them. I dropped on of the classes I was taking (that I didnt need for graduation) to spend an hour a day with him just hanging out. We would go outside and play, read, draw, you name it. When we began these sessions I didnt require him to wear his aids, and he didnt. However, as I took him around the school, interacted with him, his friends, and my friends, he began to wear them more and more. By the end of the year he was wearing them all day only taking them off for bed, and bath. I never once asked him to wear them, or for that matter ever asked anything about his hearing loss. Its amazing what acceptance will do for people.

That being said, in my own life I have really met with no discrimination...and those that did were swiftly put harshly by my friends. I always did what I wanted to do...even when the risk of failure was very high. Case in point, I wanted to play football very badly in the sixth grade. My parents refused, even though I asked every year through my jr. year in highschool. Finally my sr. year I didnt ask, I just tried out and began playing. They were concerned I wouldnt hear a play called, or misunderstand something in the heat of competition on the field. These fears were unfounded, and I went on to play college football. As far as friends and 'popularity' in my highschool, I was elected vice-president as well as president of the student body, president of the chess club, key club, science club and many other after school activities. I was also voted the most outstanding senior of my year by the City of Florence Rotary Club. This award was based upon my scholastic achievement as well as community service.

Now...I was very irked when I was told I couldnt join the marines. Everyone in my family with the exception of my father had served (he was unable to because of a physical disability) and I wanted to. In addition, a branch of the armed forces also helps you with school funding. I scored in the highest percentile on the ASVAB, exceeded every physical and mental requirement posed, with the exception of the hearing test.

While being a police officer is certainly a rewarding job sometimes, and a stressful one at other times, I am not sure I am seriously considering the possiblity. My dream lies in yacht design, and I really would like to sail around the world in a sailboat I designed and built myself...which is why I am going back to school next semester.

I'm sure that this is probably more information than you bargained for...it is my story :) I am very happy with who I am. However, there is a nerve regeneration study that is ongoing and targeted specifically for those with hearing impairments like mine. When this technique has been perfected 10 years down the road I know I am going to have a very hard decision to make...and I'm not at all sure what I will decide.