[Crowbob]

You are very welcome, pavulon. And thank you. The effects of hearing loss are not limited to the individual with the problem. My motivation for emeliorating the effects does not lie within myself. It is my opinion that it is my responsiblity to minimize the effects on the people around me. In that regard, my condition has made me a better person. At least that is my hope.

I can say without reservation that my hearing loss has had a more profound effect on me, my daily activities and the relationships I have with those I love than I could ever have imagined. I was naturally oblivious. Having enjoyed life-long superb hearing, a complete love for all things musical and hunger for communication of all kinds this was something I was not prepared for. Adjustments are to this day, of course, still being made. One of those adjustments was, and is, to embrace every day, to acknowledge that every day I wake up to is precious and to know that when my time comes, though I haven't heard the birds singing for many years, they still sing to those I've left behind.