Hearing Loss Magazine January/February 2013 - 21

Seen Heard

Gary Trompower
Canton, Ohio / Born May 5, 1956 in Canton, Ohio

All AbouT my heArInG loss… I was 17 years old and diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss in both ears. It’s come to rest now at 95% loss in my left ear and 80% loss in my right ear. I wear one behind-the-ear aid on my right ear, which helps to hear some sounds. sAGe AdvIce for someone newly-dIAGnosed wITh heArInG loss… Remind yourself that getting angry is not going to fix anything! Go out and enjoy life the best you can. funny heArInG loss momenT… People will telephone and ask for me and my wife will tell them, “Gary is deaf and I will ask him your questions.” The person calling will say they’ll call back or call tomorrow. Huh? Like I’m going to be able to hear them tomorrow or sometime later? I only wish it worked that way! when I wAs lITTle, I wAnTed To be… Batman! fIrsT ThInG I bouGhT wITh my own money… Reese’s peanut butter cups hArdesT ThInG I’ve ever done… Quit smoking cigarettes (more than six years tobacco free). My stress level went sky high, but the health benefits are worth the effort. I mosT defInITely Am noT... a snobbish or a stuck-up person. Some people get that impression, but it’s just that many of us have the, as Rocky Stone would say, “invisible condition,” and we just don’t hear them. hobbIes? Woodworking and computers PeoPle would be surPrIsed ThAT I… like math. I always have and it’s been very useful in this life. I wIsh I hAd A TAlenT for... hog wrestling and playing bass guitar. fAvorITe PlAce To be... with my wife I hAve A weAkness for... Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups workInG nIne To fIve…At 14, I flipped burgers at the local ice cream stand. At 19, I managed a Radio Shack. At 21, I tried selling hearing aids. At 22, I ran my own small lawn care business, and then I started my current engineering career (35 years) with a local medical center. I Am… a traditional, red-blooded, American dude! my frIends would sAy I Am… really, really cool! besT ThInG sInce slIced breAd… Texting—it’s a fantastic way for people with hearing loss to communicate. I reAlly should sToP... eating Reese’s Cups, but they’re so good! PhrAses I overuse… What was that? What did you say? Yes…I’ll have another Reese’s Cup. I hAve The uncAnny AbIlITy To... fix anything but a broken heart. I sImPly cAnnoT lIve wIThouT... tough one, huh? Reese’s Cups!
© Cindy Dyer

ever meeT Anyone fAmous? For many years, we have attended the Clark Gable foundation birthday parties (Cadiz, Ohio) where I met many of the cast from Gone with the Wind, including Fred Crane, Rand Brooks, Cammie King, Butterfly McQueen and Patrick Curtis.

Hearing Loss Magazine has great stories and valuable information about hearing loss. It is a wonderful publication!

Hearing Loss Magazine January/February 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hearing Loss Magazine January/February 2013