Being hearing-impaired has never stopped me from boosting my confidence
Let me share my hearing loss experience and how I suffered from communication and social difficulties in my university life and how I cope with them. The story begins when I was 7 years old, I had a high fever that caused a sudden hearing loss in my both ears. Since that time, I have had hearing aids, but most people don’t know it when they meet me. It is hard to explain to others what it is like to have hearing loss, especially the lack of clarity in speech, anxiety, embarrassment and the exhaustion that comes with heavy bursts of communication.
By: Amro Jamous
I finished high school and enrolled in the finance program at An-Najah National University. I was definitely afraid of not finding people who shared similar interests as me, and I was most worried about my adjustment to the social life at the university, for I am a hearing-impaired person.
At first, I was scared of exams, but later this fear motivated me to overcome my fear of exams and move on. I attended all classes regularly, studied hard and prepared myself for tests and exams. I have successfully passed my first year in the university.
Over time, I realized that degrees don’t matter anymore, soft skills are equally as important as your educational background and experience. Your degrees and qualifications might help you to get a job but it doesn't mean that it'll make you succeed in it. There are many other skills that you'll need when it comes to being a successful person, such as being able to communicate well with others, to adapt to various situations and to react appropriately under different conditions. And all these can't be taught unless you involve yourself in extracurricular activities during your university life.
So, I decided to volunteer in the International Youth Exchange Program (Zajel) of An-Najah's Public Relations Department which fosters international communication and intercultural dialogue, to empower students to accept and deal with different opinions, religions and cultures by bringing them into contact with people from across the world.
This experience helped tremendously to get me on track to overcome my insecurities. It is an invisible disability so it is often misunderstood, downplayed or even ignored, sometimes even by those closest to you. But it can have a huge impact on your life, do not let your disability ruin your life. Being hearing-impaired has never stopped me from reaching my true potential.
