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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (NewsNation Now / WKRN) – Hearing loss affects approximately 48 million people in the United States. It can appear at birth or develop at any age.
Meaghan Thomas of NewsNation subsidiary WKRN News 2 has dealt with hearing loss all her life and is dependent on the use of hearing aids. Earlier this month, Thomas decided to share her story in a post on her Facebook page. “I just decided … this is part of me, I want to embrace it because it makes me special,” Thomas told NewsNation.
Your message – embrace and celebrate what makes you different. “I know there will be other people struggling with the same potential insecurity and disability. And it just makes you special, it makes you unique. “
Thomas spoke of the overwhelming response and attention the post received: “It almost moved me to tears, probably more than I didn’t when I read some of the comments from parents.”
According to the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), about 2 to 3 in 1,000 children in the United States are born with detectable hearing loss in one or both ears.
“I wanted people to see that you were made beautiful and wonderful regardless of your differences, and being unique is special. And I think it needs to resonate with the kids who were shown this post because I was one of those kids who was so hard of hearing and relied on lip reading. And I wanted people to realize that you are not alone. “
Thomas is grateful for the response that your contribution has generated and for getting to know other people affected. “The hearing-impaired community, together with the deaf community, is very important to me and I hope that we will continue to promote and raise awareness.”
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