Meet Maeghan – “You Don’t Know What You’ve Lost Until You Get it Back”
For years, I felt like I was slowly losing pieces of my world. As a mother of nine, a grandmother, a longtime homeschooler, a public speaker, and a master gardener, I depended on my ability to hear clearly. But tinnitus and hearing loss made everyday conversations, family moments, and even simple social interactions overwhelming and exhausting. I didn’t realize how much it was affecting my life until the day I finally found help.
My Tinnitus Appeared Out of Nowhere
My tinnitus began suddenly in March 2009. I hadn’t been to loud concerts or done anything that typically causes ear damage. It just showed up out of the blue. Feeling confused and concerned, I went to a doctor. He asked about dizziness and Ménière’s disease, which I didn’t have. His response was simply that nothing could be done. I remember leaving that appointment thinking, How can something so constant and disruptive have no solution?
The Strain of Not Being Able to Hear Clearly
In the beginning, the tinnitus was intermittent. Over the years, it grew louder and more persistent, eventually becoming a constant part of my everyday life. My biggest challenge wasn’t quiet sounds. It was the lack of clarity.
I could hear people talking, but understanding them was a different story. Phone calls drained me. Social gatherings left me exhausted. Conversations blurred together, especially when multiple people spoke at once. I began missing full sentences. Voices seemed to cancel each other out. I even struggled to hear my grandchildren because their voices fell into the exact pitch that my tinnitus masked.
One evening at dinner with my in-laws, I reached a breaking point. They were speaking softly in a somewhat crowded restaurant, and I couldn’t understand anything they were saying. I finally told my mother-in-law, “You might as well be speaking interpretive dance. I can’t do this anymore.”
That moment made it clear I needed real help.
The Conversation That Changed Everything
During a homeschool concert, another mom mentioned her teenage son had developed tinnitus after standing too close to loud speakers. She told me that her family had gone to Hope Hearing and Tinnitus Center of Iowa and that they were the only people who had been able to help.
As soon as I got home, I told my husband we needed to make an appointment.
Within two weeks, I was at Hope Hearing and Tinnitus Center. And that same day, I walked out with my hearing devices.
My First Moment of Peace in Years
The moment I put the hearing devices on, everything changed.
The tinnitus softened.
My mind relaxed.
And for the first time in years, I felt genuine peace.
The built-in sound therapy was calming and soothing. I remember thinking, I can work with this.
The clarity was incredible. Birds, voices, conversations—all of it finally sounded crisp again. You truly don’t realize what you’ve lost until it comes back. With time, the combination of sound therapy and improved hearing helped retrain my brain. The tinnitus became something like floaters in your vision: still there, but easier to ignore.
Once real-life sounds took priority again, the difference was remarkable.
Overcoming the Stigma of Hearing Devices
Many people hesitate to try hearing devices because they worry about how they will look. I had the same thoughts for a while, but eventually I realized something important.
What makes you look older: a small device no one notices, or constantly asking people to repeat themselves and withdrawing from conversations?
Living with untreated hearing loss is exhausting and discouraging. It can also contribute to depression and cognitive decline. Now that I know what life can feel like with clarity, I can’t imagine going back.
My Message to Anyone Struggling With Hearing Issues
If you’re unsure, my advice is simple. Come in for a hearing test. Try the devices. Give yourself the opportunity to experience the difference.
For me, it has been truly life-changing.
The Next Step For New Patients
If you have been experiencing similar symptoms or struggles to Maeghan’s, the first step in getting treatment is scheduling an initial hearing evaluation to identify your unique condition. Our clinic has the freedom to choose any hearing device that will serve you best – without any insurance interference.
Know that there are indeed treatment options for tinnitus symptoms including tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT) and for hearing loss of all severity levels. Find Hope, Get Relief at Hope Hearing and Tinnitus Center in Hiawatha, all of eastern Iowa and beyond!
