{"id":25,"date":"2024-10-30T13:38:14","date_gmt":"2024-10-30T13:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/?p=25"},"modified":"2024-10-30T13:38:16","modified_gmt":"2024-10-30T13:38:16","slug":"i-bought-6000-hearing-aids-to-uncover-what-my-family-was-hiding-what-i-heard-made-me-turn-pale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/archives\/25","title":{"rendered":"I Bought $6,000 Hearing Aids to Uncover What My Family Was Hiding \u2013 What I Heard Made Me Turn Pale"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='\"PostImage_post-image-container__PlDZN' postcontent_thumb-image__ih052>\n<div class='\"Image_ref__XcBnw\"' data-testid='\"thumb-image\"'><picture><img decoding='\"async\"' class='\"Image_image__11E9V' postimage_post-image__xnmzf src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/13790714b529d084b85c45ec1e297773a06df2a48315f7d0fd003264e7483939.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"A' happy woman with hearing aids source: amomama>\n\n<div class='\"PostContent_thumb-title__SoMYI\"' data-testid='\"image-source\"'>A happy woman with hearing aids | Source: Amomama\n<div class='\"InfoLine_wrapper__C_h_D\"'>\n<div class='\"InfoLine_inner-wrap__nT3Iy\"'>\n\n<div class='\"ContentRenderer_content-container__XYPLT\"' data-io-article-url='\"https:\/\/amomama.com\/437724-i-bought-6-000-hearing-aids-to-uncover.html?m=doa\"'>\n<div>\n<p class='\"ContentRenderer_paragraph__B2z36' contentrenderer_paragraph-first___d_vf>After getting $6,000 hearing aids, I uncovered a shocking secret my family was hiding from me. What I overheard left me in disbelief and forced me to confront them \u2014 and a lawyer \u2014 in a way I never imagined.\n\n</p><div>\n<div class='\"adv\"'>\n<div class='\"Ad-Container' advintextbuilder_slot-wrapper___oz3g>\n<div class='\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"'><span class='\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\"'>\n<div class='\"Ad-Container' advslots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf advslots_adv-square-wrap__bxsu_>\n<div class='\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\"' data-slot-type='\"1\"' data-position='\"in_article_1\"' data-code='\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_01\"'>\n<div id='\"in_article_1\"' class='\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"'>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div>\n<p class='\"ContentRenderer_paragraph__B2z36\"'>I&rsquo;ve had hearing problems since I was a teenager. It started slowly \u2014 missing out on little sounds, like a dripping faucet or a doorbell. By the time I was in high school, I could barely hear people talking unless they were right in front of me. It was frustrating, but I learned to live with it.\n\n</p><div>\n<div class='\"Image_wrapper__1NP9g' image_wrapper-vertical__pwzar>\n<div class='\"Image_container__oHMMQ\"'>\n<div class='\"Image_ref__XcBnw\"'><picture><source srcset='\"https:\/\/imgproxy.amomama.com\/sMZsiPpllz4e94YzJ0F4N8uMWpeHE4KSTi9t0Y7J4HA\/rs:fill:375:0:1\/g:no\/aHR0cHM6Ly9jZG4uYW1vbWFtYS5jb20vODJiOGIzYzRmZTAzY2E1MzdlMGRlNDk3ZjUwNzYzYTZmNzg3MzBlMzk1YWM1OGI4MGNhYWVhNGY3Yzk0MjIzNi5qcGc_d2lkdGg9MzM1NSZoZWlnaHQ9NTAzMw.jpg' type='\"image\/jpeg\"' sizes='\"(max-width:'></source><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"Image_image__11E9V' image_post-image__qntn0 src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/82b8b3c4fe03ca537e0de497f50763a6f78730e395ac58b80caaea4f7c942236.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"A' young woman source: pexels width='\"3355\"' height='\"5033\"'>\n\n<p class='\"Image_title__T6_we\"' data-testid='\"image-source\"'>A young woman | Source: Pexels\n\n\n</p><div>\n<p class='\"ContentRenderer_paragraph__B2z36\"'>My family was great. My mom and dad took classes to learn sign language, and my younger sister, Emily, picked it up faster than anyone. Soon, it became our primary way to communicate at home.\n\n</p><div>\n<p class='\"ContentRenderer_paragraph__B2z36\"'>We made it work. I could still hear a little, but we all got used to signing everything, and I didn&rsquo;t feel left out.\n\n</p><div>\n<div class='\"Image_wrapper__1NP9g\"'>\n<div class='\"Image_container__oHMMQ\"'>\n<div class='\"Image_ref__XcBnw\"'><picture><source srcset='\"https:\/\/imgproxy.amomama.com\/Ye6eR9ttSqUWdeyBzwcKIVHSfgUZbeWht3HmUhLiTSo\/rs:fill:375:0:1\/g:no\/aHR0cHM6Ly9jZG4uYW1vbWFtYS5jb20vYmNmYjU3NDE5ZDg1OTYxNWRmYzViNDQ3YzkyZDgxMjJmYzYyODhhMGJjNTEwYmUyYzAxM2I5ZWEyY2M1YzRkMS5wbmc_d2lkdGg9MTAyNCZoZWlnaHQ9MTAyNA.jpg' type='\"image\/jpeg\"' sizes='\"(max-width:'></source><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"Image_image__11E9V' image_post-image__qntn0 src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/bcfb57419d859615dfc5b447c92d8122fc6288a0bc510be2c013b9ea2cc5c4d1.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' young girl signing source: midjourney width='\"1024\"' height='\"1024\"'>\n\n<p class='\"Image_title__T6_we\"' data-testid='\"image-source\"'>A young girl signing | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n</p><div>\n<div class='\"adv\"'>\n<div class='\"Ad-Container' advintextbuilder_slot-wrapper___oz3g>\n<div class='\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"'><span class='\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\"'>\n\n\n\n<div>\n<p class='\"ContentRenderer_paragraph__B2z36\"'>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t need hearing aids,&rdquo; I told my parents a few years ago when they suggested it. &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t handle all those sounds at once.&rdquo; I&rsquo;d tried them once in a doctor&rsquo;s office. It felt like the world was shouting at me. Every sound \u2014 footsteps, traffic, even my own breathing \u2014 was so loud I felt dizzy.\n\n</p><div>\n<p class='\"ContentRenderer_paragraph__B2z36\"'>Dad nodded, his face thoughtful. &ldquo;As long as you&rsquo;re comfortable.&rdquo;\n\n</p><div>\n<div class='\"Image_wrapper__1NP9g\"'>\n<div class='\"Image_container__oHMMQ\"'>\n<div class='\"Image_ref__XcBnw\"'><picture><source srcset='\"https:\/\/imgproxy.amomama.com\/DKmoRusyWeEfkGLLgUp4Mb2opZc9rtlMu3prwCvmFCw\/rs:fill:375:0:1\/g:no\/aHR0cHM6Ly9jZG4uYW1vbWFtYS5jb20vNjg1OGNjZTI2Yjk1YzMxYjEzN2UzMDhmNTllMzU5NTA0ODlmY2U3NjQ5NzUzNjRjOWE4MTI2NzI0Y2E5ZDZhNC5qcGc_d2lkdGg9NjAwMCZoZWlnaHQ9NDAwMA.jpg' type='\"image\/jpeg\"' sizes='\"(max-width:'></source><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"Image_image__11E9V' image_post-image__qntn0 src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/6858cce26b95c31b137e308f59e35950489fce764975364c9a8126724ca9d6a4.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"A' smiling man source: pexels width='\"6000\"' height='\"4000\"'>\n\n<p class='\"Image_title__T6_we\"' data-testid='\"image-source\"'>A smiling man | Source: Pexels\n\n\n</p><div>\n<p class='\"ContentRenderer_paragraph__B2z36\"'>And I was. We had our little world. I could watch TV with captions, text my friends, and work without any problems. Emily and I would even have conversations without saying a word, just signing across the room. It felt like a superpower sometimes.\n\n</p><div>\n<p class='\"ContentRenderer_paragraph__B2z36\"'>But then, a few months ago, things started to change.\n\n</p><div>\n<div class='\"adv\"'>\n<div class='\"Ad-Container' advintextbuilder_slot-wrapper___oz3g>\n<div class='\"AdvTitle_wrap__wIGWH\"'><span class='\"AdvTitle_text__hRK31\"'>\n<div class='\"Ad-Container' advslots_adv-square-wrap__va0pf advslots_adv-square-wrap__bxsu_>\n<div class='\"AdvSlots_adv-square__246sC\"' data-slot-type='\"1\"' data-position='\"in_article_3\"' data-code='\"\/21668216007\/d_amomama_com_intext_03\"'>\n<div id='\"in_article_3\"' class='\"AdvSlots_slot__YAMh2\"'>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div>\n<p class='\"ContentRenderer_paragraph__B2z36\"'>&ldquo;Hey, Em, what&rsquo;s going on?&rdquo; I asked one evening after noticing the shift. She had been on her phone a lot, texting and calling, even when Mom was right there in the next room.\n\n</p><div>\n<div class='\"Image_wrapper__1NP9g\"'>\n<div class='\"Image_container__oHMMQ\"'>\n<div class='\"Image_ref__XcBnw\"'><picture><source srcset='\"https:\/\/imgproxy.amomama.com\/ub9Bnj2AEDt4XhyTBvkrJ6cZwxcqX6LCipZ_RRBjV0E\/rs:fill:375:0:1\/g:no\/aHR0cHM6Ly9jZG4uYW1vbWFtYS5jb20vNzdhMTc2YzZlZjFjYWNjZjUwMzM1M2ZkYzY1OGJmNzY4YTM2ODJhMmY0YzlkMGEwZDQyNGIyOGQyMjNmZjU5ZS5qcGc_d2lkdGg9NTYxNiZoZWlnaHQ9Mzc0NA.jpg' type='\"image\/jpeg\"' sizes='\"(max-width:'></source><img loading='\"lazy\"' decoding='\"async\"' class='\"Image_image__11E9V' image_post-image__qntn0 src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/77a176c6ef1caccf503353fdc658bf768a3682a2f4c9d0a0d424b28d223ff59e.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"A' young woman on her phone source: pexels width='\"5616\"' height='\"3744\"'>\n\n<p class='\"Image_title__T6_we\"' data-testid='\"image-source\"'>A young woman on her phone | Source: Pexels\n\n\n</p><div>\n<p class='\"ContentRenderer_paragraph__B2z36\"'>&ldquo;Nothing,&rdquo; she signed back quickly, avoiding my eyes. &ldquo;Just stuff.&rdquo;\n\n</p><div>\n<p class='\"ContentRenderer_paragraph__B2z36\"'>I frowned. She never used to be this vague with me. I glanced at Mom, who was watching us, but she looked away, busying herself with the dishes. Something wasn&rsquo;t right.\n\n</p><div>\n<p class='\"ContentRenderer_paragraph__B2z36\"'>Over the next few weeks, I noticed more strange behavior. They stopped signing as much around me and would talk quietly, their voices too low for me to catch. When I asked them about it, they&rsquo;d smile and wave me off.\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"</p><p>A happy woman with hearing aids | Source: Amomama After getting $6,000 hearing aids, I uncovered a shocking secret my family was hiding from me. What I overheard left me in disbelief and forced me to confront them \u2014 and a lawyer \u2014 in a way I never imagined.  I&rsquo;ve had hearing problems since [&hellip;]\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":26,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25\/revisions\/27"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}</p></div></div></div></picture></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></picture></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></picture></div></div></div></div></div></div></picture></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></picture></div></div>