Jennie Brand-Miller
Jennie Brand-Miller lost her hearing gradually from early teenage years onwards. She was born with apparently normal hearing and no one detected anything amiss until she realised herself that she missed words that others could hear. There was no-one else in the family with premature deafness. Jennie was given a hearing aid at the age of 15 but she was 25 years old before she wore it consistently.
Jennie started her career as a lecturer at a leading University at this time. But as time went by, she needed stronger and stronger hearing aids. Any gathering of people, any meeting, any noisy environment, was stressful. Eventually one ear went completely deaf and could no longer benefit from a hearing aid. In time, one to one conversations in quiet surroundings became difficult too. She considered resigning from her job.
Today, Jennie is totally deaf in both ears, but thankfully, she is the recipient of two cochlear implants, the first one 10 years ago and the second 2 years ago. Her greatest achievements came after the first cochlear implant. Her life completely turned itself around. She is now a Professor of Human Nutrition and thoroughly enjoying life.
Jennie gives lectures and accepts invitations to give seminars and presentations around the world. She also gives TV and radio interviews. She is the author of popular books about the glycemic index of foods that have collectively sold 3.5 million copies world wide in 12 languages.
Jennie explains why the implant makes so much difference:
- I can now hear clearly on the telephone, even mobile phones and public phones
- I can hear the person's accent
- I can hear whether they are young or old, male or female
- I listen and enjoy TV and cinemas again
- I listen to radio in the car
- I enjoy music, especially all the old songs they play on radio
- I play the piano, I have a subscription to the Australian Ballet
- I can hear public announcements in train stations and airports
- I can have a normal conversation in a car, even with those in the back seat
Jennie has a wonderful husband who has normal hearing and two children. Their son has normal hearing but their 21 year old daughter appears to have inherited some form of hearing loss.
Jennie says,
“I was delighted to have the chance to speak to the Hear For You participants with hearing impairment. I was amazed at their level of interest in my career. I wanted them to know they are not alone, that hearing loss should not stifle their ambitions but that some areas of employment might make life easier than others. I wished I had had a support group like Hear For You when I was a young adult . . . I knew I needed support back then but there was no one to turn to. It would have made such a difference. Hear For You is providing an important service and doing a great job!”
