URGENT! NEW HEARING AID SUPPORT FOR DEAF ARTIST

hi all --

 

my name is tayler, taylr & tayelr. many people know me from all three depictions of my name & i have found that i cannot be condensed into any particular one -- so i use all of them :-)

i have been a community member of mount desert island for 6+ years & i am a queer & deaf musician/artist.

 

i am SO honored that you are here :-)

 

firstly, i would like to disclose what the word 'deaf' can mean & encompass before continuing. it is important to inform you all that the word deaf is not always synonymous with hard-of-hearing (HOH), but it can be used as an umbrella term. sometimes those with HOH will refer to themselves as deaf even though their hearing loss is not profound (total deafness). every deaf/HOH individual describes their deafness in their own ways & they are all valid/accurate. deafness encompasses all ranges of hearing loss, & is a term i will be using often throughout this message.

 

i am deaf with progressive hearing loss. i was born deaf & my deafness is presumably hereditary although the true cause remains unknown. there are frequencies i have profound deafness in & am significantly deaf across all frequencies & wavelengths. i heavily rely on alternate forms of listening to function in the hearing world -- ie, lip-reading, my feet & the ground, & the perseverance to advocate for my needs. 

A TRAGEDY unfolded when an u n d y i n g feline hunger succumbed in the night. i was surprised by my hearing aids on the ground one morning in doom & distraught. in other words, a cat who i share a home with got to them unexpectedly & they are broken beyond repair. of my 10+ year journey with these aids, i never had an accident with an animal-roomie -- so this is extremely unprecedented.

k e e p your eyes & ears out dear aid-bearing friends, it seems cats have a sweet spot for earwax ;-)

despite my hopeful attempt at comedic relief, the situation is dire & i do really need my hearing aids to function.

navigating a hearing world without hearing aids significantly impacts my health. i am experiencing an increased struggle in my day-to-day tasks already which is magnifying the urgency of this situation rapidly. some crippling symptoms include: crushing migraines, brain fog, sore eyes/blurred vision, extreme fatigue, social anxiety, speech degradation & overall discomfort.

other unfortunate news includes the devastating nature of the u.s. healthcare system. there is no existing healthcare that assists with hearing disabilities. this means that i have to buy my hearing aids out of pocket. i always have had to pay out of pocket & sadly, so does everyone who needs them. although i prefer the world without my hearing aids, the extreme ableism in the dominant hearing community poses quite costly difficulties for deaf/HOH people, including negative impacts on our physical & mental health.

a complete pair of hearing aids will cost $7,000+. the extra $500 is to cover fees. i work full-time & that only covers my living expenses. i fight hard to overcome the obstacles in obtaining financial security, however poverty stains & my family has struggled for many generations. the damage was unexpected beyond & i am certainly not prepared. 

the beneficial nature of this circumstance, however, is that there has been an incredible amount of time for the technological advancement of hearing aids -- including rechargeable batteries. wahoo ! & overall higher quality hearing accessibilities. 

 

i am also a drummer. drumming & music is extremely important to my life-work. how i listen, feel & perform is deeply rooted in my deaf landscape. i can & do play without my hearing aids. however, my world of dim hearing is fleeting & i will one day never hear my drumming beyond the tether from my heart to foot to the shaking of my bones.

[ i highly recommend the movie "sound of metal " if you are curious in learning about the intersection between drumming, deafness & even addiction ]

your support will help me soak up every last drop i have left of ear-drum-drumming sound.

 

additional forms of your incredible support with my new hearing aids includes :

i will be offering my venmo & cashapp on other platforms as well. i will disclose once my goal is met & be providing proof of receipts on all platforms. any extra money will go towards financing ASL classes (unfortunately, i have to pay for this out of pocket too).

if you have any resources that i am unaware of ie community resources for deaf people, any state programs or grants, etc you are encouraged to let me know!

each & every form of support helps.

 

thank you so much for everything ~~

 

sending so much love, gratitude & prayer to you all < 3

 

massively,
taylr