Zoe was born profoundly deaf in both ears, however this was before universal newborn hearing screening was introduced.
u201cMy parents didnu2019t know I was deaf until I was about 14 months old,u201d Zoe said.
u201cI was sitting next to an open door, and someone slammed it shut u2013 my parents realised I didnu2019t flinch. They thought it was concerning, so they took me to the doctors and thatu2019s how everybody found out,u201d she said.
u201cMy mother was upset when she first heard the news, whereas my dad was concerned but calm.u201d
The family heard about Hear and Say via media-profile, Wally Lewis, and have been coming to Hear and Sayu2019s Gold Coast centre ever since.
u201cIt was through rugby league legend, Wally Lewis that my parents found out about Hear and Say, as we learnt that Wallyu2019s daughter, Jamie-Lee was also profoundly deaf in both ears,u201d Zoe said.
Zoe reflected on her hearing journey, and the difference Hear and Say has made to her life.
u201cI think itu2019s wild, seeing how far hearing technology has come. My family has embraced me for who I am, and being deaf doesnu2019t make me any different u2013 in fact, a lot of people who donu2019t personally know me never pick up on it,u201d Zoe said.
u201cHear and Say has made a huge difference to my life. Itu2019s hard to imagine what my life could have been without the support of the staff and the community,u201d she said.
u201cI would not have been able to thrive in this world as I am now. I would not have found my passion for film if I wasnu2019t able to listen to the staggering emotion in the stories I watch. Even though I have moments of craving peace in total silence, hearing my family and friendsu2019 voices is bliss.
u201cI am eternally grateful for their care and knowledge in my years of growing up. Getting implanted at a young age was the best decision my parents have ever made.
u201cUpkeep with my hearing takes a lot of work, but itu2019s worth the effort.u201d
