How my disability changed my life

Jan. 23 2014

Spent three years of my life gaining hands on experience and following a strict regiment of studies to be certified in business management, human resources and disaster preparedness, only to find out that a so called 'simple surgery' had changed my life leaving me with two disabilities tinnitus and hyperacusis;which has cost me in more ways than one can count. I've had to change my career path, unable to be on the phone all the time, around a lot of people, fax machine, door alarms etc. I've had to get use to accommodations such as working in low traffic area limiting exposure to cross conversations and secondary sounds and use of ear plugs. Thankfully, I had skills of which I could fall back upon because not many working environments offer such accommodations.

I still have to go through tinnitus retraining therapy and directional retraining therapy. It's kind of like watching a chain being formed. My primary referred me to an ENT Specialist, changed specialist due to lack of concern for patients wellbeing and ongoing condition. New ENT Specialist diagnosed me with tinnitus and hyperacusis and has since referred me to a specialist who deals with tinnitus and hyperacusis. In the meantime, secondary conditions arise with speech issues do to the tinnitus and hyperacusis so I now see a speech therapist as well.

You may wonder how I can possibly work with all this going on. For me I find working helps in some form. It can't take away the tinnitus (ringing in the ears) nor can it stop the pain from hyperacisis in fact it for the most part causes the hyperacusis to get worse depending upon the environment I work in; which is why I was forced to take medical leave.

However, as an online journalist I control the environment of which I work in, it keeps my mind busy and well there are days of which I can tolerate it and days, which I cannot. Make no mistake there is never a day I am okay, or perfectly fine I don't think such a day’s exists to someone with these disabilities and if so please have them get in touch with me and the many others whom suffer from tinnitus and hyperacusis they'd be a millionaire we'd like to know their secret. For me a career change was necessary.

Dedicated and technically skilled business professional with the ability to simply social media marketing and advertising techniques. Wendy understands the importance of having a strong social media presence to keep relationships with customers close and more personalized.

As a content marketing specialist @ examiner.com Wendy writes articles about setting up social media platforms, blogging and how important social media content is in today's world. 

She has recently offered her skills to support a cause very near and dear to her heart telling the stories of those suffering from hyperacusis, sharing breakthrough news about research and spreads awareness of this invisible disability.

You can read her articles here:  Hyperacusis Examiner

Back in April 2013, Wendy underwent a very basic and simple surgery and her own life has been changed forever with being diagnosed with tinnitus and hyperacusis. However, Wendy strives each and every day to take back her life. Writing for the examiner came at a time when she was forced into taking a medical leave due to all the pain she was in trying to work in a normal environment. She hopes that with help she will once again be able to do many everyday activities. 

Wendy writes about her own personal experience in her blog: Living With Hearing Sensitivity 

As a published poet and author, Wendy has received awards and recognition for her years of experience, which goes as far back as 1996. Much of her recent written works consist of website content, reviews, advertising and marketing proposals, interviews too many to really count. 

As an online journalist, Wendy also writes for Yahoo and is always looking for additional writing assignments. Most of her articles on yahoo fall under topics such as creative writing, fitness and healthy living along with exclusive interviews.