Hearing Loss (A True Story)

[@Gretchen_G]

See, this right here is why I'm a patron. You guys are genuinely good, kind, caring people. Thank you for making this video, both for yourselves as a way to share your story, and for all the people who will be helped or encouraged by it. We love you guys. 💙

[@mamadragon2151]

Genuinely Good, Kind, Caring People Good Slogan or Title or StoreFront Sign. *ideas

[@wesbyington6896]

You can have alarms tied in to lights that flash, like the entire hous all the lights.... 😂 also there are tactile alerts that make your bed shake... not like that but will wake you up. Smart watches can also be tied in to the system..

[@rrohring1970]

Much love to you and your family

[@Ariuspax]

@@wesbyington6896 actually, iphones (and android too, I assume) have an accessibility setting that makes the camera flash go off when the phone rings, or an alert or alarm goes off. It’s bright, and annoying, and quite effective lol

[@thewizardingamer]

its true i would be a patron but i dont have money b/c im 14 im getting a job though

[@dragonwithamonocle]

"Say hi, Kath!" "What?" "Perfect." I dunno, something about that just warmed my heart. Like how before I was born, my parents recorded a voicemail (my dad is blind) where my mom is reading the outgoing message while my dad bangs pots and pans in the background, where distantly you can hear him say "honey, have you seen my socks?"

[@GeoffCastellucci]

I totally relate to that kind of humor. 🤣

[@cybergeek11235]

That is AMAZING

[@dragonwithamonocle]

@@osakarose5612 They're good people, and I'm very fortunate to be their son.

[@artysus]

hahahaha! not to laugh at the lovely Kathy at ALL, but this interaction is SO familiar to me. My husband has profound hearing loss also... so many times "hey hun..." "what??"

[@greybenauer9803]

@@GeoffCastellucci I just got my hearing checked. They told me I have “normal” hearing. What ever “normal” is. Thank you both for inspiring me and so many people in the world 🥰❤️😊

[@GeoffCastellucci]

THANK YOU ALL FOR THE COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS! Kathy and I have been trying to get through them all (and failing miserably) but there have been some really creative and insightful tips that we've already started employing. ALSO, to everyone who has shared their own journey with us - Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing. We see you, we hear you, we appreciate you, our thoughts and positive vibes are being sent your way. Much love!

[@huldradraco]

So glad that Kathy and you found some helpful tips to implement at home, feeling insecure about possible emergency situations is a stressful situation that shouldn't have to be necessary! Thank you for sharing and caring, and for being an inspiration to so many people ❤ Makes me proud to be a patron 💕

[@Gretchen_G]

Thank you again. You guys have really done something special here. I had a really nice conversation with my dad about this the other day. Sent him the video and he was like, "Yes! That's me but with a bit less hearing loss and more tinnitus." Also, I had emailed him a link to GRYMG around Christmas, and he told me he has saved that email so he can go back and listen to it again. Not the most technologically savvy, my dad. ☺️ But I'm slowly getting him hooked on your music. Just need to teach him how to find KZbin. 😅

[@cipherftw9906]

Smart devices are really sweet when it comes to notifying people of things. I'd recommend a smartwatch or something of the sort that can be set to vibrate when you get a text or call.

[@Huppihuppi12]

No problem. You deserve alla of the gr8 and supportive comments

[@autisticgamer7861]

Geoff what's your thoughts on battle of new Orland's

[@pc8808]

I absolutely loved this. I'm 52 and recently lost most of my hearing. I went to bed one night with a headache and woke in the morning pain free but completely deaf. Some sound returned over the next couple of days but I now need hearing aids. One thing I don't like about my hearing aids is where I live in Australia it's very hot and my sweat can flow into my ears by following the audio line into my ears. Yuck. But I LOVE my hearing loss and I regularly choose not to wear my aids because I now have to really look at a person to communicate with them. I now notice every expression, the curl of their lips and their nostrils flaring when they describe something satisfying. The eye contact of truth and even deception. I don't have to hear a person to understand them. As someone with hearing loss I now see the truths that words can hide. The truth is most people are beautiful. I had to loose something profound to find something even more profound. That's life and I love it.

[@TartempionLampion]

Hi! Great testimony. Perhaps you should research and reconsider your choices. Recent medical studies seem to show that having hearing loss and not using hearing aids may contribute to the development of senile dementia (which affects very many people to some extent, including Alzheimer). Especially as you are entering an age when this becomes a subject (no offence, I'm much older). Perhaps check with a specialist doctor. Good luck!

[@corouniud7592]

This man has a soul at least as good as his voice. I started this video with my mind focused on hearing loss, I ended up thinking about how much they love each other. Great!

[@icecreamladydriver1606]

Same here. It is a sweet gift to share with us.

[@Phentex2192]

Whenever Geoff is listening to his wife, he has the look in his eyes of, "I'm listening and retaining all information, and dang you're beautiful!"

[@stevecole3192]

I thought the exact same thing.

[@dana7340]

Honey, say hi! What? Perfect. My life. 😑

[@Man_of_Tears]

"Don't you think about my wife in the shower👈" 😂 some protective jealousy here

[@Waterlily6519]

Here in Norway, there are beds that shake when the phone goes off. There is also an alarm that lights up super strong to show that the phone rings or the doorbell goes off and also a light up fire alarm. I am sure you can get these in America too, but they help my grandfather who is hard of hearing. So that's an idea.

[@mamadragon2151]

Probably COULD get them But the Vogon Crew get Buried and Overwhelmed and a+b≠ C So....Norway...European...Beautiful ❤❤❤ BUT, US AMERICANS, *I'm cross the border up North Though🇨🇦 Do not have the privilege or luxury Of These Particular Life Saving*Changing -Just enough to be Allowed to Function- Tools, at Our Immediate Disposal Really, It's Just Alot Of GateKeeping Shadowed over with Promises, & False Hope & Miscommunication & Misunderstandings & occasionally Outright Abuse Neglect Control Manipulation Coercion And so so so much more We mis invested our priorities and Are outlandishly often Looking for a Pat on the Back *white male privilege 🙄 🤫 🤮 A bail out A scapegoat It's truly horrifically #TheTruth But welcome to American Pleasure pass to : Bat Country at the Ready 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

[@crystalsolly7138]

I have a light that goes off on my phone when I get a message or a phone call. I also like that these days there is an option on phones for hearing impaired

[@GreyWolfASMR]

I am im America and took several ASL classes where we also learned about deaf and hard of hearing culture. We do have the flashing alarms and shake alarms.

[@Duskepuden]

I were about to suggest the same, so good job.

[@Waterlily6519]

@@Duskepuden Thank you 😊

[@kennethbornert5090]

My wife was a musical performer, then became totally deaf. Her cochlear implant was a failure, and we learned sign language. While she can still use her voice, her musical skills suffered irreparable damage. Her Broadway dreams were completely shattered. Thank you both for all your passion. Keep up the great work.

[@icecreamladydriver1606]

I am so sorry to hear this. I hope she has been able to create new dreams. Best to both of you.

[@johnellis9981]

My wife has a hearing disorder and we use an alarm clock that has a wired vibrating disk that goes under your pillow. Something to consider. Best wishes to you both.

[@adnagapot]

Was going to suggest this but you beat me to it, they also make a version that connects to your fire alarms

[@rlGinjaNinja]

Also bumping this up. Best way to go for alarm clocks for Deaf and Hard of Hearing people.

[@DriveCarToBar]

My grandfather had one of these. The disc thing plugged into the alarm clock on his nightstand. It was a pretty normal looking alarm clock. They also make wristband alarm clocks that buzz and vibrate to wake you up.

[@jonnacarroll7435]

Yes, there are a million devices, ask an OT but there are also light and vibration adaptations for doorbells etc.

[@horizoon]

Bellman & Symfon have these alarms, doorbells, baby phones , and so much more for deaf and hard of hearing people.

[@maryricharte4488]

1 solution that might help with emergencies is getting a dog that can be trained to alert or wake Kathy when needed. Just a helpful suggestion. Thank you for sharing this story. It really sheds a fantastic light in hearing loss and those who suffer from it. 👍🏻👍🏻🌸

[@mrschuyler]

Yup.. Get a trained service dog

[@Catilieth]

A service dog for the deaf and hard of hearing. These dog are trained not only to wake you when the alarm goes off, but alert you when the doorbell rings, the baby is crying, the timer on the oven or microwave, and many more things.

[@trans-forming]

A lot of fitness watches will also wake you up with vibration. Set the alarm on the phone, and the watch buzzes on your wrist when it's time. I use that feature when I don't want to wake another person in the room.

[@Edgeofthornes]

As someone with both hearing loss (though it’s only partial) and a chihuahua (yah Tigger!) I can tell you she warns me of all those and more (anyone simply approaching front door or patio, or she can tell my wound care nurse’s ringer and the ringer when paratransit arrives from general and other special ringers and reacts with great fuss for both and will run and get her harness).

[@ALCyoga8]

I use an apple watch to wake me up..when its on silent it just vibrates on your wrist

[@Hackanhacker]

@D C 🤦‍♂️🤣

[@makeitkate3240]

Hi Geoff. I know you probably won’t see this, but I want to tell you that I am incredibly, massively grateful that you put this video out. It was randomly recommended to me when it first uploaded. Because of this video, I realized that my hearing problem was bigger than I thought, and that I could get real help. Because of your video, I went to an audiologist and found out that I had significant hearing loss. I received hearing aids that very day, and the impact has been tremendous. I learned that by the time hearing loss can be detected, you’ll have already lost 50% of your hearing. I learned that hearing loss causes cognitive decline. I’ve learned that tinnitus is a symptom of hearing loss (I have 3 kinds of tinnitus). I’ve learned that it impacts your communication, because not only does it make it harder for you to hear, it also makes it much harder for you to speak. I believe in God and I believe in miracles, and I believe that it is a miracle that God put your video in front of me. Thank you Geoff.

[@dianapulido1807]

Thank you for your response. Just like Geoff helped you you have helped me. I have had less hearing in my left year for about 40 years (I'm 63) but I basically ignored it. Since 2015 I have had tintinitis, and again basically ignored it. Thanks to you I'm not going to ignore it anymore. I'm going to get my hearing tested ASAP.. thank you for helping me realize I have to stop ignoring this.

[@HDSpuerstar]

Geoff is so wholesome, can barely contain how much he's in love, literally having heart eyes everytime he turns around and sees Kath

[@johnellis5820]

Great couple I too have to have hearing aids from being a flight line mechanic in the AF. I do sleep with mine in but maybe some kind of vibrating wristband for emergencies???

[@A.L._S.]

I, too, am melting over how freaking CUTE these folks are.

[@rachelmiller3652]

I had a roommate in college who was hearing impaired and wore hearing aids. She would always tell me when she was taking them out so I knew I needed to get her attention another way. She lives in Nashville now and back when they had the tornado go through, she slept through the whole thing. My suggestion would be vibration equipment. I know deaf people who have vibration pads for their bed to wake them up and I’m sure they could be connected to emergency alerts as well. Thank you for sharing your journey!!

[@claxtona76]

Yes! Was going to say, I had a child who slept through his alarm. I bought him a sonic alarm clock. It has a vibration pad that goes under the mattress or your pillow. It really works!!

[@SuperJaXXas]

Well on another disability note, I had a roommate in college who was seriously color blind, you should have seen some of the stuff I sent him to class in..........but if you wake me up all blurry eyed at 6 AM, you get what you get............

[@RedRoseSeptember22]

That's a great idea!!

[@l3v1890]

Yeah I have an alarm clock that has a puck connected to it that you slide in your pillow and it shakes me awake. As far as emergencies go I don't own anything for that but maybe they make something similar that would connect to a phone and shake you up if you get a call.

[@mamoke]

Bellman & Symfon pillow shaker and flashing alarm, pairs with smoke detectors. alarm clocks and (landline) phone. I'm sure there are different brands but that's the solution here

[@garywiseman5080]

I love the deaf jokes. I remember a grandpa with a hearing aid the size of a transistor radio. Sometimes when grandma was chewing him out, he would put his newspaper down, take the hearing aid out of his pocket, and ceremoniously turn it off. This always caused grandma to storm out of the room, which would put a wry smile on grandpa’s face.

[@senditkevin]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/imi4opt6qJ2toJY

[@singjazzy6697]

I too remember those big hearing aids. In fact, as a kid I would not want to be close to a person who had them. Maybe it was because they never talked. I think ear buds will destroy many ears in the future. Also the heavy bass in music that blows your headphones off your head.

[@Naomi-w1p]

Kathy is a very beautiful and strong woman. Geoff is so lucky to have her.

[@updownstate]

What if she was ugly and strong?

[@Naomi-w1p]

She would still be such an amazing woman. She's NOT ugly at all. She is sooooooooo BEAUTIFUL.

[@OG_champmav]

I'm a "semi-retired" otolaryngologist (ENT), also a long-time singer with many genres of choirs and small ensembles, and have become a fan of VoicePlay. I'd just like to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! You are performing a valuable public service. The hardest thing for many of my hearing loss patients to accept has been that they have a deficit in the first place, secondly that it can be helped. Videos such as this reach a wider audience and communicate the problem using first-hand experience in such a valuable way. It is sometimes the only form of information that certain people will hear and accept. Once again, thank you! RD

[@isleofjava5964]

My husband is an example. When we met in 1989, there were times he had trouble understanding my “mumbles.” Over time, of course, it was worse. From 2001-2006, he was headmaster of a private school and I was the IT person. The students used to ask me I’d Dr. M was angry at them because he’d walk right by when they spoke to him. It wasn’t until early 2007, when he was a licensed psychologist at a state mental health institute that he had to face his problem. The director told him what we’d been telling him. He got his own aids then and was delighted. Now, I have them and I thought I understood all the hearing loss issues. I did not. It’s so complex and personal to each of us.

[@sweetmissirish]

Yes! My dad is half deaf, as is my brother. ENTs have saved what hearing they have left but it's always hard when their hearing goes down for whatever reason or we realize that they've lost a bit more.

[@sarahdurantsmith1278]

This was me! I had my hearing tested as part of occupational physicals a few times as an adult and the docs were so excited to tell me I had a hearing loss. I'd get defensive. I thought they were excited because I was an anomaly, but looking back, I realize they were probably excited because they thought they were about to make a huge difference in my life. I had no idea what was possible. Stories help so much

[@FoodNerds]

Otolaryngologist was one of my vocab words as my mom was an RN.

[@thatweirdgirlvip]

This video made me tear up. I'm not deaf but I'm blind. I lost my sight when I in 3. I'm 15 now but I don't remember what things look like though. I depend so much on my other senses and people treat me differently for it. They don't think they do but I guess it's just a natural response. Their such an adorable couple!!! I love how Cathy doesn't let what happened define. There's no cure for what I have. Might not be in my lifetime. I hope I'll find happiness like that someday.

[@RICDirector]

You can do it. You can do ANYTHING, and to heck with everybody else. It is normal to treat those who are limited, physically or in their senses, differently. It isnt that YOU are different, its that THEY dont know how to mesh with you. Sometimes, you have to just tell them, and thats okay. When my mom lost her legs, it was super hard to treat her normally. It shouldnt have been so hard; I mean, SHE hadnt changed, right? But it was. And she had a hard time adjusting to that difficulty, too. Right now, you are in some of the most adaptable years of your life. Use that to find useful solutions to difficulties, and utilize the internet to pick peoples brains for ideas, and to share yours. YOU CAN DO IT. Many hugs and loads of supportive thoughts from N CA USA

[@maowtse]

Audiologist and theater nerd here: there are some tactile and visual alerts that are great for when hearing aids are not worn or for Deaf individuals. Often they can be found when searching for "deaf alert" devices. Common devices include bed shaker alarm clocks or vibrating alerts on smart watches. Lights can also be hooked up to flash when dinnertime is at the door/smoke alarms. Additionally, hearing aids with telecoil may be helpful for streaming sound directly to the aids in certain theaters and other areas. The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) also had resources for where sone telecoil systems are used. I hope this helps. Thanks for sharing your story!

[@Marina_Ludvigova]

We are all different, and everyone can have any health problems. And among the young, and even more so in old age. When my old mother began to understand speech poorly, at first I thought she was _hard of hearing._ I leaned into her ear and spoke louder. Mom would pull away and say: "Don't shout! I'm not deaf!" Gradually, I realized that it's not about the power of sound. Just, as she got older, she began to distinguish words poorly. When I was talking to her, I tried to stand or sit in front of her so that she could see my face. Facial expression, as well as lip movements, helps to understand speech. I tried to articulate the words clearly, I spoke in simple phrases. It's become a habit of mine when I talk to older people at all. And sometimes they thank me for being so attentive. 😉😊

[@pamelastafford3523]

My hubby of 40+ years is hearing impaired, probably since birth, and got his first set of hearing aids at 18. I was with him when he stood outside under a tree, stunned at the sound of birds for the first time. I am a professional singer, and all my kids sing and play instruments. Hubby loves joining in in whatever key he feels comfortable in, no matter which one we are singing in at the time! We don't mind though because he loves music. I tell him that when he sings, the very angels of God stop to listen because he is not singing to perform, but opening his heart and letting the song flow straight to heaven. There is no sound more beautiful.

[@NJBrand]

Your hubby is making a joyful noise unto the Lord and Heaven above. :) Thank you for sharing.

[@nancyweiss612]

[@rrrosecarbinela]

I wholeheartedly agree. I love it when my spouse sings to me! :)

[@ImFrantic]

I know this is a really serious topic but.. Can we please agree, that Geoff should do those videos more often? Like regular KZbin stuff. He hasn't done this much but it's just so damn good :D Little sketches and stuff. Awesome

[@jamie9726]

U ask the man to sell his soul lol

[@laurag7295]

He is on Patreom, apparently

[@kennethfinnegan2978]

I didn’t think I could like you more than I did Geoff, until I learned how you talk to and adore your wife. Now I love you even more!

[@bonniegrafer7526]

I have almost the exact same hearing loss as Kathy. I teach elementary art. (COVID was a nightmare) My students have to be accommodating to my hearing loss. The students always ask me what it's like without my hearing aids. I'm going to share this video with my students and friends so they can hear for themselves what it sounds like for me. Thank you to both of you for bringing attention to this!

[@cloudsorano2344]

I follow Voice Play for about 3 years, especially because of you. I have profound hearing loss since birth and use Sign Language, and your voice is the one that I hear the most (I hear bass more, and can't hear high pitch - I can say that I never was able to hear Micheal Jackson). Also your band add captions to your videos which makes it much more enjoyable. I am so surprised to come across this and I have to say, THANK YOU SO MUCH! for talking about hearing loss.

[@LiveSimpleLiveFree]

Thank you for this… for your transparency and candor. My wife and I have been professionally musicians all of our lives (we’re mid 60’s), and now my wife is loosing her hearing. It’s difficult and heartbreaking! She always has the TV too loud, and she accuses me of mumbling. Fortunately she can still play the piano because of muscle memory.

[@dimakalenyuk9286]

what is condor?

[@LiveSimpleLiveFree]

@@dimakalenyuk9286 candor

[@jeanblythe1595]

I'm so sorry for this :-( I've been a subscriber for years, and this is tragic! I hope hearing aids or something can help Elizabeth.

[@markusfreund6961]

@@dimakalenyuk9286 A huge scavenger bird native to South America 😉

[@dimakalenyuk9286]

@@markusfreund6961 are you kidding?

[@lauraeditor]

A simple "thumbs up" isn't enough to indicate how much I like this video! I am also dealing with hearing loss (from age 5) and hearing aids (from age 44)--I find the same disadvantages as Kathy. Being in a loud restaurant or a meeting can be almost unbearable. I think it's really important that you made this video, as hearing loss is on the rise and people really resist getting hearing aids. Thank you for sharing your story so honestly and so warmly. More hugs (without feedback)!

[@anna_in_aotearoa3166]

15:00 Kathy's reminder about invisible disabilities is greatly appreciated!! As somebody who lives with a bunch of those, it sometimes feel like you're always having to explain & apologize & be the disruption...? It gets exhausting. And has really opened my eyes to how rare true empathy is. The more people cut each other a bit of slack around needs they don't understand, the more our world would become a far easier place to navigate.

[@LornaW-AngelW]

Your video helps so many people. Thank you. Love and happiness to you both and your family❤❤

[@KnittingmommyArts]

Shout-out from someone who also has a hearing loss. It's always super hard explaining to others what it's like to have a hearing loss. It's one of those invisible disabilities that is easy for others to ignore. I think you gave a great explanation and examples of Kathy's type of hearing loss. As for tools Kathy might want to look into, there are alarm clocks for the deaf. They come with a bed shaker that goes on the bed and will vibrate when the alarm goes off. There are also wireless doorbells that have flashing lights. You might also want to look into smoke detectors that have flashing lights for the deaf. There are so many tools available now that weren't available when I was first diagnosed with hearing loss as a kid. Learning American Sign Language might also be something you both might want to look into. It's a great language to learn, a beautiful way to express oneself, and a nice thing to have should Kathy's hearing get worse to the point hearing aids no longer are beneficial. Hugs to both of you.

[@rrrosecarbinela]

I wholeheartedly concur with you, knittingmommy!

[@melanezoe]

We started using ASL with our babies at six months of age. (We are all hearing people.) it was amazing how well we could communicate long before they could speak. And how we can “talk” in a noisy crowd or just when we want to have a private conversation. Then when the girls hit school, they could communicate with hearing-impaired friends. It’s the perfect “foreign “ language, because even if other language speakers’ sign languages differ, many still use many of the ASL signs, so my daughters “speak” Spanish, French,German, and even some Chinese.

[@janetdw]

@@melanezoe That is amazing. I wish I had thought to do something like that. For a short time I was kind of sort of conversational if we were talking about something I knew about. One of my roommates in college had a younger sister was profoundly heard of hearing. So she was teaching us a lot of signs and in high school I learned finger spelling although I’m really really slow. Ivy loved to come visit us because she could actually participate in conversations. And she was the expert and we were the ones struggling! But I wish I thought to start teaching my son that just for communication. I tried teaching him (from my high school Spanish days) some Spanish when he was young because I remember from my education classes that learning a foreign language opens new synapses in your brain and makes it easier for you to learn other new skills.

[@susieg4624]

​@@melanezoe What an excellent idea. If everyone had sign language as a second language throughout the world then they could communicate wherever they are and far fewer misunderstandings would happen. And nobody need ever feel isolated, lost or alone. A long-term project but it would definitely be worth it.

[@heidistearns1086]

I notice when people are deaf and there was a fire there would be red flashing lights installed so it can warn those people. And also have you guys tried sign language? I never knew you guys were dealing with this. You guys are wonderful people and never give up 😊 God bless you guys

[@Rock2HAL]

I was just going to FYI them about the flashing lights and ask about sign language too. I have deaf friends and know some about this stuff. Also I'd like to add to them an alarm clock that vibrates under a pillow and/or bed or one that flashes? Also my name is Heidi too. :)

[@billparrish4385]

Or like that one time when Kathy was lying there napping in a full black dress, woke up screaming, Geoff says, "Oh good, you're awake," takes her in his arms and dances her out of the room. Good times.... 😎 Hope we get to see more of the always-lovely Kathy in Geoff and VP videos! As to devices, the Apple watch can be configured to vibrate quite noticeably for alarms or incoming calls by playing with the haptics settings. Or if that doesn't meet your needs, there are numerous vibrating 'alarm watches' on the market. There are also vibrating pads for the bed that connect with wires to phones or alarm clocks. Likewise, strobes and red lights can be obtained that are bright enough to wake the hearing impaired, to alert them to check a phone or clock. Hope the hearing aids will continue helping for a long time! There are also some nutritional approaches (magnesium, vitamins A, C and E, ayurvedic), exercises to increase blood flow (downward dog, etc.), and research into the genetic aspects of the cochlear cilia is ongoing every day, with potential gene therapies just over the horizon. Appreciate you folks sharing this glimpse into your personal lives. But Geoff's shower comment aside (ba-dump-cha!).... Seriously, this will no doubt help people going through what will be for them a potentially scary time, by seeing a beautiful couple navigating it with grace, humor and confidence. Thanks for all you both do!

[@wadepg]

You both are a breath of fresh air. TY for this. I have meniere`s disease. I experience aproximately 45% hearing loss in both ears. I am also a musician but worked as a chef for almost 40, retired now. Protect your ears folks. But, Like you Kathy, in our cases, it was just going to happen. God Bless and Merry Christmas. Yes. I`m a christian. I LOVE THE LORD! :)

[@chrisd7047]

It's never too early to learn to sign, especially while your son is little. It'll be much easier for him to learn than for you and Kathy. Also, I don't know if you're into the Marvel aspect of life, but their Hawkeye series deals a bit with hearing loss. Hawkeye in the comics is basically deaf, and in the MCU has suffered significant hearing loss. I understand Jeremy Renner himself is hard of hearing. They also had a deaf character named Maya Lopez (Echo) who was played by a deaf actress (Alaqua Cox). Alaqua pretty much exclusively signs to communicate and the show did an excellent job of incorporating the ASL around her. The show might give you a feel for how your family could incorporate it into your lives.

[@cydvicious88]

It boggles my mind how quickly children learn ASL. It's absolutely amazing to watch!

[@melissawardjohns220]

there are also deaf X-Men. i had a sibling who didn't speak and later learned to speak thanks to sign language. it's a fantastic way to communicate in a church without interrupting too much. also you can flicker the lights to get attention. i have mild hearing issues from growing up near guns. i love how supportive you are to your wife. also those wedding videos are fantastic it's just so wholesome.❤

[@rebeccscreasman3293]

I wrote a long message, but it failed to post. My sister is deaf. And it has affected my life, profoundly. Do I blame her. Nope. Not her fault. She had meningitis, and, when I had a student who when through the same thing, my mom was contacted, and I bless my parents for telling the doctors to go stuff themselves. For them and those parents. They made my sister sound like a lost cause.

[@Broomrider1492]

You should check into service Dogs for the Deaf or Hearing impaired. Many years ago I had a friend whose older sister had one. Alerted her to all kinds of things. Phone ringing, doorbell / knocking, alarm clock, smoke alarm, traffic when crossing the street, etc. I forgot the most important thing was the dog would wake or alert her if her baby was crying.

[@samanthagerke5080]

Hey Geoff, I was raised by someone with profound hearing loss (my Mom) and here are a few things that might help you to know. 1) one option for accessibility that iPhones have is that you can set the flashlight to blink when it rings/ has a notification go off. (one blink? notification. blink blink blink blink blink? the phone is ringing. 2) I had a classmate with Deaf parents in 4th grade (the first time I had a sleepover at a friend's house) and found out that you can get a light rigged up to light up when the doorbell rings. 3) you can get a light set to blink when the fire alarm goes off, so if you are worried about Kathy not hearing the fire alarm, maybe that will help? Oh, and as someone who has been to a movie theater, sometimes it's glasses, but other times there's a little device that fits in the cupholder and points at the screen and has subtitles appear without being right there on your face (a helpful option for glasses wearers who need the subtitles). I've got problems sometimes with auditory processing, as does my s/o, so the subtitle screen thingamajiggy does come in handy, which is why I mention it. Have y'all started ASL lessons yet? My mom and I took classes from our local community college as a bonding thing, but it came in handy as the hearing problems worsened for her. (When I was 10, she was 75% in one ear and 15% on the other. By the time I was 17 she was 97% in one and 37% in the other.) Best wishes to y'all.

[@jalyc]

At 7:00 Kathy reminded me of when my middle son was about 2 y/o. He'd had several bad ear infections and they put in tubes (twice). For a few days all we heard was "Wha dat? Wha dis? Wha soun?" as he listened to things like birds singing, the vacuum cleaner, dishwasher, etc. and "Too loud, TOO LOUD!" with the TV, cars, radios, etc. By 4 y/o his 2y/o brother was talking the same way with no ear infections. At one test he refused to speak, but going there I told them he had said "Ah wan peh de caws." No one could understand so I translated. "I want to pet the cows" which were in a field we passed. They both were in speech therapy for a few years. By my older boy's release at around 8, we were told he had a permanent 20% hearing loss. No hearing aids and seems to function well, in his 30's now. At 72 my kids now speak too softly and mumble most of the time. Might need to get all 5 into speech therapy now. 🤣

[@billp5566]

I used to volunteer with the Canadian Hearing Society a long time ago, before cell phones (the dinasaurs played in the snow), and one of the devices used was a Flashmaster alert system. The doorbell, phone, smoke detector, and alarm clock, was wired into the base and a lamp was plugged into it. The lamp would flicker differently for each device. Might I also suggest that Geoff carry a small flashlight. When you want Cathy's attention, shine the flashlight around her, and she will be aware you are trying to get her attention. It works well inside, day or night. Also stamping your foot will create a vibration she will feel.

[@benlitfin2275]

I was just thinking about something like that with LED strips throughout each room up high. Different colors or like you said, different blinking codes. I'm a PC gamer and see computer boxes lined with LED stripes. Set a Bluetooth strip above each door (both sides) and woolah every PC gamer would love your house!

[@rachelmccullough5004]

Waving your arms and flicking on and off the light switch are some things that you can do too.

[@dewey108]

You and your wife make a lovely couple. The love you share is nearly tangible through the computer screen. :)

[@queen0fcupsvid]

Kathy, Geoff, thank you for sharing your burdens. I too have an invisible disability and have yet to come out on the "other side" and found my new skills and path, like Kathy described. Her message of solidarity and hope means the world to me. Your work on your own and with VoicePlay has brought me so much joy and I am eternally grateful.

[@coltn7432]

People like Kathy are the reason I took ASL (American sign language) classes in highschool. I haven't had many interactions with deaf or hard of hearing, outside of teachers, but the few I've had are amazing. Thank y'all for everything y'all do

[@TheChaosVariant]

I work in a hotel that has hearing and visually impaired rooms. There are lights and bells for when someone needs to get the attention of a guest inside. They're also set to go off if we pull the fire alarm. They make alarms that pulse light rather than sound (both the wake up kind and the "Hey you're in trouble" kind).

[@GeoffCastellucci]

INTERESTING! I never knew that those rooms existed, but we'll keep that in mind for the future - THANKS!

[@TheChaosVariant]

@@GeoffCastellucci Yes! Many of the newer hotels are adding them in to be more compliant with the ADA. If I'm not mistaken, really old properties aren't required to have them unless they get a full renovation. I work for Holiday Inn, an IHG property. Best advice is to call ahead and specifically request one if available! Glad I could help!

[@larrycot]

Thanks, Kathy for your words at the end. I've been super-healthy my entire life, and this year a congenital heart defect with some complications that caused me a defibrillation, a follow-on surgery, and 50 days in the hospital. That was a couple months ago, and I'm doing... slightly better. Thanks for acknowledging permission to be sad. It helps.

[@eagerEman25]

I hope you’re ok now

[@BlindNeil]

I'm just a friendly blind/visually impaired Canadian that stumbled across your videos. Dude like i need to tell you, your voice is awesome. And I am saddened to hear about your wife's hearing. I'm glad tech is helping her. I hope your little one's hearing stays fine. There is a bed shaker alarm clock I have heard of , by now i bet you's have as well. If you do read this. I hope you are all well. I have Hit the Big button and the bell.

[@cassiedeehoo]

I love love his “singers who can move well”. So hilarious and adorable.😊

[@anwar83wtf]

You two are so adorable together. And the sweet way you talk about her... she's a special lady

[@bwaychick20]

I appreciate that you and your lovely wife were willing to share this journey with us. I hope you reach people who need to hear the message!

[@kindcopywithjen]

There’s a name for that weird off pitch thing that makes everything sound like a Dalek?!? Thank you so much for sharing your journey - you’ve given me words I can use as I seek treatment (I also have constant high pitch tinnitus). I’m a singer too and this has been a devastating shift for me. I’m literally in tears of gratitude to you both right now. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@TsgtLengacher]

Nice Doctor Who reference. Amazing way to describe it. I LOVE THIS

[@tinad8561]

Sympathies about the tinnitus; I’ve got it too. Sounds like an old-fashioned tv warming up, only a bit higher pitch, and it gets louder when I’m tired or stressed. 🔔

[@katherineh2633]

They are such a nice couple ,The idea of her not being able to hear him talk or sing beautifully like he does would be so heartbreaking. Very lucky to have each other and help each other !

[@AssortedBits]

The inability or difficulty of separating fore- and background audio (when Kathy is talking about her hearing aids) is also something which occurs in people with certain sensory processing disorders, such as people with autism (keep in mind that this is a spectrum and might/will differ from person to person). Anyway: great video on an important issue!

[@pleasegoawaydude]

I have autism, and I was thinking throughout that entire section that she was describing almost exactly what I experience in loud environments. Of course, since I don't have technology dictating the focus of noise, I have learned to filter it out. But I am worried that if I do lose my hearing and have to use hearing aids later in life, I may not be able to deal with that effect!

[@josiahtheblacksmith467]

Social anxiety disorders also cause issues with background noise causing issues, ADHD as well.

[@queenofpixels5458]

My grandmother lost her hearing to measles back in 1910s. She lived with us during her elder years. When she would get mad at my mother she would turn her hearing aids off. Which would make my mother even madder. She would be stamping her feet or slap her hand on the wall to try and get grandma's attention. For some reason, us kids thought it was hysterical.

[@dorisdonnell8791]

True love, true bravery, true beauty and true humanity! You two are the sweetest! All the love from here! ❤

[@LanceMorris-f3z]

Hearing your speaking voice makes me wonder if Carl Sagan was also a bass singer. 🙂Getting to know you and your family a little bit makes your music even more entertaining. Thanks for sharing both of these aspects of your life.🙂

[@Magma-33]

Huge fan Geoff, keep doing what you do😄

[@GeoffCastellucci]

Thanks, will do!

[@TheBoringBelgian]

Incredible! Geoff & Kathy, thank you so much for sharing your story and your experience, to offer hope to those who might be going through a similar thing in their lives. It is a privilege for you to be so vulnerable. You will touch many lives with this, I know you will. I'm happy Kathy found a solution and I especially love her message of hope at the end. Such a wonderful video you made, with your typical sence of humor, making this an honest, open, vulnerable yet entertaining and lighthearted approach. Thank you! Super happy to be a patron of yours, to be able to help you create music videos, but also things like this. An honor!

[@SFCvideography]

Thanks for sharing this, because ALL of the unseen disabilities need airtime! I'm autistic, and what she described as what she hears with the hearing aids sounds just like what many of us autistics cope with!!! While sounds will come through at different levels, the more of them there are, the more it overwhelms us- which is why I don't like most restaurants: too many people talking over each other. Kathy, thank you for sharing your story!! Flashing lights, special ADA alarms, can help with emergencies?

[@nikihana7276]

She's so blessed to have someone like Geoff as her life partner

[@77kiki77]

Thank you Geoff for sharing your wife's tale ! I think she's happy because of you ! Thanks to you, I hitted about 4 months ago the A0, and recently I did a hearing test, and the doctor said to me : you heard 0.5 dB songs. I hope Kathy will be able to hear it. The most important is she's happy. Keep it on Geoff and carry on taking care of Kathy. Courage and strength from France

[@kevinmerlo1885]

A0 Is impressive mate, I can control max an A1 but Tecnically I talk with a G2|F#2 so That's not pretty correct idk Why. And you're very kind to Jeoff, ain't gonna lie

[@77kiki77]

@@kevinmerlo1885Thank you very much ! And the most impressive is I'm only fifteen. Don't worry, you're awesome too !

[@kevinmerlo1885]

@@77kiki77 One year above me, we're going to be bass, and Why Do I stop to A1? That doesn't make me sense

[@77kiki77]

@@kevinmerlo1885 I hitted A0 when I sang Far over the misty mountain cold. Before hitting low notes, I sing "little songs" like "auld lang sign" by Home Free, or "I can't help falling in love with you" by Voiceplay, which permit me to prepare my voice to go deeper and deeper. After that, I increase the level, singing "How great thou art", and "Sixteen tons". And then to test my voice, I go up and up, and suddenly go deep (like in "Oogie-Boogie song"). If I reached it without breaking my voice or having throat ache, I start singing "Far over the misty mountain cold", and now I'm able to sing A0, almost lower 'cause "lonesome road" by Tim Storms goes deeper, and I reach to sing most of the notes.

[@lisemartino1995]

Watching/listening to this through my hearing aids. My daughter (a professional classical singer (mezzo soprano) and composer) is sadly losing her hearing too - getting fitted for her first hearing aids next week; and this is potentially career ending at 25 years old. We send our warmest wishes to you both. Thank you so much for this videos.

[@nardiboiii01]

Thank you for visiting the earth Geoff.

[@GeoffCastellucci]

You're welcome? 👍

[@nardiboiii01]

@@GeoffCastellucci i didn't EXPECT THIS!! 🔥 Thank you Geoff!!🙂

[@laineehazlehurst1119]

Thank you for making this video. I found out last year that I was losing my hearing, and I was terrified. I even told my audiologist that I would prefer to go blind, because I know what things look like, I've experienced colours, but the thought of never hearing music again....that really scared the hell out of me. I wish that I'd seen this video before I started freaking out!

[@Linda-d1r5x]

I was told at 52 that my hearing loss would progress until I couldn't hear at all. I'm 76 now and my loss is at the profoundly hard of hearing level. Even with hearing aids I have difficulties. I grieve about it frequently. I hope you still have many good hearing years ahead of you. There are many resources available with more to come. Light and Love, Linda

[@spideravengermiller3920]

Man Geoff I’m sorry for Kathy’s hearing but thank you for making it a fun tale about your guys

[@pamelabuchanan3960]

Flashing lights for emergencies. They can be wired into your smoke detectors.

[@hazelsdaughter5099]

Geoff, I fell in love with your voice when I was looking for Tennessee Ernie Ford's "Sixteen Tons". I found your version and couldn''t believe what I heard and saw. I send it to random email friends just to blow their minds! But when I saw this video about hearing loss, I knew I had to play it for my husband who has hearing loss from his military service in Vietnam. He felt validated when Kathy said how "tinny" things sounded with the hearing aids - one of his complaints, and one reason he doesn't like to wear them. He has complained to me about yelling at him, and it's because I don't know if he heard me the first time I said something and didn't answer or just didn't hear me, so I get louder. We could relate to everything y'all talked about. I loved the banter between the two of you. It's nice to see couples who genuinely love each other. My husband and I have been married 35 years, and I love him more now than when I married him. Kathy's remark that she could "ignore you on purpose," was priceless. Your video has really helped my husband feel better about wearing his hearing aids and helped him see that he is not alone in the problems he has encountered while wearing them, so thank you! And thank you for all of your wonderful videos!

[@kirkhel]

Loved your comment. My dad is 91 and was in the military. His hearing is pretty bad (especially the higher registers), but he doesn't like wearing his hearing aids. I'll be moving in with him soon and was wondering if you had any suggestions that I can use to get him to wear his aids more. As it is, I have to repeat myself two to three times every time I speak with him. I'll admit, I'm pretty soft spoken, and it is hard for me to raise my voice enough for him.

[@hazelsdaughter5099]

@@kirkhel I understand where you're coming from. My father, at 89, was living with me and refused to wear a hearing aid. We had to shout and repeat ourselves several times. He said we "mumbled". I don't know how your father is mentally, but my father was in the early stages of dementia. When the mind starts to go, it's really hard to reason with anyone. So I'd say it depends on your father's mental state. You may want him to have some cognitive testing. The irony of my situation now is that I have vocal cord damage from LPR (silent reflux) subsequent to a concussion a few months ago (Go figure. My husband can't hear and I can't talk!) My husband, though still mentally alert, was reluctant to wear his hearing aid, too, and I was repeating myself over and over. Now, I sometimes can't even talk. I have to send him texts, and hope he hears his phone go off. My husband, since I really can't talk loud enough for him to hear me now, has given in on wearing his hearing aid but has to be reminded. If you can drag your father to a hearing clinic and have him tested, they might be able to talk him into it. Sometimes another person can get through to a loved one when you can't. Since hearing aids aren't covered by insurance, you may consider some of the others devices available that are practically invisible and work pretty well. They aren't as good as the expensive hearing aids, but they help and are affordable. What has worked pretty well for me in the past is to say that YOU need him to help YOU by wearing hearing aids. Your father may give in to a hearing aid if you put it in terms of helping you. You may even say it hurts your throat to have to talk loud and repeat yourself. Sometimes appealing to someone's compassionate side works. I've been where you are and I understand the difficulties. I wish you the best.

[@kirkhel]

@@hazelsdaughter5099 I'll give that a try. He is sharp as he ever was mentally, but stubborn. If I phrase it in terms of him helping me, he just might start wearing them more. His hearing aides are one of the more expensive ones, and he admits that they work fine, he just doesn't like to wear them. Thanks for the advice. Geoff seems like the perfect partner. Wish I could find someone similar!

[@hazelsdaughter5099]

​@@kirkhel I don't think many people like wearing hearing aids. The sound is tinny and some things sound SO loud. I wear them myself. They take getting used to. I suggest asking him to just wear them for an hour or so a day to start and work up to longer times. The brain needs to adjust. I find that trying to change other people rarely works. Changing ourselves is easier. I hope the approach that it would help you will work for you.

[@katherinkeegan8601]

Thank you to your husband for his service.

[@stacygearou7182]

I struggle with genetic hearing loss that affects my uncle and yet my parents blame loud music. I've had surgery on one ear and need it for the other but I'm trying to wait it out hoping for better techniques. Thank you so much for shedding light on this "invisible disability," as I literally had to hang up a sign at my desk to ask people to look directly at me so I could read their lips (obviously pre-Covid), and to be patient with me as I struggle with significant hearing loss. I've gotten way to much garbage from people who think I'm making it up. They think they can tell someone struggles with hearing loss just by looking at them or that it's all in our heads. The more people talk about this, the better!

[@szurmatpl]

That's terrible (other people thinking you're making it up etc.)! :( I'm very glad to have watched this video and read comments...

[@jaywebb4992]

Same. In fact, I feel that I must tell anyone who spends much time with me, "I wear hearing aids, and even with them on, I miss a lot of words in a conversation...especially with MASKS. So...if you are talking to me and I make some comment or give you an answer that is COMPLETELY ridiculous or doesn't match the conversation, I probably didn't hear you correctly. Please stop me (after you stop laughing) and repeat what you've said."

[@carielchizzlecoil]

Kathy and Geoff, thank you for demonstrating and explaining an inivisable limitation in an very clear and also human way. As a person with autism, BANG so well illustrated! I should go think about how I am going to explain my thing as cleaerly!!! (Yes, subtitles are awesome).. Much love!

[@carielchizzlecoil]

also helps me just be normal with people around me with hearing aids

[@cookbook800]

Thank you for sharing your story. My husband was born with a hearing loss and no one in his family learned sign language. He was left out of most conversations in the family. Finally in middle school he was sent away to a residential school for the deaf without knowing sign language, his roommate had to teach it to him. It was very difficult for him to stay at a residential school but at least he learned sign language. Either through KZbin or local community classes, please have your family learn sign language. Sadly, some day her hearing might not be assisted through hearing devices and sign language would be a good help for your family to communicate and not leave her out. Better to learn it earlier than later so you’ll be ready if/when you need it.

[@GeoffCastellucci]

Thanks for sharing! Learning sign language is something we’ve started recently.

[@janetdw]

@@GeoffCastellucci Even a few “emergency” symbols may help. In high school, many many years ago ( my son is your age 👵🏼) , a friend of mine and I were separated in class because we talked to each other. So they put us on opposite sides of a U-shaped classroom, not realizing that for her Girl Scouts she had learned to finger spell. So I learned and we still talked in class. 🤫 William is at a good age to think it’s a cool secret language like being a spy. And fingerspelling would be a good way to reinforce spelling lessons. (Can never stop being a teacher I guess 🥴.)

[@62Mitch]

I have had hearing problems all my life. I have had 7 surgeries on one ear and 6 on the other. I wear BAHA hearing aids which help a great deal. Despite all this I play several different instruments with my main being trumpet and manage to tune. I had a doctor tell me that he believes I use my body and skeleton to tune like a huge tuning fork. I appreciate this video so much! Everyone needs to watch this! I will sharing this on my Facebook in hope people will watch. Again, this is so awesome!

[@Inhisarms333]

My best friend was born deaf and got surgery for cochlear implants at two, but her parents could only afford one device. Now almost 24 years later, she was able to get the second device and is practicing with it so she can hear with both ears. I'm so excited for her and cochlear implants have come a long way since she was two! They used to be a box like a portable cassette player that she had to carry around, lol. I'm showing her your video. Thank you for your honesty and encouragement!

[@janh4203]

I can see why you love Kathy. Now I love Kathy too. Beautiful video.

[@daemon_otaku]

Thank you for bringing attention to this condition. My dad ruptured his left eardrum when he was 7 and was diagnosed with profound hearing loss in his right ear when he was 26. He's only 40 and he can't hear me at all unless I'm projecting my voice directly at him and even then he still struggles. He's thankfully learned how to read lips to help him piece together the sound. Again, thank you Geoff and Cathy. I wish you the best for everything in your future.

[@susantant1614]

Why did it take so long to notice hearing loss

[@daemon_otaku]

@@susantant1614 From what he's told me, he didn't start to lose hearing in his right ear until he was in his 20s

[@denisemagnuson8366]

I enjoy your story, sorry Kathy about your hearing loss. My brother was born deaf and he hates to wear hearing aid. Also my best friend is deaf. So I grew up around deaf people and knowing sign language does help. Do you know sign language? In your community you should have a deaf organization that can help in waking up. They have devices to vibrate like a alarm that you can put under your pillow. Also when door bell is rung your lights blinks. I hope this helps.🤟

[@gressamy1]

I can so relate to Kathy’s experience, especially the parts about different hearing levels in each ear and being clueless about what people are saying in a crowd. I was born with nerve deafness in my left ear, but my right ear always seemed to have normal hearing, so nothing was ever done about it, beyond occasional testing. About 20 years ago a free hearing clinic came to town and I was tested for the first time as an adult. According to them I had 5% hearing in my left ear and 85% hearing in my right ear. They were trying to sell hearing aids which I couldn’t afford and my insurance didn’t cover, so again, nothing was done. I have always been able to compensate for my hearing loss issues by positioning people and other sounds to my right as much as feasible, but I know I have missed a lot. In recent years I have noticed that I have to ask people to repeat themselves more often than I used to, and that sometimes I simply cannot understand what people are saying. I am sure that my hearing has deteriorated further. This has inspired me to look into the possibility of hearing aids. I have always shied away from them because of the cost and because my grandfather (who had nerve deafness in both ears) had a very bad experience with hearing aids. (The thing about nerve deafness is that in addition to poor hearing, your ears are also very sensitive to loud sounds with certain sharp loud sounds actually causing physical pain in your ear(s). Think feeing like an ice pick just stabbed you in your ear.) Back to being inspired to look into hearing aids, when Kathy mentioned that they now have Bluetooth technology, it clicked that the technology has advanced so much not only since my grandfather tried hearing aids, but even since I last was tested, that it is a different field altogether. Thanks for sharing this with us. Sincerely, Amy Gress

[@rrrosecarbinela]

You can also try bone conduction headsets for watching TV and such, if your set is bluetooth enabled. I feel your pain.

[@FanboyElric]

Hopefully you can find an audiologist that can help you find a set of CROS style hearing aids that work for you (where in addition to amplifying sound for your bad ear, the aid can also provide audio information to your good ear to help you deal with head shadow effects). Best of luck in finding someone who can really take care of you and find the right aids for you, and be advised that whatever you do come up with ask lots of questions and expect for it to take some time to get used to (as suddenly hearing everything) can be a real challenge if you're not used to hearing the world.

[@cassiedeehoo]

I’m re- visiting this video. I love seeing youthful Kathy and Geoff. I think the “Singers who can move Well” that is my favorite scene. 💗💗💗💗

[@bholliman516]

I can’t even imagine your career revolving around music and having a passion for it then dealing with hearing loss. That has to be so difficult to navigate! Also as a mom either hearing every single thing around you or not hearing your baby at all. God bless you Kathy and Geoff we are big fans! Keep being awesome!

[@gathsfamily2866]

Words from the world !!!

[@KingFamilyReacts]

Thank you both so much for sharing Kathy's story. I have never thought of hearing loss in the ways you both described. Prayers and well wishes to both of you and your family. Also, thank you for being so fun and quirky about Kathy's story. It's inspiring to see such a positive and open approach. The part where you said to each other, "I'm super proud of you" and "I'm super grateful for you" was the icing on the cake. So much love for each other. That's what it's all about. Much love to you.

[@karendye4743]

Geoff, you are an amazing husband from what I can see. The way you have walked through this journey with Kathy, to me is huge. It reminds me of the way my husband has been by my side since I was diagnosed with glaucoma in both eyes 7 1/2 years ago. I have 90% loss in my right eye and around 10% in my left eye. He has been my rock and been through this with me. So to see how you are supportive of Kathy makes me smile. I wish you both well! Thank you for sharing your story!

[@karendye4743]

@@osakarose5612 thank you and I am so sorry for your loss. I don't know what I would do without my husband. I agree with you that he is my strength and soulmate. Prayers for your peace and continued health. Hugs!

[@ceciliagincho6806]

What a great idea to make this video! It is, indeed, heartwhelming besides being informative. Nicer still to see how both of you got and get along with it and, in despite of difficulties, keep up with sense of humor and a remarkable amount of affection too.🥰

[@roadyinzer2461]

I’ve had difficulty with hearing since birth. Also had chronic ear infections growing up that led to seven sets of tubes in my ears. That has led to a lot of scar tissue built up on my ear drums, and has left a permanent hole in one of my ear drums. I learned at a young age to read lips to help me with what I was hearing. This Covid mask thing has definitely made conversations more difficult. I definitely understand when she is in a public place with surrounding noises. That to is when I struggle the most. I can’t separate the background noise from those I’m having a conversation with. I wish her well and she is lucky to have you there to help and support her. God bless.

[@GeoffCastellucci]

Conversations are for sure what she struggles with the most. Hopefully technology will keep advancing and that will be a problem of the past.

[@brianat2007]

I wasn't diagnosed with Central Auditory Processing Disorder until I was an adult so I had to learn as I grew how to compensate for what I would miss. I missed out on needing tunes but I didn't go a month as a young toddler and child without ear infections, so eventually the nerves were damaged. But being that young and not knowing the difference in how I was supposed to hear it was missed for so many years It's crazy difficult to get people to remember to look at me when they're talking to me. To remember that I can't filter background noise. My boss had a good laugh the other day when she stood right next to me to talk and I couldn't read her lips with the masks. I had to stop her and repeat... "I know you're saying actual words, but I got nothing" lol It's a challenging world but thankfully the advancements in tech and having understanding people around can make all the difference.

[@LynetteYoung]

Kathy - this RESONATED with me DEEPLY. I was diagnosed with hearing loss in both ears (got my first aids when I was 44 - I'm now 50 and on my second pair.) I rely on my Apple watch/phone heavily for notifications like alarm as well as having my aids hook directly into my phone for sound. I can't wait to show this video to my husband so that he can SEE and HEAR how my hearing loss actually IS. What great examples Geoff THANK YOU!!

[@iu.5146]

This was so helpful. Recently got hearing aids and the amount of sounds I can hear now is very overwhelming. Trying to participate in Zoom meetings with other party sitting outside, surrounded by different noises, has been very hard and frustrating. You explained why. There are limitations to what a hearing aid can fix/improve. Thank you for sharing so people can better understand what wearing hearing aids means.

[@GeoffCastellucci]

Yeah - there's a real learning curve. Best of luck!

[@NJBrand]

@Ines B. Always ask the host of the Zoom meeting to make sure that captioning and subtitles are available DURING the meeting and not an afterthought so you can fully participate. I always have the captioning running and subtitles up to aid my understanding of what is being said in real-time. Ask if the meeting is (or can be) being recorded so that in case you do miss something you can go back and review for clarification. Even with captions (not always 100% accurate) and subtitles running there will be times when you miss something. Try to save the transcript of the subtitles if you can before the meeting is over! Always a good reference to go back to as well. Good luck!

[@gwen3010]

Bless you both! 🙏

[@mr.garlicman3134]

Everytime i hear Jeff sing i get chills it is so beautiful. His voice is like nothing that you can hear on this earth. It is truly amazing and beautiful.

[@krazed0451]

That's a rough comment on a video about hearing loss...

[@deborah3647]

Geoff, you and Kathy are so adorable together 😊. You can see how much in love with each other you are. ❤ It makes my heart happy.

[@dfalhfgljkgfljhgfljh]

I can somewhat relate to what Kathy went through with her hearing loss. I have Meniere's Disease affecting both ears. Besides hearing degeneration, my balance was also affected and for a long while had bouts of severe vertigo (imagine suddenly having a severe hangover but you haven't drank anything). It got to the point that sounds became muffled. I couldn't even use hearing aides as it did nothing. So for a period of 10 years I couldn't listen to any music. Fortunately, due to special circumstances, I managed to get a cochlear implant back in 2015 and after a few tweaks I could hear "normally". I was overjoyed to be able to listen to music again. The drawbacks to me having a cochlear implant is similar to Kathy so I understand what she is going through. Geoff and Kathy (and all of Voiceplay), you guys are great. :) :) :)

[@angiewoollard704]

Hey there. Fellow Ménière’s sufferer here (among a myriad of other hearing issues that I’m still trying to get sorted out). Can I ask what led to you getting cochlear implants? In my research, it seems most Ménière’s hearing loss is sensorineural which is not amenable to cochlear implants. Have you had an experience different from this?

[@dfalhfgljkgfljhgfljh]

@@angiewoollard704 An ENT specialist recommended getting a cochlear implant. I agreed since I had nothing to lose. At that point I was legally deaf. I could hear some sounds but nothing coherent. Hearing aides only amplified the incoherence. But at least in my case, having a cochlear implant gave me back some sense of normalcy that I didn't have for over a decade.

[@MaryJoD]

I can relate in so many ways. I was diagnosed with a hearing loss when I was in grade school. I took speech classes until high school, but I wasn't fitted with hearing aids until I was a senior in high school. I, too, started off with one aid. Oh, the sounds I never heard before, paper rattling, pens tapping, all this noise! My brain had to retrain itself. Then, I got analog "stereo" hearing aids, two aids. Fast forward 30 years. Now married to a wonderful caring man who still forgets sometimes that without my ears, I am profoundly deaf. I just got my first set of digital Bluetooth hearing aids last June. We're training our dog to be a hearing dog for me to alert me to things like the weather radio and cooking timer. For technology, we have the lights flash when the doorbell rings. I also have the Phonak Roger On, which helps in group settings to focus on the person(s) I need to hear. I do love streaming music and videos directly to my aids, and my hubby doesn't realize I'm streaming and starts talking. I, too, started out my career in music but had to change careers. Even with all this technology, I still rely on lip reading for 90% of my communications. One bit of advice for Geoff is that if Kathy doesn't understand you, rephrase your question or comment. Use different words; sometimes, different words will be clearer. For example, you say, "Let's go to the store," you say, "Let's get groceries."

[@orionbennett776]

Thank you Geoff .... I appreciate this video more than any I have ever seen on YT. As if staring in an audio mirror. I so relate to most of what the two of you said, at age 71, I was out shooting at the range, and before I got my hearing protection on, someone fired a rifle, within about 4 feet of me ... and my hearing was mostly gone. I have a lot of the same hearing issues as Kathy. Being single and retired, I held off on hearing aids, hoping it would get better ... and it didn't. I could hear some sounds better than others ... your voice for instance, I can not only hear pretty well, though harmonies hardly at all. I went with hearing amplifiers, and experienced a lot of noise, but included was everything background ... foot steps, bells ringing, etc. I found an audiologist, who worked with me as long as I bought hearing aids from her, and a few visits to align them for me, and it's more about paying to maybe attempt further adjustments. Hearing aids have helped me like they have your wife ... one on one conversations most, but I back them up with lip reading, and avoiding crowds. My biggest issue, and complaint, is I was part of a musical family, played instruments, and sang (mostly in the shower) ... and enjoyed listening to music. Different artists, give me different results. Some I can hear the vocals (but occasionally, there are flats and sharps that shouldn't be there.). Sometimes I can hear a lead guitar, and limited vocals, sometimes, no vocals, (maybe an occasional word) ... and clearly hear keyboards. Because of that, concerts are out of my life, listening to music is mostly out of my life ... though I still sing in the shower ... and don't know if I am singing in key or not. I keep searching, for maybe a better hearing aid, that will give me music back ... though like everyone, don't have unlimited resources, so currently am using mid $3k hearing aids, that might be adjusted better, but I can't see fit to pay my audiologist for adjustments, all too frequently leaving her office, with her cancelling the attempts. 73 now and retired, I don't often have to wake to an alarm, but have one set, on a radio station at it's loudest volume ... right next to my head, and I usually wake up within ten or fifteen minutes of it going off. A cell phone is kind of a waste, I have a closed captioned landline, so I can communicate with my son and grand daughters. In an emergency, if I am asleep ... fortunately it hasn't happened yet ... but being old, 3 hours of sleep at night is a long time, and I get a nap in the middle of the day making about 5 hours sleep in 24 hours. I didn't want to sound like I am complaining ... just telling my story. I miss music ... as an artist and writer, music sometimes soothed the soul ... and yet the silence is also comforting, and brings no distractions ... so I am still happy to be alive ... just missing music. I would be interested if your wife has tried any devices to help with the other hearing issue, besides the hearing loss ... which sounds vaguely similar to my issues. I would love to hear of any suggestions.

[@joyhyde4271]

I am born profoundly deaf and know what it’s like growing up but in Oct 2001 I has cochlear implant and it’s improve my hearing a bit but still struggling with certain things but my parents tell me that I changed in voice as I use to shout a lots to talking normal. I can’t hear anyone from behind me or in noise environment. You and your wife are doing well I love music so much and your voice when you sing is the only voice I can understand even when you did Shenandoah my favour song. I do struggle when people talk and move at the same time but I multitask a lots growing up. I would like to thank you for sharing your story about the hearing loss 🥰😊 I still struggle with crowd - I have Bluetooth to my aid. I have vibrate wristband watch which helps me to wake up but the only downside I have is if the doorbell goes off or house phone goes off at night I am completely silent at night time. There is a hearing dogs for the deaf in the UK where I live but the waiting list is very long. I just do the best I can do as I have all my life. Like COVID I can’t lip read faces or lips and it’s very hard for the last two years

[@mad1316]

I'm a singer (lyric type bass-baritone), voice actor, and narrator (also a day job in IT). I'm legally deaf in my right ear. Common misconception: that doesn't mean my right ear hears nothing, rather it means that my right ear hears at such a poor level as to be considered legally deaf. It's been an issue since I was a bit younger than 10, caused by a then-undiagnosed medical condition. I've been through 4 surgeries, 3 of which included rebuilding and re-enforcing my right eardrum. As a side-note, an eardrum bursting is a terrible sensation I wish on nobody. My saving grace is that my left ear is textbook normal. With that I've been able to function normally without anyone noticing. What then surprises people is when they hear me sing. I learned to sing entirely by ear. With a mostly dead ear (and asthma as a fun bonus). It's a constant struggle. Every time I get congested, my right ear gets worse (eustachian tube issues) and I have to re-adjust to that and always wonder if I'm going to permanently lose more of what little my right ear still has this time. I have to accept the fact that it's decently likely my right ear will end up completely deaf. When I get older there's a decent chance a cochlear implant for my right ear will be one of the best options available. After what I've already been through surgery-wise, I don't look forward to that. Thank you guys for sharing this. It helps bring attention to an "invisible disability" that affects more than most people realize. Here's hoping medical technology keeps progressing and finding new ways to treat this and many other conditions.

[@seaborntheunready6139]

If anything ever happens to where you can't sing (knocking on wood because you have a great voice) you had me laughing out loud multiple times with the editing. So glad to stumble through a KZbin rabbit hole and end up watching your video.

[@amygilley5647]

My son is deaf and I was worried leaving him home.. we chose a Therapy dog.. why?? He alerted if someone was knocking at the door or if the phone was going off.. Cathy was spot on about how her hearing aids affect her call and response. She mentioned down side to her aids in loud gatherings she takes aids out in frustration (it called sensory overload) My son use to say the same thing and him going un aided was chosen lip reads well. I also am aidee (both ears) left audiologist off with them got to the elevator and I heard a terrible sound I looked 15 feet away a man was fiddling with medial paperwork. I said (yep)nope not hear any of that, pulled the aids out and refuse to wear them again. After my son was diagnosed I thought I needed more college in my life, I became a ASL interpreter. Thankyou for sharing your story

[@theravens_keeper9146]

thank you for sharing this vulnerable part of your life. I've been a fan for years, while also going through hearing loss myself. Your videos actually helped me realize I had hearing loss ( I'd have to say it was the oogie boogie song video. I realized I could only hear the lower scale and not the higher.).

[@theravens_keeper9146]

Although I do not have the loss on my right, only the left, it's still a bit of a hang up. The description of hearing distantly, like putting your eat against a wall. It feels like putting your finger in your ear and then humming. Like your ears refusing to pop after being on a plane. Please, go get checked if you notice changes in your hearing.

[@theravens_keeper9146]

I have protected my hearing all my life, with ear plugs and low volumes. I'm a teenager, it will affect our age range too. It's not just older people.

[@marshayoung9387]

I could not imagine not being able to hear Geoff's voice especially his singing voice. Kathy, I wish you all the best that the Good Lord has to offer. My heart goes out to you & your awesome family. Stay strong you two. Thank you for sharing your story. God Bless you both. I love you both & all you do.

[@jenniferprice8385]

I cannot love this enough! My daughter was 17 when diagnosed with bilateral neurosensory deafness. It's progressing to severe and will continue to deteriorate. It had an impact on her music (played viola but couldn't hear anything in that range anymore! She now plays bari sax and is her college pep band director.) She is applying for a hearing assistance dog--the program is right there in Orlando. You can get bed shakers and flashing lights for alarms, fire alarms, phones, doorbells. We are learning ASL and she has interpreters at school.

[@jsharik2466]

I forgot to mention that I have the same thing that your daughter have- bilateral sensorineural deafness. No two deafness are the same! 😁

[@jenniferprice8385]

Exactly! We're pretty sure it is genetic but she's the first to present so early and moving toward severe loss levels.

[@patriciabrown6754]

I know this was a serious video but the little bits of humor had me rolling including when your wife said she can now ignore you on purpose. I was belly laughing at that one. You’ve also taught me a lesson (imagine a teacher learning something new-j/k). I went to my ENT and he sent me to his in office audiologist. She detected a hearing loss. I knew there was something going on because students with low voices sounded like they were murmuring. However, they refused to order hearing aids for me saying it wasn’t a significant loss. However, in high noise situations of any kind, all I can hear is all of the other noise and not the person speaking directly into my ear. Now I know the doctor should have ordered the hearing aids. I’ve been retired for 5 years now and I enjoy listening to you and VoicePlay here on KZbin. I can’t sing but I do enjoy listening!

[@reginazaskey9338]

Thank you for sharing this! A very realistic explanation of a hearing loss journey! I have bilateral, unequal moderately severe hearing loss and have been wearing hearing aids for over a dozen years (hearing loss since childhood - I'm 66 now. Previous hearing aids were worthless, cumbersome and ugly, I wouldn't wear them). I cried and laughed several times. When you both described her hearing the music in the store and other "hearing firsts", I could so relate! Wearing mine for the very first time, I walked in my backyard in a gentle rain with a friend and I had to stop and ask what that noise was. The friend was very puzzled and answered "The rain in the trees!" I burst into tears, it was so beautiful. I will be sharing this video with my family and friends, who, of course, say they understand...but really don't. Also, thank you especially for your demonstration of the difference between normal hearing and impaired hearing. Your discussion of pros and cons was spot on. The overload of hearing in a multi-sound environment can be overwhelming and exhausting. Some days I get home and rip those hearing aids right out so I can finally relax! Thank you, again! You have done a great service to those with hearing impairment , as well as the people they know and love. Warmly, Regina

[@thetoothfairy7688]

Good thing you are a base-singer, she can feel the wonderful vibration of a base even if she can’t hear it as well. ❤️

[@angiewoollard704]

Geoff, THANK YOU for this video. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. A thousand thank you’s, too, for all those links you included in the description - thank you for giving me somewhere to turn. Thank you thank you thank you. ❤️

[@KAMCmom]

The comments at the end from Kathy are a beautiful reminder for ANYONE dealing with any sort of 'path disruptor' in their lives and I loved and appreciated the silver lining she explained so beautifully! Whatever is coming between you and the things you currently identify with may open doors to find new fulfilling opportunities you would have otherwise missed out on! Thank you both for your lovely attitudes and for creating this conversation starter. I also appreciate that you managed to paint a picture of what it is like for those with hearing loss. What a tool you have provided here! Thank you!

[@kwonjuoak]

Oh my, what a wonderful message. I have hearing loss from my time in the military. They recognize that I have lost the upper and lower frequencies of my hearing, but don't think that I need hearing aids yet. Thankfully, I have a dog that is not a service animal, just a wonderful animal that will alert me when the alarm goes off, the phone rings, or when a flood happens. Having an animal might be an option for Kathy when you're away. I had a flood happen and my dog woke me up at 2 a.m. and I was able to solve the issue . There are also service dogs that can be trained to do additional things for her if that's something that would benefit her. Thank you for sharing your family's story. Super important and alleviates stigma. :) Thank you for sharing this!!

[@aco319sig3]

Ditto. Everything above 4500 Hertz is just gone. Afghanistan, for me.

[@timothybuell3314]

Thanks for this Geoff and Kathy. I'm a singer also, and getting a little older, so about a year ago, I finally gave in to my family and went and had my hearing checked. I found what I kind of suspected, that the higher frequencies were going missing in my hearing. What most people don't realize is that those higher frequencies actually are what define the edges of most diction, so missing them meant that what I was hearing was garbled a lot of the time. As a singer, the change has been profound. It helps me to blend better and better understand when I am singing too loud, which I would frequently do, because I couldn't even hear myself well. Having the hearing aids makes such a big difference.

[@trans-forming]

My father had pretty serious hearing loss from his time in the Air Force in his late teens and early twenties, but he was in complete denial about it until his 70s. He would always complain about how EVERYONE MUMBLES, and he was absolutely certain that this was a problem with the broader culture or something. He'd complain about how music in radio documentaries or audio plays made it impossible to understand the words. He'd complain about how no one ever leaves clear voicemail messages. And he would constantly tell me to "speak up and E-nun-ci-ate". As a kid I suggested once in the nicest way I could that the problem might be hearing loss, and whoo-boy did that not go well!!! I'm not sure what made him finally agree to get his hearing checked. It might have been recommended by his doctor when he got on VA medical care around 72 or 73, I'm not sure. When he got the test he found out that he really did have some serious hearing loss, and it was like this huge epiphany for him. It wasn't that everyone was constantly mumbling, it was that he wasn't hearing the full range of sounds that anyone was making. And WHOA, it wasn't that women always whisper in an attempt to make you lean in to hear them better, it's that he had an especially hard time hearing the sounds in the usual female vocal range. So then he had the opportunity to get hearing aids paid for by the VA. Only, he found out how much hearing aids cost and he nearly refused them. The idea that hearing aids could cost $7000 was absolutely absurd to him, and he for a while he didn't feel like it was OK to make taxpayers pay for that, especially since he'd survived for so long without them. But, his audiologist had a talk with him and convinced him that this was a legitimate thing that would make his quality of life better and that it was the government's duty to pay for it because his hearing loss was linked to his service. When he first got his hearing aids he was IN SHOCK at all the things he'd been missing. Turns out, he was actually not all that happy with having to hear all the noises in the world. One time we were in a Best Buy when a theft alarm went off. My dad was like, "What on Earth is that noise?" and then "Does that happen often?" The poor man was horrified. So, eventually he just kept his hearing aids in his pocket when he was going around doing stuff and would put them in when he had to actually talk to someone. Sometimes you'd have to remind him to put the hearing aids in when he got frustrated with not being able to hear people talking. This comment is long, but I wanted to share the story with you and with anyone else reading who might experience something like this. Hearing aids can be great! And also they can be annoying. Finding the right balance of using them or not is very personal and may change over time. And like Kathy said, its OK to take time to grieve what you are losing, but on the other side of that, there are new things to explore and discover. Thanks for making this video and sharing your journey together with hearing loss, Kathy and Geoff!

[@katherinkeegan8601]

I thank your father for for his service.

[@pamnewton2160]

My husband had hearing loss as a kid, could have gotten a 1Y deferment from the military, went anyway. Worked on aircraft his whole life. I told him he had to look into hearing aids when the TV volume was up to 72! Best thing he ever did. The sounds he had never heard like water running, plastic bags crinkling etc. He's 75, we live in a retirement community. We are both advocates for getting hearing checked. He tells his story with humor and has helped a number of people loose the stigma and fear.