I've never been that sociable but thought it was because I'm an introvert. Then I learned I have a rare type of hearing loss | Rachael Groessler

"Even though I had made the appointment, I figured it was sinus trouble or perhaps my ears needed syringing."

"I thought the diagnosis would be something temporary and easily treated."

"It is congenital. About 30% of my hearing is lost. Deterioration is slow."

"It explained why I wanted to shout at people, For God's sake, enunciate!"

The article describes the author's experience leading up to a hearing test due to challenges in hearing conversations, particularly at work. Initially attributing the issue to sinus problems, the author is referred to an audiologist after a simple office test. The hearing assessment reveals mild to moderate mid-frequency hearing loss, highlighting the difficulty with speech comprehension. The author is surprised by the diagnosis, having expected a temporary issue, and learns that the loss is congenital and may progress slowly. The situation provides new insights into ordinary communication struggles during daily interactions.

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