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Did you know that the term 'Deafblind' encompasses all those with varying degrees of both hearing and sight loss and not just those who are completely Deaf and blind? Only a small number of Deafblind people are unable to hear or see anything at all. Most will have some useable hearing and/or vision. 

Despite being very firmly on the Deafblind spectrum, it is not a term I have often used or identified with. I believe this is for a number of reasons. Firstly, there was a large gap between my hearing and sight loss diagnoses, which has caused me to view them and the difficulties they each cause, very separately. 

My hearing loss was diagnosed in 2012 and was caused by physical damage to the inner ear when I fractured my skullI in late 2011. I am profoundly deaf in my left ear and wear a hearing aid to support me.

That same accident triggered the development of a complex neurological disorder, which causes signalling difficulties within my brain and nervous system. Due to my neurological condition, I experience a wide range of symptoms, including seizures, fainting, tremors, limb weakness, temporary paralysis, tunnel vision, visual blackouts, and more. I was diagnosed with this condition in 2016, but my sight loss was not formally registered until 2019, and so in many ways, I am still coming to terms with being legally blind. 

Secondly, I like the majority of the general public, wrongly associated the term 'Deafblind' with complete hearing and sight loss only. I had not considered the wide spectrum it truly encompasses, and that I myself do in fact fall within that spectrum. 

It's only since meeting other Deafblind people and realising that the majority are just like me (with some usefull hearing and/or sight), that I began to explore Deafblindness further and consider my own personal experiences of living with dual sensory loss. 

I have no useable peripheral vision and so will not notice someone stand beside me unless they say something. If they are standing on my left, depending on the level of background noise, I may also be unable to hear them, as my hearing aid does not work well in these noisier environments. 

This has led to several misunderstandings where members of the public have said something like 'excuse me' as I am stood in the way and they wish to pass, but I have seemingly 'ignored them' due to being unable to hear or see that they were there. Eventually, they lose patience and shove past. I might confront them if I'm feeling brave, only to be told that they did infact ask me to move politely several times. 

Navigating busy roads can also be challenging, as I am unable to spot cars approaching until they are right in front of me, and if they are approaching from the left I will also struggle to hear them. My Guide Dog has been a huge help in managing this problem and has, on multiple occasions, prevented me from stepping out into oncoming traffic. I am so grateful to have him by my side! 

There are many other unique challenges that my deafblindness presents in daily life, and it is my hope that by acknowledging, exploring, and embracing these challenges, I may further adapt and overcome. 

In 2023, I will continue to explore my deafblindness and hope to become an active part of the Deafblind community. Steps I am taking to achieve this include: accepting and using the red and white Deafblind harness for my Guide Dog, becoming a member of Deafblind UK, talking to and sharing experiences with other Deafblind people, and using my platform to further break down misconceptions surrounding deafblindness. 

Those who have followed our page for some time will know that I like to challenge myself regularly, and through doing so, hopefully help some others along the way. My next fundraising challenge will be hiking up Ben Nevis (UK's tallest mountain) with my Guide Dog and a sighted guide, I aim to do this in May 2023. 

As a life-long Scout, I am no stranger to hiking. But despite my previous experience, the varying nature of my disabilities means that every hike comes with its own challenges, and it will be no easy feat! 

For my Ben Nevis hike, I will be raising funds for Deafblind UK. If you would like to help me kick off my fundraising and celebrate the start of my Deafblind acceptance journey, please consider donating to my JustGiving page.

As always, thank you for your support in all that we do - Megan & her Superdogs (Ruby & Rowley). 🐾