a client of mine -- we'll call her "Rudy" -- has no teeth. she doesn't bother with dentures because that is just a part of her mental illness (she has Paranoid Schizophrenia). the problem? i can't understand her.
you see, i "cheat" a lot (mostly because i'm lazy) and lipread more often than i really need to. well, whenever Rudy talks, i can't help but stare at her mouth to try and figure out what the heck she's saying. Rudy doesn't talk much, but when she does say something, it's usually VERY important. hence the reason why i practically strain my eyes trying to understand her.
last week, i tried something different -- i focused on a different part of Rudy's face (i think it was her eyes) and really LISTENED to her... and i understood what she was saying! imagine that.
each day that goes by, i am reminded of how well my cochlear implant works and how much it helps me -- WHEN I LET IT.
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