I was recently given a gift. It was a copy of the book, Fade Not Away: A Memoir of Senses Lost and Found, by Rebecca Alexander, a psychotherapist, who is deaf and blind from Usher syndrome.

It was story I read cover to cover without putting it down. I knew I had to ask her to be interviewed for a podcast.

Many times, the rhetorical question has raised its ugly head: Is it worse to be deaf or blind. Usher syndrome leaves its victim with both.

As Rebecca explains, there is often no timetable for the progression or the degree of the disease. Living under the sword of Damocles, one can be overwhelmed with anxiety or grapple with the problem head on.

Rebecca Alexander is an unstoppable spirit and an extreme athlete. She has summited Mount Kilimanjaro as well as the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. As a therapist, her insights to her own condition and those who suffer from chronic complications are invaluable.

Her website is www.rebeccaalexandertherapy.com

Many who begin their investigation about cochlear implants are confused about the differences between cochlear implants and a device called a BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing Assistance or Aid). They are under the impression that they can choose between these interchangeably.

The BAHA and the cochlear implant are designed for very different types of hearing loss and only the ENT or surgeon can make the determination based on a battery of tests.

I was fortunate to be introduced to Isabella Rodriguez, a recipient of a BAHA since the she was three months old. Her journey has been remarkable. She is amazing and explains the stages of her hearing loss and her decisions to make the best of her life. In fact, she is an inspiration and a prime example of an unstoppable dynamo.

I see nothing but a brilliant future for a very articulate and caring person. I am glad she took the time to talk with me.

Dr. Jack Wazen is an otolaryngologist in Sarasota at the First Physicians Group. He has more than four decades of experience. I interviewed him in 2019 on the topic of cochlear implantation for this website.

The current hot-button topic is Over the Counter (OTC) hearing aid. They were recently approved by FDA for sale in pharmacies and other outlets. These devices are designed for mild to moderate hearing loss and expected to expand the availability of hearing devices at a lower price than prescription.

They may be purchased without a professional hearing evaluation. Is obtaining a hearing aid without a medical exam be good or bad for the public? Is a lower price necessarily the only consideration for a person with a hearing loss?

I was glad that Dr. Wazen was able to sit down with me an opine on this issue and other aspects of OTC hearing aids.