Lip Reading, Loud Rooms, and a Game-Changing Fix

My name is Shonda Shirley (on the left in the picture, with Ruth Register of FAARSP), and I serve as CHAD's Director of Community Partnerships. Hearing has always been a challenge for me. My twin brother and I were both born partially deaf, and from an early age, we had to find ways to navigate a world that wasn’t built for people who couldn’t always catch every word. We had speech therapy to help us communicate, but one of the biggest adjustments was learning to read lips. Our mom was determined to help us master this skill—even if it meant turning the TV volume all the way down while we tried to watch Happy Days. We hated it, but it was necessary. It was how we would learn to adapt in school, at home, and in social situations throughout our lives.

As an adult, the challenges didn’t disappear. Large group settings have always been daunting, especially when people assume I can hear them from across a room. If a speaker uses a microphone, I’m golden—but when audience members ask questions without one, I’m left trying to piece things together from context. Then, this past December, I read an article in The Wall Street Journal about new technology that changed everything: Apple AirPods 2, which now have a built-in hearing aid application. Skeptical but curious, I researched the reviews and ordered a pair the next day. And let me tell you—life-changing isn’t a strong enough word. Suddenly, I’m catching conversations I’ve missed for years. Friends, family, and colleagues have all noticed the difference, and honestly, so have I. While I’m still adjusting (and yes, the right AirPod occasionally falls out), the ability to hear more clearly has given me a confidence I never expected. It’s not just about hearing—it’s about truly connecting.