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Hearing me

What does life sound like for someone whose hearing has suddenly changed?

(This programme contains audio effects that may cause discomfort to people living with hearing conditions. There is a modified version of this programme, with quieter effects, on this page https://bbc.in/2TrInga)

What does life sound like for someone whose hearing has suddenly changed? Carly Sygrove is a British teacher living in Madrid. She was sitting in her school’s auditorium when suddenly her head was filled with a loud screeching sound.

Diagnosed as sudden sensorineural hearing loss, Carly no longer has any functional hearing in her left ear, and battles with the whoops, squeals and ringing that comes from having tinnitus. This dramatically changed her work and personal life, as well as her ability to communicate in a country thousands of kilometres from where she was born.

It made Carly realise how fragile our bodies are - and how wonderful sounds can be.

In this intimate programme for the BBC World Service, Carly shares her personal story and speaks honestly about how life with hearing in only one ear is far from quiet.

(Photo: Volume dial. Credit: Getty Images)

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Sun 15 Sep 2019 17:06GMT

Download transcript

Download transcript
A full transcript of the programme is available here.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 26 Feb 2019 13:32GMT
  • Tue 26 Feb 2019 18:06GMT
  • Tue 26 Feb 2019 21:06GMT
  • Tue 26 Feb 2019 23:06GMT
  • Wed 27 Feb 2019 02:32GMT
  • Sat 2 Mar 2019 09:32GMT
  • Sun 3 Mar 2019 18:06GMT
  • Tue 10 Sep 2019 12:32GMT
  • Tue 10 Sep 2019 17:06GMT
  • Tue 10 Sep 2019 21:06GMT
  • Wed 11 Sep 2019 01:32GMT
  • Sat 14 Sep 2019 08:32GMT
  • Sun 15 Sep 2019 17:06GMT