For 20 years, hearing coach Pat Fulton has been a passionate advocate raising awareness of hearing loss in the community.
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Her hard work and relentless advocacy were recently recognised this year when Pat was awarded the 2021 Libby Harricks Award for her work with hearing loss awareness.
The Libby Harricks Award was established by Hearing Matters Australia. It is awarded to someone in the community who is over 25 years of age, is d/Deaf or hard of hearing and has achieved success.
Pat was surprised and humbled when she received the award.
"I didn't know I was nominated," she said.
Pat's hearing awareness advocacy started in 2001 after she and her husband sold their bed and breakfast in Berrima.
"There was a light bulb moment for me, reflecting on our guests' departure, many of them were surprised how well we engaged in conversation in the evening, even though I had hearing aids," she said.
Curious, Pat googled the Office of Hearing Services in Canberra to find they had just done a survey which revealed 30 per cent of their clients with subsidised hearing aids didn't use them, known as 'the bottom of the drawer syndrome.'
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From that point on, Pat made it her mission to 'turn on the light' for people who experienced hearing loss.
"We did take a photo with the Southern Highland News of a toy chest of drawers with a sign: 'take your hearing aids out of the drawer'; this message was used in my Hearing Awareness exhibits," she said.
Pat has experienced deafness for as long as she can remember.
Her congenital deafness wasn't formally diagnosed until seven years ago. At the age of nine, Pat's school teacher, who also used hearing aids, advised her parents that she may have a deafness of some kind when she struggled to hear at the back of the class.
"I didn't know I was deaf," she said.
"The teacher informed my parents, they just thought I wasn't attentive".
Pat's hearing coach role began in 2001 in Springetts Arcade with her Hearing Awareness Week table which offered free information brochures about "what to do, where to go" for help and free hearing screening bookings. Her guiding influence at time to start up as a Hearing Coach was from the late Bruce Nichols and Elizabeth at Campaign Marketing.
Her main message to people who have hearing aids or cochlear implants is "these devices must be used consistently all day every day for "the brain to get the message".
Her main message to people who have hearing aids or cochlear implants was that "these devices must be used consistently all day for the brain to get the message".
Pat printed her own Hearing Loss pamphlets and distributed them to GPs and aged care facilities, as well-sourced helpful brochures from varied services supporting people with a deafness.
Pat has presented staff training in local aged care facilities, using a manual titled "Hearing Loss the Invisible Handicap".
As a member of Quota International of Moss Vale Pat coordinated three Hearing Awareness Expos in Bowral.
Moss Vale Quotarians supported two local children with their speech and hearing programs. One needed financial support to attend the local Speech Pathologist, the other - a pre-school child - needed to learn Auslan for communication.
"At these sessions family, friends and playmates were invited into the group, it was fun," she said.
"Also Jan Jones of the Rodmell Fund Committee invited me in 2007 to support their program for Aged Care Nurse Education on some occasions."
At the 2012 Quota Hearing Awareness Expo Pat enquired at the Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre table as to whether she should upgrade her hearing aids or consider a cochlear implant, as she was lip-reading everything.
"I was shown on a laptop the impact a cochlear implant would have in my speech recognition as a person with severe to profound hearing loss, this was a surprise," she said.
"In 2013, I made an appointment at SCIC in Gladesville for tests to check my candidacy for a cochlear implant.
"I met with my surgeon and set a date."
"The best of all was to come with my 'switch on' two weeks later.
"With my audiologist and my family present, I answered my husband's question from behind and tears of happiness fell."
Pat said she felt that she had her hearing back.
"It's such a miracle," she said.
Pat reflected on the connections with the people she has served in the Highlands through her talk "Train the Brain to Hear".
"I'm happy to make a difference in the lives of families suffering the effects of hearing loss," she said.
"I've gained support and encouragement from professionals in the hearing industry both here in the Highlands and far afield."
With a national award under her belt, Pat has no plans in slowing down and hopes to continue promoting awareness of hearing loss and how that impacts on lives, relationships and the workplace.
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Vera Demertzis
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
