Navigating the Struggle: Coping with Partial Deafness or Blindness

Everyone who faces a disability learns to adapt to life with the limitations they possess. Adaptation is a natural and essential part of the human experience, especially when it comes to sensory limitations like partial blindness or partial deafness. Loss of a significant function impacts not just the individual but also their daily life. However, resilience and determination can lead to unexpected outcomes, as I discovered during my own journey.

A Personal Struggle

While most of us may not face the exact circumstances, anyone who has had to navigate partial sensory loss can appreciate the challenges and the subsequent adaptation. In May 2020, I experienced a blood vessel occlusion and hemorrhage in my brain's Occipital Lobe. This affected my primary visual sensory processing center, leading to a loss of reading and writing abilities as well as a large blind spot in my right field of vision. My condition caused a stark change in my fields of vision, where both eyes perceived images from different angles, magnifications, and positions.

Emotional Turmoil and Recovery

The first month was marked by intense depression and anxiety. As a professional with multiple roles—columnist, copywriter, author, art director, graphic designer, photographer, and theatre critic—I was under immense pressure. My fears of another stroke led to heightened discomfort, manifesting as pressure inside my head for hours at a time. On the thirteenth day, a remarkable change occurred. My 3D vision returned, along with a significant reduction in the size of my blind spot. This shift in vision was not instantaneous, but it happened after dedicated rehabilitation and a change in daily habits.

Recovery and Adaptation

The recovery process was gradual and required both physical and mental effort. Playing Angry Birds on my laptop for an hour significantly helped, likely because it promoted increased blood flow to the affected area, enhancing visual processing. However, despite these temporary improvements, the underlying damage to the blood vessels in my brain remained. I am grateful for the progress made, but the demands of maintaining compensated vision are immense. An hour of restored vision necessitates at least two to three hours of low-light recovery time, often involving a nap.

Adapting to Life

My personal autonomy has become a critical factor in managing my condition. Running my own businesses allows me to control my schedule, which helps minimize the impact of my need for recovery time. The flexibility of working through a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) has significantly reduced the effects of my insomnia, giving me more compatible living conditions. Having my own enterprises has made it more feasible to adapt to my need for controlled lifestyle changes, greatly enhancing my quality of life.

Conclusion

While partial deafness or blindness can be overwhelming, the path to adaptation is possible. By leveraging technology, engaging in activities that promote brain function, and maintaining a flexible schedule, it is possible to navigate life with these challenges. The key is resilience, the belief in one’s abilities, and the willingness to explore and apply new strategies.

Final Thoughts

If my story can inspire even a small degree of hope in those facing similar struggles, then I feel that my time and effort in sharing this journey have been worthwhile. Embrace the journey of adaptation, even in its most challenging phases, and never give in to despair.