A young woman from Sheffield, Lauren, experienced a sudden and complete loss of hearing in her 30s, just two months before her wedding. Despite being prescribed steroid treatment, she couldn't hear the speeches or music at her ceremony. This emotional turmoil left her unable to communicate with her youngest son, who cries because he thinks she's ignoring him. Lauren now relies on lip-reading to understand him, and she misses the little things, like having a conversation with him as they walk into school. A cochlear implant could help, but it wouldn't restore her hearing completely. Lauren misses her confidence and independence, and she feels that the world isn't accessible for people with disabilities, even in the NHS and hospitals. She believes that nothing ever changes.
