If you have not yet tapped into the world of TEDx talks, you’re missing out. These short talks, usually 10-15 minutes in length, are ‘ideas worth sharing’ delivered by experts from their lived experience. If you want a good source of information not corrupted by media or fringe conspiracies, try TED and TEDx talks.
And, if you have hearing loss, there are many talks on hearing loss available on YouTube.
I’m a relative newcomer to the worldwide phenomenon of TED Talks that started in 1984 as a showcase for short, informative presentations by experts and leaders in the powerful fields of Technology, Entertainment and Design.
Two decades later, TEDx was introduced, opening the prestigious TED format to local, independently organized events which, today, number more than 3000 around the world.
Individual TEDx talks, covering every topic under the sun, are thought-provoking and educational. Apparently my son got a lot of his education by watching TED and TEDx talks in school. He learned stuff, important and interesting stuff, from ordinary and not-s0-ordinary people who had stories to tell and information to share. As an adult, he still watches them.
And now, his mom has given one on – on bluffing, the dirty, little secret of hearing loss.
My interest in doing the talk was piqued a year ago. In March 2024, my friend and fellow advocate Juliette Sterkens gave a brilliant TEDx talk called What you don’t know about hearing aids, which has now had almost a million views. In May of that year, my niece attended the TEDxVictoria event and was inspired to make some life changes. And then, last summer, Nashlea Brogan, an audiologist and bilateral cochlear implant recipient, asked me to look over the talk she was going to be delivering at TEDxBoston College. How hearing loss could be impacting your relationships is amazing.
I finally understood that the universe was suggesting, telling me or pushing me to do a TEDx talk. Alrighty, I said.
After the application process to 30 TEDx events (it was recommended to apply to 50, but I got tired), I was lucky to be accepted by three includng the one I’d wanted to do from the start. Yesterday, I led the lineup of 14 speakers at TEDxVictoria. Not only were my fellow TEDx-talkers amazing, the audience was equally supportive and connected and joyful.
Those of us on the hearing loss journey can always use more support, even if at first we don’t realize it. I recommend these wonderful TEDx talks on hearing loss.
- Matt Hay on What losing (and regaining) my hearing taught me about resilience
- Angela Loucks Alexander on Escaping the Hidden Prison of Auditory Processing Disorder
- Christy Vogel on The Lifesaving Impact of Hearing Aids
- Kenzie Reichert on Sound and The Consequence of Silence
Watch for the upcoming talk from audiologist Madison Levine on the Ear Brain Connection which she presented on May 10. The video has not yet been posted by TED.com
When my talk on bluffing (and how and why we shouldn’t do it) is ‘up’, I will let you know. In the meantime, stay present in your conversations by asking for what you need, to keep communicating as best as you can.
