The Center for Hearing & Speech has continued to remove communication barriers for our clients throughout the pandemic. The Center provides an extraordinary service: accessible, convenient, safe, and cost-free transportation to and from client’s appointments. One of our seniors benefitting from our transportation services, Mr. Tabor, has become a dear friend to us at the Center for Hearing & Speech. Mr. Tabor, a client since 1998, has been legally blind since he was three and has suffered hearing loss. Mr. Tabor’s extraordinary story and positive attitude has inspired the Center for Hearing & Speech’s staff and is a testament for the power of determination of overcoming adversity.
Mr. Tabor is an extremely kind, caring and thoughtful man who has amazed the Center for Hearing & Speech with his positive attitude towards life. Mr. Tabor says, “I have to be thankful for just good health, good blood pressure, and that I am very fortunate to be turning 81 in August.” Mr. Tabor attended the Missouri School for the Blind but wasn’t successful in graduating due to a health condition and missed an entire year of school. He wasn’t ever able to catch up with the other kids, but was eventually able to receive his GED.
Once he was finished with the Missouri School for the Blind, he and his parents moved to Florida. Mr. Tabor visited his cousin in Springfield, Illinois and received a hearing screening. After they finished his hearing screening, he was asked, “do you use Q-tips Mr. Tabor?” and he answered, “yes.” They discovered that the Q-tips he was using were actually blocking and clogging his ear canal and he was told he will have to wear hearing-aids for the rest of his life.
This was heart breaking news for Mr. Tabor and the realization of facing another communication obstacle was overwhelming. Mr. Tabor was afraid that the things he loved most like hearing the St. Louis Cardinals games, or listening to his favorite artist, Frank Sinatra, would be forever impacted. We asked Mr. Tabor, how does wearing hearing-aids provide value in your own life? “Well… it keeps me informed, I can hold conversations with people, and helps keep me active instead of sitting on the couch feeling sorry for myself.”
You might have heard of Mr. Tabor and his story before in the news. Mr. Tabor is one of the biggest fans at a small all-female South County school, Notre Dame. Mr. Tabor attends softball and basketball games, plays, concerts, and the Fall Festival each year. If there’s an event at the school, Mr. Tabor is in the front row and ready to give the biggest hooray to the young ladies. Mr. Tabor’s overwhelming love of people and his everlasting positive attitude towards life is truly inspiring. The Center for Hearing & Speech is so happy for him and his ability to stay active, being involved in the community and forever making us smile here at the Center. The Center thanks the Charless Foundation for helping us provide hearing health for south city seniors.
Do you know someone that uses lots of Q-tips? Or someone you think might have hearing loss? The Center for Hearing & Speech provides hearing evaluations/screenings to detect hearing issues. If you need further assistance, the Center for Hearing & Speech provides hearing-aids and services, no matter of the ability to pay. Just go to www.chsstl.org or call (314) 968-4710 to schedule an appointment.
