Willem de Lange Age 45 years, Photographer

When I was six, my parents picked up that my hearing isn't normal...

I went for tests and soon afterwards, when I turned 7, in 1970, I started wearing one hearing aid in the stronger ear. Beats me why only in one ear…but I can only assume it was a mix of money and the thinking of doctors in those days…? My hearing loss is 70% in the left ear and 40% in the right ear.

In those days it was a totally unfamiliar thing for everyone...

Even up until matric, the joking and teasing of friends, cut deep scars. Even during, but mostly after school I only occasionally used a hearing aid, obviously because by then I was totally anti it! I missed out on a lot that was said and discussed in class.

I studied Civil Engineering and even did the full Defence Force Conscription thing, going to the “border” and obtaining the rank of full lieutenant. Civil Engineering wasn't for me and I started studying photography when I turned 25. It's probably not that ironic that I prefer doing something visual.

For years I have been excluded from many conversations and meetings in a boardroom is my worst nightmare.

In November 2007 I drove past an audiologist's practise and immediately got tested again...

On 1 Dec 2007 I was fitted with 2 Widex Aikia élan flex hearing aids and WOW, what a difference! Upon arriving home with the hearing aids in my ears I hugged my wife and cried. I couldn't believe the sounds I heard from the audiologist's practise to arriving at my house! The sounds I heard were amazing! Putting a key into a keyhole, boiling water, a pot simmering on the stove, birds, rattling noises in my car were foreign sounds to me and really opened up a whole new world.

The analogue machines I was exposed to don't compare with these at all! I'm actually quite glad I didn't use them as much as I should have, because I would have turned into a volume junkie!

Sitting here, typing this testimony...

I hear the hard drive of my laptop, I hear the rain outside. I can hear my wife and son talking in the kitchen while I'm in the study.

Business-wise I have no fear of any situation, any more. A lot of what I do has to do with putting out proposals and speaking to directors of companies. I had no way of being confident in this role prior to Widex.

My family ask me these days to put the volume of the TV louder, so they can also hear!