116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Marion mother hears children clearly for the first time with new hearing aids
‘It’s like light has come in.’
Jun. 9, 2023 5:22 pm
CEDAR RAPIDS — Most parents hear their children’s first words approximately a year after they’re born. But after years being a mother to children aged 4 to 13, Sara Fry heard her kids clearly for the first time Friday.
Thanks to her first pair of hearing aids, the Marion resident is now reveling in the subtle sounds she couldn’t hear through most of her life — and a significant part of her children’s lives.
“It’s like light has come in. When you’re partially deaf, your depression kicks in — there’s a darkness,” said Fry, 38. “Being able to hear, it brings so much light to your world.”
With genetic hearing loss in her family, Fry has developed massive amounts of scar tissue in her ears. Her left ear has severe hearing loss, and her right ear has profound hearing loss — the point at which a person will not hear any speech and can only hear very loud sounds.
Since she was 5, she’s had more ear surgeries “than I can count on my hands and toes.” A year ago, after she noticed a virtually complete loss of hearing in her right ear, doctors told her there was nothing more they could do to bring it back.
When doctors told her hearing aids likely wouldn’t help, she gave up hope of hearing the full vibrancy of her children’s voices ever again.
But by the end of her hearing aid fitting Friday at Miracle-Ear in Cedar Rapids, the things that didn’t register before came into full focus — the air conditioning whooshing from the vent, paper rustling where her children sat and movement as her children walked to get a drink of water. Before long, she was getting distracted by their whispering as her hearing aid specialist explained the new devices in her ears.
“I’m amazed she can have conversations with them, truthfully,” said Steve Harrison, board certified hearing instrument specialist for Miracle-Ear in Cedar Rapids. “I’ve been doing this 27 years, and helped a lot of people. But she’s more deserving than probably almost all of them just based on her lifestyle.”
In addition to her own children, Fry cares for foster children.
Throughout her life, Fry adapted by lip reading. Now, she can distinguish her children’s voices by their tone, pitch, cadence and unique style of speaking.
With her hearing aids, she can understand the child who is younger than she was when her hearing loss started. The mom of four was inspired by her own mother, who is almost completely deaf, even with hearing amplification.
Fry said the restoration will allow her to better help her children, including one with complex health needs, and fully embrace the moments that form memories. As her youngest daughter goes to school full-time this fall, Fry hopes to find a job, too.
Many hearing aid clients are like Fry, Harrison said, highlighting the need for public education about hearing assistance technology available today.
“They go on years thinking there’s nothing they can do, and then they wander in here,” he said. “The longer we go without treating hearing loss, (the more) we risk the brain forgetting speech sounds, and then I’m limited in how I can help.”
Though hearing aids can be expensive, he said cost is not usually the biggest barrier. Financing and assistance programs, like the foundation that covered the cost for Fry, are available to help.
The biggest barrier is not knowing what to do after a doctor says they can’t help.
Comments: (319) 398-8340; elijah.decious@thegazette.com
Sara Fry of Marion, Iowa, is fitted for her first hearing aids by Steve Harrison, a board certified hearing instrument specialist, at Miracle-Ear, 921 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, June 9, 2023. Fry, who has profound hearing loss in her right ear and moderate hearing loss in her left ear, for most of her life is now able to hear her children clearly for the first time. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
From left: Kendrick, 11, Jace, 13, Hannah, 4, and Ava, 9, watch as their mother Sara Fry of Marion, Iowa, is fitted for her first hearing aids by Steve Harrison, a board certified hearing instrument specialist, at Miracle-Ear, 921 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, June 9, 2023. Fry, who has profound hearing loss in her right ear and moderate hearing loss in her left ear, for most of her life is now able to hear her children clearly for the first time. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Sara Fry of Marion, Iowa, smiles as she hears for the first time through hearing aids at her final fitting with Steve Harrison, a board certified hearing instrument specialist, at Miracle-Ear, 921 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, June 9, 2023. Fry, who has profound hearing loss in her right ear and moderate hearing loss in her left ear, for most of her life is now able to hear her children clearly for the first time. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
A graph is seen as Sara Fry of Marion, Iowa, is fitted for her first hearing aids by Steve Harrison, a board certified hearing instrument specialist, at Miracle-Ear, 921 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, June 9, 2023. Fry, who has profound hearing loss in her right ear and moderate hearing loss in her left ear, for most of her life is now able to hear her children clearly for the first time. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Steve Harrison, a board certified hearing instrument specialist, at Miracle-Ear, 921 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, shows Sara Fry (not pictured) of Marion, Iowa, how to install a battery as she is fitted for her first hearing aids at the store in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, June 9, 2023. Fry, who has profound hearing loss in her right ear and moderate hearing loss in her left ear, for most of her life is now able to hear her children clearly for the first time. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Steve Harrison, a board certified hearing instrument specialist, connects hearing aids of Sara Fry of Marion, Iowa, to a computer to adjust settings as she is fitted for her first hearing aids at Miracle-Ear, 921 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, June 9, 2023. Fry, who has profound hearing loss in her right ear and moderate hearing loss in her left ear, for most of her life is now able to hear her children clearly for the first time. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Sara Fry of Marion, Iowa, holds her youngest daughter Hannah, 4, as she is fitted for her first hearing aids by Steve Harrison, a board certified hearing instrument specialist, at Miracle-Ear, 921 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, June 9, 2023. Fry, who has profound hearing loss in her right ear and moderate hearing loss in her left ear, for most of her life is now able to hear her children clearly for the first time. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
Sara Fry of Marion, Iowa, smiles as she switches between settings as she is fitted for her first hearing aids by Steve Harrison, a board certified hearing instrument specialist, at Miracle-Ear, 921 Blairs Ferry Rd. NE, in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Friday, June 9, 2023. Fry, who has profound hearing loss in her right ear and moderate hearing loss in her left ear, for most of her life is now able to hear her children clearly for the first time. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
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