Telling a person that you’re having trouble hearing can be a bother and for some, downright embarrassing. Regardless of how many times you have to do it, there just seems to be no getting used to it. Wouldn’t it be nice if there were some easy icon you could wear at your discretion to let people know that you have trouble hearing before they even start to talk to you?
Norm Babbitt, president of Quiet Corner, a Connecticut chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America, formerly Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH), thinks that’s a great idea. A life-long volunteer for many causes, Babbitt has recently started his own personal crusade to create an icon for hearing loss. The 76-year-old resident of Thompson, Conn., has been determined to help others since his early childhood and when he began to lose his hearing some 35 years ago, turned much of that philanthropy toward other people with hearing loss.
“I’ve been volunteering since I was three. My mom and dad volunteered and so does my wife. It’s in our family,” explains Babbitt. Some of his first formal volunteer assignments were through his church youth group. During World War II he volunteered for the Red Cross and then in 1949, he enlisted in the Army and served in the Korean War. Babbitt was a scoutmaster for four years and participated in Paul Newman’s “The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp” every summer from 1982 to 1990. He served on the board of directors of the Salvation Army for 10 years and completed numerous projects much less glamorous. After two summers of painting a schoolhouse single-handedly, Babbitt began to invoke the slogan, “the power of one,” to inspire others to improve their community.
Since 2004, he has served as president of Quiet Corner and hopes his service will continue with a re-election in 2006. This organization’s mission is “to open the world of communication to people with hearing loss by providing information, support and advocacy.” One of the programs Quiet Corner has implemented under Babbitt’s leadership is helping people with low income to hear better. Qualified recipients are provided behind-the-ear hearing aids and a year’s worth of free follow-up services.
“If you want to see people’s eyes light up, tell them they will receive free hearing aids,” beams Babbitt. Confirming that Babbitt’s commitment goes above and beyond the average “good deed,” Babbitt received prestigious recognition, the “Spirit of 2004 Award,” at the National SHHH Convention in Omaha, Neb., last year.
Now Babbitt is turning his energies to promoting a simple tool that would save all who want to use it the trouble of having to explain to everyone they meet that they are hard of hearing. Though helpful in any situation where one might be meeting new people, such an icebreaker could be particularly effective at cocktail parties, the first day of a cruise and even on a blind date. “Most people who are hearing impaired have a hard time letting people know about their condition. My system seeks to make it more comfortable for them,” says Babbitt.
Using a color-coded system, Babbitt is printing up t-shirts, lapel pins and stickers that he hopes could make his icons as ubiquitous as the blue wheelchair symbol for people with mobility challenges. “I believe it’s a system that can help Deaf and hard of hearing people have a better life,” he claims. And in this case, what would help others would help Babbitt, too.
Babbitt’s hearing loss began during the Korean War when his right ear was seriously injured as a result of his operating a 50-caliber machine gun. He completely lost hearing in his right ear and uses a hearing aid in his left ear that allows him 45 percent of normal hearing in that ear. Babbitt hopes he may be a suitable candidate for a cochlear implant that would allow him even better hearing sometime in the near future.
Following his military service, Babbitt became a plastics and carpentry teacher – first at a vocational technical school, then high school and middle school. Teaching was his second love for 30 years. The esteemed title of “first love” goes to his wife of 53 years, Mary Babbitt. Other loves include fly fishing, bird and deer hunting and skiing, though that sport is now in “old flame” status.
At present, Babbitt endeavors to enjoy life to its fullest. Having defeated prostate cancer in 2004, it is fair to say he has figured out what is really important in life. And fortunately for others, helping people is one of Babbitt’s top priorities. Babbitt wants others with hearing loss to realize there are ways to improve their hearing and their lives.
“If I can help one person hear better, my life is complete,” says Babbitt. And it is complete, many times over.
Paola Segnini is pursuing a bachelor's degree in communications and marketing at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Ark. She is from Costa Rica and the recipient of a full, four-year scholarship by the Walton International Scholarship Program. Paola enjoys reading, scrapbooking and writing.
