Community Stories

From surviving high school to what it's really like the first time your hearing aids are turned on, reading about other people's experiences can give invaluable insights and help you feel less alone.

Find a range of stories below from Kiwis of all ages who are going through their own hearing loss journey.

If you would like to share your own story, please get in touch with our friendly team enquiries@nfdhh.org.nz

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09 307 2922
0800 867 446
enquiries@nfdhh.org.nz

natashagallardo1

Sep 22, 20214 min read

Share Your Story: Jesse

Jesse knows what it’s like to lose a pair of hearing aids. In fact, over the years, more than a few pairs have gone missing… perhaps down...

62 views0 comments

How The Pandemic Continues to Impact the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

natashagallardo1

Aug 26, 20216 min read

How The Pandemic Continues to Impact the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

95bFM Radio Interview August 24, 2021 SPEAKERS Jemima Huston Natasha Gallardo 0:02 You're listening to a 95 b FM podcast. Jemima Huston...

92 views0 comments

natashagallardo1

Aug 23, 20217 min read

Share Your Story: Rob

Rob Gill is a semi-retired and proud Dad to three grown-up children. Rob enjoys running the serviced office and co-working business,...

189 views0 comments

natashagallardo1

May 31, 20217 min read

Share Your Story: Adrian

Adrian lives with his partner and two friends in an inner Auckland flat. He works for Spark at Commercial Bay and is a skilled Brazilian...

513 views0 comments

natashagallardo1

May 27, 20215 min read

Share Your Story: Nathalie

It was the birth of her daughter that prompted Nathalie to finally get her hearing checked out. After having suspicions that something...

189 views0 comments

natashagallardo1

May 18, 20216 min read

Share Your Story: Amy

Amy lives with husband Simon and cares for her two young children – Caroline and Melanie-May. She has lived with hearing loss since...

293 views0 comments

natashagallardo1

May 5, 20214 min read

Share Your Story: Tara

Tara is a 26-year-old Trainee Primary School Teacher. She lives in Auckland with her partner and their close friends. As a baby Tara was...

162 views0 comments

natashagallardo1

Apr 30, 20217 min read

Share Your Story: Monique

Monique Leith is a Consultant Resource & Environmental Planner who runs her own land development consultancy business, Leith Consulting....

116 views0 comments

natashagallardo1

Apr 22, 20215 min read

Share Your Story: Naketa

Naketa is a bubbly 23-year-old, passionate about the arts, theatre and surfing. Naketa was also born Deaf and has a cochlear implant on...

99 views0 comments

natashagallardo1

Apr 15, 20216 min read

Share your story: Tarryn-Ann

Tarryn-Ann was studying to become a teacher in India when her life changed forever. Out of the blue, she contracted an illness that led...

263 views0 comments

natashagallardo1

Apr 1, 20216 min read

Share Your Story: Janet

Janet, a 53-year-old mum of two from Auckland, almost made a very expensive mistake while on holiday in Samoa. “I dived into the swimming...

283 views0 comments

natashagallardo1

Mar 18, 20216 min read

Share Your Story: Hope

Hope lives in Upper Hutt with her parents and twin siblings, and has moderately severe hearing loss in her left ear. She also has...

369 views0 comments

Immediate Intervention Needed to Combat Hearing Loss Crisis

natashagallardo1

Mar 4, 20215 min read

Immediate Intervention Needed to Combat Hearing Loss Crisis

A critical initiative is underway to address the rising levels of hearing loss in New Zealand. A coalition of hearing loss advocates, led...

338 views0 comments

natashagallardo1

Dec 22, 20203 min read

NFD Trust: Thank You, Max Clark!

Max Clark recently stepped down from his role as a trustee for the NFD Trust, a position he has held since 1998. A highlight for Max was...

43 views0 comments

natashagallardo1

Nov 18, 20202 min read

NFD Trust Stories: Phillip

Phillip, a 2020 recipient of the Deaf Educational Scholarship, was able to follow his dreams of pursuing a Bachelor of Education. We are...

57 views0 comments

Paula Tesoriero Discusses Accessibility and NZ's response to COVID-19

natashagallardo1

Oct 22, 20204 min read

Paula Tesoriero Discusses Accessibility and NZ's response to COVID-19

Image: Newsroom.co.nz Paula Tesoriero is currently serving within the Human Rights Commission as the Disability Rights Commissioner. She...

77 views0 comments

Te Reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language: The Right to Access Your Culture

natashagallardo1

Oct 21, 20202 min read

Te Reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language: The Right to Access Your Culture

Stephanie Awheto signs 'kia ora'. Source: Stuff.co.nz For generations, Deaf New Zealanders were unable to access Te Reo Māori through New...

1,733 views0 comments

natashagallardo1

Oct 21, 20202 min read

NFD Trust Stories: Rachel

Rachel received a $2,500 Educational Scholarship from the NFD Trust in 2017, which went towards course fees. She went on to succeed...

33 views0 comments

natashagallardo1

Oct 13, 20207 min read

Meet Your Local Hearo: Crave Cafe

Blue Bradley is the co-owner of Crave Cafe, in Morningside, Auckland. We sat down to chat with him about his own hearing loss, and the...

440 views0 comments

Meet Your Local Hearo: Deaf Wellbeing Society

natashagallardo1

Oct 12, 20206 min read

Meet Your Local Hearo: Deaf Wellbeing Society

Natasha Jumelet is the founder of the Deaf Wellbeing Society. We sat down to chat with her for the September 2020 Issue of Hearing...

444 views0 comments

Community Stories

Subscribe to our mailing list

We can

help you

09 307 2922 0800 867 446 enquiries@nfdhh.org.nz

09 307 2922
0800 867 446
enquiries@nfdhh.org.nz