Texan Known as Groundbreaker in Overcoming Hearing Loss
Texas native Teri Wathen never thought of her actions as being groundbreaking. But the woman’s drive to get her own cochlear implant set things in motion for numerous others who also needed the life-changing technology.
In Teri’s high school business class, the racket of her student’s typewriters made it difficult for her to listen to questions. Her powerful hearing aids, which she had worn since she was 12 years old, amplified the sounds of their voices along with everything else. Because of the severity of her hearing loss, she chose to spend the last nine years of her teaching career working one-on-one with students at home on medical leave because it provided a quieter hearing environment.
Hearing and communication skills are critically important in many professions, especially teaching. Not to be discouraged, Teri’s desire to hear better sent her in search of a cochlear implant. “I walked out laughing in disbelief when told I hadn’t met the criteria,” Teri recalls after her first evaluation. “I was struggling so hard it just didn’t make sense.” Two years would pass before she would qualify for the device, and since she was nearing retirement she wanted the surgery while she was still insured.
A letter arrived in the mail from the insurance company denying Teri’s coverage of “hearing aids.” The school was self-insured, meaning her employer ultimately made the decision on coverage so Teri set off to appeal the denial. When she arrived at the school’s insurance department, coincidentally the secretary was a former babysitter. “I explained to her this wasn’t a hearing aid – it was a cochlear implant,” she said, “When she understood the difference she immediately let me speak with the risk manager. His first question was: Have you been deaf since birth?” Teri’s progressive loss let her answer no to this pre-existing condition question. “At that moment he wrote “Cover This!” on my letter and returned a copy of the denial to the insurance company. He never knew the impact he was making on my life,” Teri remembers.
Teri quickly spread the word to two other teachers in the school district who also needed cochlear implants – she was breaking ground for others desperately needing to improve their hearing. Surgery and activation of her first cochlear implant occurred just weeks before Teri retired.
After months of rehabilitation to train her brain and ear to interpret the new sounds, the teacher was ready to step up and help other people with hearing loss. She approached a local ASL (American Sign Language) agency with an idea: create a division that could provide resources to individuals with hearing loss who didn’t sign. There were hundreds of people she could educate about hearing aids, cochlear implants and assistive listening devices. The agency agreed and was awarded the state contract. Since 2003, Teri, once again a groundbreaker, has mentored adults, parents and children on successfully living with hearing loss. Today she serves as a Hearing Loss Resource Specialist for the Texas Dept. of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services.
Hereditary hearing loss touches many of Teri’s family members, including her husband, two sons and two grandchildren. She has led the way when it’s time for them to consider a cochlear implant.
“One of my favorite traditions is attending a holiday party where a friend plays music on a saxophone,” Teri says. “I’m almost moved to tears by my new ability to enjoy music again because of my cochlear implants. In fact I recently invited my son’s friend who just received his cochlear implant so he could experience it, too, for the first time.”
Teri will no doubt continue to discover new ways to reach people challenged with hearing loss and help them find ways to live more productively. Once a groundbreaker always a groundbreaker.
If you’d like to visit with Teri about her personal journey I encourage you to attend the Houston Hearing Health Seminar on January 21st.
Hearing once again,
Ellen
Ellen Beer
This is my niece!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been proud of her all her life for all the courage and vision she has had with her ‘loss’! Named teacher of the year in Fort Bend School District and then went on to insist on doing the cochlear implant for others to see the advantage! She MADE my husband get a hearing aid…even tho he didn’t want to, but he did…cause Teri asked him to!
She is MY hero and I know because of this article she will help others as she has been doing since working for the STATE of TEXAS. Thank you for writing about the ground breaker!!!
She is indeed a special person Gloria and making a difference in many people’s lives!
Teri is my new neighbor and I would like to consider her my new best friend!
Teri, is one I am proud to say is a friend. She has been an inspiration to many and I admire her for what she has accomplished.
Jess
I wouldn’t even know how to put into enough words to describe my cousin, Teri!!! She is the Mother you never had, the best friend you’ve always wanted, a Grandmother extraordinaire, and the most beautiful person inside and out!!! She has an uncanny ability to convince people when a hearing aid is really needed!!! And she has worked tirelessly for the hearing impaired in all aspects!! I am proud to be her “Cuzin”!!!
It is most certainly an honor and a privilege to know Teri (and all the Wathens)
Not only does Teri talk the talk, she walks the walk! Countless people have benefitted from Teri’s accomplishments.
With much love and admiration,
Barbara (Chuckie’s wife)
Teri has been my friend since college. She is one wonderful woman! She tutored me in freshman English and taught me how to play Mah Jongg! I am forever in awe of her and grateful to her. She is amazing and a valuable friend and mentor for all.
Teri is an amazing woman. She is my first cousin and always defended me. She always took the time to talk with me. I was so impressed with her as a teacher that I chose to become a teacher because of her. Teri, you are truly an amazing woman. Thanks for being my cousin and friend.
Teri is one of the absolute best employees anyone can ever hope for!! CAAG is so fortunate to have her! I never, ever have to wonder or worry if her clients aren’t getting what they need. She’s the best resource for anything hearlng loss-related and I’m proud to have her on our staff!!
Teri is one I am proud to say who is a wonderful friend! She is always making a difference in many people’s lives. We are blessed to have her in Greater Houston community. I am always learning more and more from her about anything hearing loss-related. Way to go Teri!
Thanks to Teri I’m a soon-to-be UT honors graduate!
Due to an undiagnosed hearing deficiency I was a terrible student (and I self-internalized that I was, therefore, a terrible person) so I didn’t even attempt college until she helped me get my hearing aids.
When she told me I was eligible for an education voucher, I attended and successfully graduated HCC. This summer I’ll be 60 years old, and I will be applying to grad school.
THANK YOU, TERI! You’ll never know how much you’ve done for me, my family, and everyone that cares about me!
I’m glad to have this opportunity to say how blessed I’ve been to know Teri and to receive help from her. She inspires and answers questions. We are fortunate to have her in our community.
I am fortunate to have know Teri ever since I moved to Houston and first started down the road of living with Hearing Loss….over 25 years later, she is as passionate today as she has ever been.
The world is definitely a richer place because of my friend, Teri Wathen. You are simply the Best!!!
With appreciation and gratitude.
Paula
I too had the privilege to meet with terry. Coming from another country and a mother of 2 hearing impaired children who received their cochlear implants in their teen years, I needed answers to many questions in my mind. She has been a great resource for me and my children providing us with a lot of information and letting us know that there are many successful hearing impaired people communicating professionally in a hearing world.
I am a new neighbor of Teri’s and feel really lucky to have someone like her in my life. Friends are the stars that shine in our lives all year round but Teri seems to be twinkling just a little brighter all the time.
I am thrilled to read the article about Teri. She is a great role model and advocate for people with hearing loss. She is a fabulous resource and I am glad that we have her offering services to many people that need assistance with their hearing needs.
I’m a new neighbor of Teri and am honored to know her. It’s a pleasure to know someone as unselfish and as committed to bettering lives as she is.
I’ve had the pleasure of having Teri as a very dear friend for many years now, and am thankful that she came into my life. Also wearing hearing aids throughout my life, when my hearing loss was gradually getting worse, it was Teri that was pushing me to look into getting a cochlear implant. Without her pushing, without her friendship, without seeing how she felt good about her cochlear implants, I may not have pushed to get them for myself. I’m proud to say I got my 1st one in 2008; my 2nd one in 2010, and feel as passionate about them as Teri does about hers. Thank you Teri, for being the advocate and friend that you are.
Teri is my daughter’s mother-in-law and I am Teri’s out-law! Thank goodness for Teri. I have no worries when it comes to our grandsons’ needs. She has paved the way for their futures. Having such a wonderful Nana, I can only hope that they will follow in her footsteps and promote education in the world of hearing loss.
I too am another of Teri’s 1st cousins, & have always looked up to her literally & figuratively. She is a staunch advocate for those with needs, & always does so with passion and graciousness. She is a genuine hero to me, one who shows us that courage is not the absense of fear, but the ability to put aside your fear for what you believe. In addition, she is a warm and loving mother, wife, grandma, friend and cousin, and I am proud to call her my friend, and not just my cousin.
Teri Wathen is my inspiration. She sets a wonderful example to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. I am proud of her and her accomplishments. Way to go Teri! You rock!
Teri has always been special: finding her husband Ray, having wonderful kids, helping care for their grandchildren, and teaching in an exciting and innovative time in education. It is no surprise that she is making new history in her path to support others with hearing needs. She is truly one of a kind!