'JoAnn is a new woman': Community, organizations help woman with profound hearing loss

JoAnn Beddow has defied the odds.

When she was 8, JoAnn was in an accident. She broke her left leg, and doctors told her she was deaf in her left ear.

“They said I would never walk,” Beddow said.

Today, at 74, Beddow can walk and, in March, she learned she has some hearing in her left ear.

Beddow of Illinois has lived at Monroe’s Elm House for three years. Elm House is a foster care group home for adults with developmental disabilities, mental illnesses and traumatic brain injuries. Elm House has been operated by Home Inc. since 1978 and can house up to 15 residents.

“JoAnn was told she was totally deaf in her left ear due to damage to the bones when she was hit by a car. She has had hearing loss her whole life,” Sandy Imber, executive director of Home Inc./Elm House, said.

After the accident, Beddow taught herself to read lips and wore a hearing aid in her right ear. But, over time, what hearing she had worsened, and then her hearing aids broke.

“She came to us three years ago and could hear slightly. She got worse over the last three years. Her old hearing aids were old and stopped working,” Imber said. “She can read lips, so it took us time to realize how profound her hearing loss was. Her family said she could not have phone conversations anymore. She only seemed to hear muffled sound and only could get part of short questions if looking right at her. Jo became very quiet.  She was depressed and not joining in on activities or conversations.”

Beddow’s insurance didn't cover hearing aids.

“Her plan only covers children for hearing aids,” Imber said. “Finding a place that would see her without insurance coverage was a challenge."

Then, Elm House staff found Precious Hearing of Monroe and Temperance’s Breaking Barriers Foundation.

After an exam, Precious Hearing staff had good news for Beddow.

“They told her she did have some hearing in that left ear,” Imber said.

Beddow got new hearing aids for both ears May 10. Now her hearing is at 80%. But such specialized devices were costly.

“JoAnn contributed what she could, but because of her extensive hearing loss, the hearing aids and special ear pieces that were recommended for her profound hearing loss were $6,000. Lower price options were offered, but would have less effectiveness,” Imber said. “A Home Inc. board member and a private citizen donated toward the hearing aids.”

Beddow also applied for help through the Breaking Barriers Foundation, which aids adults with special needs.

“The whole purpose behind (Breaking Barriers) is to assist these adults with quality-of-life type requests. For JoAnn, it was surely about quality of life. Our board voted to move forward in helping JoAnn get hearing aids,” Tammy Lamb, foundation founder, said.

The board granted $3,000 for Beddow’s hearing aids. It was one of the largest grants given since the foundation began in 2016.

“We just felt that that’s what we’re here for,” Lamb said.

Still another $1,000 is needed to pay off Beddow’s hearing aid bill. To raise funds, Home Inc. is holding a Craft and Vendor Fair from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 16 at Monroe Church of the Nazarene, 3401 S. Custer Road. Among the items for sale will be jewelry, baby blankets, candles, custom mugs, woodworking pieces, baked goods and custom embroidery.

Elm House staff said Beddow is thriving with her new hearing aids.

“She’s more interactive. She’s using Alexa to get ’80s and ’90s country. So much more of her personality is out,” Kristina Yates, program manager, said.

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Beddow goes to the Goodwill Training Center’s day program with three other Elm House residents.

“I love it,” Beddow said.

Goodwill's activities include coloring, painting, math, movies, a prom event and cooking.

“On Thursday, we made chicken with barbecue sauce on it,” Beddow said.

“For over a year she was isolated," Imber said. "Elm House staff and this wonderful community came together to make sure JoAnn could hear again. She is talking and laughing all the time now. JoAnn is a new woman."

To learn more about the Breaking Barriers Foundation, visit bbkoffee.com. To learn more about the Sept. 16 Craft and Vendor Fair, call Home Inc. at 734-242-2177.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Community, organizations help woman with profound hearing loss