This month, we came together to celebrate World Hearing Day on March 3, an annual advocacy event shedding light on hearing loss and care. This day urges action on addressing hearing-related issues, with specific themes chosen by the World Health Organization and its partners.

As a Pointe-Claire resident living with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss, I am passionate about educating others on the dangers affecting hearing health and how to prevent them.

For instance, did you know that certain medications, like some antibiotics, can be harmful to  your ears? Ototoxic drugs can, depending on medical factors, have reversible or permanent effects on hearing. It's essential to discuss concerns about ototoxicity with your doctor before taking such medications.

Other factors, like disease, environmental exposure, and genetic components, can also impact hearing. Otosclerosis, the ossification of inner ear bones, is common in women during pregnancy. Diseases like meningitis or measles and exposure to loud environments, such as rock concerts, airplanes, and construction sites, can contribute to varying degrees of hearing loss. On the genetic front, hearing loss can run in families. It is crucial to stay mindful and consult with your doctor about potential risks.

Coupled with our recent observance of World Hearing Day, let's not forget the importance of International Women’s Day, which took place on March 8. As a woman with a disability, I extend greetings of strength and fellowship to all women facing challenges. Despite disabilities, many women have bravely stood up for themselves, demonstrating that being a woman does not hinder capability or potential.

I invite all Pointe-Claire citizens to stand together in support of people with disabilities, especially women, and help eliminate the unseen barriers and obstacles we encounter daily.

To honour these important days, I recommend reading an inspiring book by Canadian author Monique Williamson, recently deafened, who has triumphed over life's obstacles. Her book, Life After Deaf: The Inspiring True Story of One Woman’s Fight to Overcome a Mysterious Illness and Redefine Her Life, is a detailed and well-written account available wherever you get your books.

Maria Benavides is a mother of 2, living with deafness since early childhood. She is a passionate writer, volunteer and disability-rights activist, advocate, and long-term Pointe-Claire resident. When she is not writing or moderating the Friends of Pointe-Claire Citizens with Disabilities group she founded, she juggles her time raising and educating her youngest.