Being deaf will not stop Megan Holmes from living her life to the fullest and she has achieved countless goals.
She was Ms Deaf International 2022 and best cultural attire winner (the first-ever miss to win an international title). She was also Ms Deaf South Africa 2021 winner and best personality titleholder.
The avid cyclist took third place in the women’s category at the Herald Cycle Tour 2022 in Gqeberha. She has 13 distinctions out of 14 subjects in financial accounting and business management.
She said she has always thought that being deaf may be the hardest of the five senses to understand.
“We can’t gather sounds from the environment to be interpreted by the brain. Therefore, we cannot hear what a person is saying without the use of hearing aids, cochlear implants, reading lips or sign language.
“This is where ‘Deaf and Dumb’ labelled us all and always feel sorry for us. It takes a serious toll on our mental health for people to have a lack of understanding for us,” said Holmes.
Her everyday struggle is a lack of access to communication and social isolation as she heavily relies on lip reading.
“It’s very difficult to get the accurate information. Lip reading requires deep concentration. I’m a bimodal user and these hearing devices are helpful. However, I suffered from listening fatigue,” explained Holmes.
She said often people lose their patience when she is trying to understand and that affects her self-esteem, making her feel left out.
“My experience at the workplace is quite hard as it’s a fast-paced environment. I’m struggling to keep up with important information and often, miscommunication takes place. Rephrasing is important to me because I need to ensure I get the correct information or instruction that I can follow,” Holmes said.
Her life was full of challenges, which developed her resilience and driven attitude.
She said she is always trying to prove to everyone what she is capable of, ensuring that people do not see her as a “deaf” person, but one who is whole. Holmes has defied all odds and will not let her disability define her.
