Hi There!

I am a freelance writer for over 35 years and the author of The Legend of Eddie the Whale, a children’s picture book available on Amazon. As someone who has experienced gradual hearing loss eventually leading to the need for cochlear implants, I often focus on writing about issues related to hearing loss. I also write about aging issues and grief.

As an occasional contributing freelance writer of Hospice Foundation of America’s publication Journeys, one of my works was included in the book, Journeys With Grief, A Collection of Articles about Love, Life, and Loss.

My participation in the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) includes being a former president of my local chapter, and membership since 1989. I am also a member of The Association of Late Deafened Adults (ALDA), and I dedicate time to helping cochlear implant candidates on their journey.

As the former owner of Sound Waves, a resource for people with hearing loss, I offered presentations and products to schools, corporations, government agencies and other businesses seeking information on improving the quality of life for people with hearing loss at all levels.

For many years, I was an adjunct professor at two regional colleges, and I taught English, Comparative Literature, Communications, Journalism and Research Methods. I also mentored adult learners returning to the classroom and served as an advisor.

I am a co-administrator of the Facebook group, Hearing Loss: The Emotional Side, which was created to form a safe place where people can talk about the emotions we experience when encounter hearing loss. We recently passed our 5,000 member mark, —people from all over the world have joined together in friendship. Join us!

In closing I will say I wish you bala, mala, whala! If you have read my children’s book, you know that is a code for wishing someone kindness and joy. Have a bala mala whala kind of day!

Mary Grace Whalen