Made to Matter
Dr. Scholl & her daughter, Jayde
I became an audiologist because I was asked. I didn’t know anyone who was deaf but when I felt the calling, it almost rattled my heart out of my chest. The moment God placed my calling there is something I won’t forget nor could I fully understand until later.
As an educated and experienced professional, I knew everything there was to know about hearing loss. All you had to do was ask me. Even before I had my own children I assumed myself an expert and was prideful and arrogant.
Fast forward 20 years as the mother of a son, Nicholas, and a daughter, Jayde. Both are challenging in their own ways and being their mother has been a lesson in humility. You do things you swore you wouldn’t and don’t do things you said you would. There were times I didn’t like my kids – but I always loved them. It is possibly the most difficult relationship to rationalize and easy to understand why some species eat their young.
My son taught me what real intelligence looks like and how being smart doesn’t always mean you’ll be good at school. In fact, it’s usually just the opposite. My daughter continues to teach me how little I know about deafness and how breaking the communication code is more than just picking a methodology. She’s taught us all to believe in miracles and we’ve come to expect nothing less when she’s around.
The world has been cruel and harsh at times for both of my children…especially Jayde. When we adopted her at the age of 5 ½ years, she had never heard a sound and had no language (sign or spoken). We never told her she was behind her chronological age so she didn’t know. We just tackled every mountain one at a time and showed her love and acceptance. I went to work immediately to “fix” her hearing since I knew everything about deafness.
The irony of it all is Jayde turned out to be the person who would “fix” all of us. I didn’t even know I was broken until the day I realized Jayde was part of that feeling in my heart the day God placed my calling on it. I now know why I felt it so strongly and wouldn’t give up trying to adopt even after having two failed adoptions.
It has been a privilege to be the broken mother of two amazing kids. I’m always trying to view the world through their periscopes and help them navigate their lives. But they usually help me navigate mine. I started SoundWrx to provide skills and jobs to people with hearing loss but let’s not kid ourselves, I did it for my kids. I want them to live in an inclusive and kind world and the only way to do that is to create it in our own little space and hope the movement grows to other places. I want other companies to realize that hiring people with hearing loss isn’t scary and I’m here to help them. I also want the bar for academic standards for this community - and any other community that wants it - to be higher. I also want to give back to those who may not be able to receive audiological care and/or can’t afford needed technology.
But – one step at a time. I’m glad you’re hear and I look forward to meeting you!
Jacque Scholl, AuD, CCCC/A
