Olympic gold medallist Tessa Sanderson has courageously revealed her "silent struggle" with hearing loss, speaking out to dismantle the stigma surrounding this common condition. The British former javelin thrower, who made history as the first Black British woman to win an Olympic gold medal at the 1984 Games, detailed her personal journey during a candid appearance on Good Morning Britain.
A Champion's Silent Battle
Tessa Sanderson, who competed in every Summer Olympics from 1976 to 1996, confessed that she suffered with hearing loss for years before seeking help. The 70-year-old sports icon described initially feeling "embarrassed" about the prospect of wearing hearing aids, recalling how she would see others with "big ear pieces" and tell herself, "That won't be me."
Instead, she attempted to manage through lip-reading, a strategy that ultimately eroded her confidence. "You feel a little bit embarrassed in certain situations," Sanderson admitted when asked about the internal stigma she faced, highlighting the psychological barriers many encounter.
The Turning Point
Sanderson's perspective shifted in 2016 when her professional commitments exposed the limitations of her coping mechanisms. "When I started doing a lot more speaking and things on stage and working with schools, and going to do after-dinner speeches and stuff, I was missing words," she explained. This realisation prompted her to finally pursue hearing aids, though the journey was not without challenges.
She described her initial experience as daunting, with discomfort and distorted sounds nearly causing her to abandon the devices. "I assumed getting a hearing aid would be like getting glasses in that you'd feel the benefits straight away," Sanderson reflected, noting that the adjustment period proved more demanding than anticipated.
Overcoming Obstacles
The Olympic champion emphasised the critical importance of aftercare, an aspect many struggle with when adopting hearing aids. "When I first had it fitted, because of all the noise and discomfort and things like that... aftercare is so important, it really is," she stated. Sanderson urged patience, explaining that it typically takes four to five weeks for the brain to adapt to the new auditory input.
"The brain has got to tell the ear that it is doing something different," she elaborated, drawing on her athletic discipline to persevere through the initial difficulties. Her determination paid off, transforming her quality of life. "My life is so much better now, because my confidence is better," Sanderson shared, adding that she no longer misses conversations or pretends to understand.
A Message of Hope
Now backing a campaign to promote hearing aid awareness and combat stigma, Sanderson offers a powerful message to others living with hearing loss. She encourages them not to "withdraw" from hearing aids at the first sign of difficulty, emphasising that persistence leads to life-changing results.
"They've been life-changing. They're perfectly personalised for me and my hearing is so much better," she affirmed. "I feel happy, confident and completely able to cope with my busy working life again."
Through her openness, Tessa Sanderson not only highlights the practical challenges of hearing loss but also champions a broader cultural shift towards acceptance and support, proving that even Olympic champions face personal battles worth sharing.
