My Hearing Loss Journey

I’m Janie Anderson, a licensed, Board Certified Hearing Instrument Specialist, and I know firsthand what it’s like to live with hearing loss.

When I was seven years old, I was diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss after complications from chickenpox and a high fever. My teachers noticed I wasn’t hearing well in the classroom, and after seeing an audiologist, I received my first hearing aid. A couple of years later, I was fitted with a second one, and it made a world of difference in my ability to learn and communicate.

Growing up, though, hearing loss wasn’t easy. I was a quiet, shy child who tried to hide my hearing aids under my long hair because I didn’t want anyone to know I wore them. I wasn’t taught much about hearing loss, so I felt embarrassed and rarely talked about it. By the time I was in high school, only my two closest friends knew I wore hearing aids.

As I got older, my confidence slowly grew. When I met my husband, I was nervous to tell him about my hearing loss because I worried it might change how he saw me. Instead, his acceptance reminded me that hearing loss is only one part of who I am. That experience helped me become more comfortable with myself and gave me the confidence to stop hiding.

Today, I have a bilateral moderate-to-severe sensorineural hearing loss, and I consider it one of my greatest strengths. It allows me to truly understand what many of my patients are experiencing—not just the physical challenges of hearing loss, but the emotional ones as well.

In 2007, I joined The Audiology Offices, LLC, where I discovered my passion for helping others hear better. Encouraged by my employer, I became a certified Audiology Assistant and later earned my license as a Hearing Instrument Specialist in 2013. Most recently, I achieved Board Certification, a milestone that reflects my commitment to providing the highest level of care for my patients.

Helping people hear better isn’t just my career—it’s deeply personal. I know what it feels like to miss conversations, to ask people to repeat themselves, and to wonder if hearing aids will really make a difference. That’s why I take the time to listen, answer questions, and guide each patient through their hearing journey with compassion, patience, and understanding.

One of the greatest rewards of my job is watching someone’s face light up when they hear sounds they’ve been missing—whether it’s a grandchild’s laughter, birds singing outside, or simply enjoying conversations with family again. Those moments remind me every day why I chose this profession.

If you’re feeling uncertain about your hearing or wondering whether hearing aids are right for you, I want you to know you’re not alone. My goal is to help you understand your hearing, find solutions that fit your lifestyle, and support you every step of the way.

After all, I’ve been where you are—and I know how life-changing better hearing can be.