The Story of Lenka with Hearing impairment ****************************************************************************************** * Deaf Lenka Bosáková Is Fulfilling Her Dream of Becoming a Doctor ****************************************************************************************** Doctors diagnosed Lenka Bosáková with hearing loss when she was two years old. Her parents noticed that she didn’t talk much—she just mumbled to herself—and didn’t react to many sou younger sister Bianka, Lenka was born with a genetically inherited hearing impairment. Sin no experience with sign language, they focused on spoken communication and worked intensiv pronunciation at home in Olšovany, a small village near Košice, Slovakia. Lenka was a top student throughout elementary school. “Sometimes I must’ve really annoyed I always read ahead in the textbook. I just wanted to be the best, a perfectionist. I grad school among hearing kids with all A’s,” says Lenka with a smile. But things changed when attending Šrobárova Gymnázium in Košice. The curriculum became harder, and stress grew—esp Lenka tried to hide her deafness (by that time, she had more than 99% hearing loss in both her hair down to cover her hearing aid and struggled with self-acceptance. Puberty brought lying to her parents, backtalk, trying alcohol and cigarettes—and a few disciplinary slaps After successfully finishing high school, she moved to Prague. “I fell in love with Prague wandering the streets and lose all track of time,” she recalls. She enrolled at the Facult Charles University, but only lasted a year. Then everything changed. Lenka came across a YouTube interview with Dr. Philip Zazove, a hard-of-hearing physician U.S. Finally—proof that even a person with hearing loss could become a doctor! “Until then told me it would be impossible. I believed them. Yet becoming a doctor was my childhood dr Lenka, now a medical student at the Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University. Before studies, she arranged for a special needs assessment. Based on this, Centrum Carolina [ UR centrumcarolina.cuni.cz/CAENG-106.html"] at Charles University provides her with real-time services—during lectures, she follows the spoken words on her tablet as they are converted Lenka, how are you doing these days? A few days ago, I finished my hospital internship at the neurology ward of Královské Vinoh Hospital, and now I’m fully focused on passing “Cell Biology”, the toughest exam of the fi failed it last year because I registered for the last exam date and didn’t pass. But I’ve some exams from the next year, so if I pass this one, I might get a few days off before di second year. This internship confirmed for me that medicine was the right choice. How do you manage living far from your family? I’ve been living in Prague with my boyfriend, who’s from Bratislava, for five years now. I I traveled home every two weeks. Since the trip takes nine hours, I’d only spend about a d before heading back. Now, when we get a few days off, we take turns visiting both sides of smiling as we go. Does your hearing impairment ever have advantages? She pauses to think before answering. “For sure—no neighbor banging meat for Sunday schnit through walls has ever bothered me. Same with fireworks. I’m just immune. It also helps wh elderly patients in hospitals or nursing homes. Many of them wear hearing aids and don’t f much. We often laugh together—we’re in the same boat. While nurses struggle to understand read. And once, when we had a German patient who didn’t speak Czech, I used gestures and b communicate—we managed somehow!” (laughs) “…And here’s something strange.” Tell me about it. “I once met a deaf woman who thought—until age 26—that she was the only deaf person in the shocked. But she had grown up in a remote Slovak village, completely isolated from the Dea She had no idea what the reality was. It made me wonder—how many others are out there, sti yet, the Deaf are some of the most social and active people I know. Thanks to social media events, travel, and meet across the globe.” Do you know what medical field you want to pursue? “At first, I thought being a doctor in daily contact with patients would be impossible for these internships, I believe in myself. My hearing may deteriorate further, which is a con asking about specialization—I’m drawn to histology, so I wouldn’t rule out pathology. Sinc teenager, I’ve devoured books on forensic medicine. I used to love the show Inspector Rex— the forensic doctor solved crimes using logic and science. I imagined myself in that role, “Naturally, I’m also deeply interested in genetics research into hearing loss.” How did the pandemic affect your studies? “Not much, actually. Aside from Cell Biology, I had most of my coursework done, so I focus and attending internships. Face masks, however, were a big problem. Since I rely on lip-re became a huge barrier—in public and especially at hospitals. We often had to communicate j eyes. When I didn’t understand, my colleagues would pull their mask down for a moment and clearly. I’m very grateful for their patience. On the downside, I didn’t get to go home fo year.” How do you treat yourself after a tough exam? “The best celebration for me is a hike with my boyfriend—especially in the Austrian Alps. just an hour from the High Tatras, and we often hiked there as a family, so it’s in my blo developed a passion for houseplants—I now have over 70 at home. I keep saying I need to st there’s always room for one more. I love cooking and baking, and I’ll often stop for a goo I feel like it. I’m also addicted to antique shops and thrift stores—I buy books and retro home. The problem is, I get emotionally attached and struggle to let go. I even cried over a pai shoes recently—I couldn’t find the same model again. And I just don’t get why people are o latest gadgets. My dream is to one day own a Volkswagen Beetle. I probably can’t afford it but maybe someday...” Source: https://iforum.cuni.cz/IFORUM-16913.html [ URL "https://iforum.cuni.cz/IFORUM-1691