Luke's story: Discovery of hearing loss through the school programme
- Briana Valgre
- May 19
- 3 min read
Updated: May 22
"It was like a final piece of a jigsaw falling into place"
Meet Luke
Fourteen-year-old Luke from Mosgiel is a Year 10 student at Taieri College with a passion for music, a knack for playing instruments, and a taste in bands that his mum proudly describes as “born in the wrong decade.” But until recently, Luke had no idea that something as fundamental as hearing was quietly shaping his experience of the world.
A simple test, a surprising discovery
Like many teens, Luke didn’t think much of it when people joked about his bad hearing. “People around me always told me I had bad hearing,” he says, “but I never really noticed… I’d never really heard it, had I? It was my normal.”
That changed when the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Foundation visited his school. “The hearing screening was actually a lot simpler than I expected,” Luke recalls. “They just pop the headphones on you and away you go.”
"That explains the past decade"
What came next was unexpected. Luke's screening revealed a potential hearing issue that helped explain years of misunderstanding. “It was like a final piece of a jigsaw falling into place,” he says. “That explains the past decade or so of my life.”
For Luke and his mum Jane, the diagnosis brought a mix of emotions—relief, clarity, and hope. “We always thought he just wasn’t listening” Jane admits. “We had no idea there was really something wrong – It wasn’t just him being a teenager. The screening was the turning point—it helped everything make sense.”
Why hearing screening matters
As a parent, Jane sees the programme's value well beyond their own experience. “Anything that helps our children is positive,” she says. “We’re here to give our kids the best start in life, and any support from people who know what they’re doing—like this hearing screening school programme—is something every family should welcome. We never put it together that Luke had a formal hearing issue. But with this in place, every child can be checked, and it puts everyone on an even playing field. They can start off on the best foot with their schooling, hobbies, and their whole lives ahead of them.”
Since the hearing screening at school
When we asked Jane about the impact of the diagnosis, Jane shared:
“There’s so much depth of sound that Luke’s potentially missing out on or things in conversations that he wouldn’t be picking up, getting guidance through this process has been incredible.”
Thanks to the programme, Luke was quickly referred to an audiologist, and support from the Foundation followed swiftly. “Sue from the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Foundation called before anything even came in the post. She’s been checking in, keeping us on the radar—it’s made a huge difference while we wait in the public system for things to play out,” Jane shares.
Luke is still early in the process. He's awaiting further tests and likely surgery for a condition called cholesteatoma. But already, his mindset has shifted. “Now I know what’s going on, I can make changes—like wearing earplugs at concerts and keeping the music a little lower,” he says with a grin. “And I’ve got a better excuse for not hearing Mum.”
Looking ahead
A talented musician, Luke’s excited to discover what a difference treatment could make. “He plays in a band and he’ll probably notice a huge shift when his hearing improves,” says Jane. “It’ll unlock a whole new level for him.”
To other young people who might be nervous, Luke’s message is clear: “There’s nothing to be scared about. It’s really just a couple of ladies giving you headphones. It’s simple—and it might just change your life.”
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