Self Check

It’s been a while since I last posted, but recently I had a self-check moment that brought me back to reflecting on my cochlear implant journey.

Many grocery stores have transitioned to self-checkout lines, and my go-to, Aldi, has converted most of theirs to self-check. For a long time, I hesitated to use them because I couldn’t hear the beep that signals when an item is scanned. However, I’ve always loved the organization self-checkout allows—I can arrange my groceries in a way that makes unpacking at home a breeze. 

The other day, I decided to skip the long cashier line and try the self-checkout. To my surprise, as I scanned my first item, I heard the beep! This was a moment of wonder for me—something I could never do with just my hearing aid. Now, with my cochlear implant, I can scan, listen for the beep, and bag my items without even glancing at the screen. 

I’ve turned this into a little self-checkout game for myself: I scan four items and then check the screen to ensure my auditory perception matches what I’m hearing. It may sound simple to someone with typical hearing, but for me, it’s a small victory—a reminder of how far I’ve come on this journey.