Hello, and welcome to my blog!
My name is Ward Kinney, and I created this space to share information and experiences among those of us who live with hearing loss — whether you describe yourself as “hard of hearing,” “hearing impaired,” or simply someone learning to adapt. Since you’ve found your way here, I’d like to encourage you to think about how you might become an advocate for those navigating similar challenges.

A little about me:
I’m a senior citizen born and raised in the Midwest — Southwest Iowa, to be exact. I served aboard the USS Hornet during the Vietnam War era, and after my time in the Navy, I returned home to work for the Union Pacific Railroad. I began as a yard clerk in the Council Bluffs switching yard and later traveled the system installing and training teams on computer systems. Over 37 years, I held a variety of roles and eventually retired from the IT department, where I led software development projects.

After retiring, I ventured into entrepreneurship — first in the technology field and later, with my wife, in the travel industry. Each chapter brought its share of stories and lessons (enough to fill several pages!).

My hearing journey:
At some point, I realized my hearing wasn’t what it used to be. The moment of truth came when my sister-in-law was speaking just a few feet away — and although she was speaking clearly, it sounded like a foreign language. That’s when I decided to see an audiologist.

It turns out, hearing loss isn’t always about volume — it’s often about missing certain sound frequencies. In my case, female voices are especially difficult to distinguish. Over the years, I’ve used several sets of hearing aids, first through a private audiologist and later through the Veterans Administration (VA). I can honestly say the VA has done a wonderful job and has been great to work with — a big thank you to them!