About Me

"I was sick of trying to stick a folded piece of wiggly plastic through a hole that was less than 2mm in diameter."

Why Am I Doing This?

I was born with two congenital malformations of my right ear called Microtia and Atresia.  This means I have no outer ear or ear canal.  I do have a functioning cochlea on that side, but I do not have any way to directly get the sound vibrations to it.  Thus, I have had a hard time hearing my entire life.  (For more information on this part of my life or on Microtia and Atresia - M/A - please see my bio at http://earcommunity.com/microtiaatresia/emotional-support/life-stories/katie-ms-story/)  

In August of 2012, almost 1 year after initially discovering the technology (and learning that my "little ear" had a name and that I was not alone), I was fitted with a Bone Anchored Hearing System (I have the BP100 BAHA by Cochlear).  You can also read more about this type of hearing device at www.earcommunity.com.  I absolutely LOVE it!  

Since then, I have reached out to others like me and families who have recently been born with M/A through online support groups.  I also really like creative projects.  I also sell quilts on Etsy under KatieSews4u.  It didn't take me long to start coming up with ways to decorate my BAHA.  Soon, I discovered the facebook group titled, "Pimp My Hearing Aids / Cochlear Implants - UK", which is not just for people in the UK anymore.

I don't usually wear a safety line with my BAHA, but I do tend to bump into things and knock it off occasionally, and when people hug me they often lean so close they knock it off.  In the last 6 months I have had to send it in for repairs twice.  I always thought that I was "too old" for a safety line, but I hate being without my BAHA when it goes in for repairs.  I also cannot stand trying to thread the cable through the minuscule holes on my BAHA, and a lot of times I end up giving up.  

It occured to me that I could fix these problems.  Hence the interchangeable beaded safety lines were born.  I have been testing them out for durability, fashionability, comfortability, and general it-won't-pull-my-hearing-aid-off-due-to-weight ability.  I LOVE it, and I hope you will too!

~Katie Maslar