Abigail Heringer was the first woman in Bachelor Nation history of using a cochlear implant, a small electronic device that delivers sound to deaf or hard of hearing people. Now the 28-year-old is sharing her tips with Daisy Kent, a contestant on the season of Joey Graziadei’s show, which aired on January 22. Kent also wears a cochlear implant.
“I was excited to hear that the current season will have more representation in the hearing-impaired community,” Heringer, who starred in Matt James’ 2021 season, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I know everyone’s experience with hearing loss and cochlear implants is different, so I’m interested in learning more about Daisy’s story and continuing the conversation about raising awareness for the deaf community.”
Daisy Kent is a contestant this season of The Bachelor.
Daisy Kent/Instagram
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Heringer, who was born deaf due to a Connexin 26 mutation – the most common cause of autosomal recessive deafness worldwide – also adds that she came across Kent’s platform on TikTok before she was announced as a contestant on the show.
Kent, 25, uses her social media presence to educate about living with Ménière’s disease, which causes dizziness known as vertigo and hearing loss. “First time hearing with a cochlear implant,” Kent captioned an April 2023 TikTok video that went viral with 12.4 million views.
“I know she and I both have cochlear implants, but we have two very different stories, so I’m excited to learn more about her journey with hearing loss,” says Heringer. “The advice I would give her is to enjoy the experience and know that her journey is hers alone.”
She continues: “People will give opinions, be ignorant with their comments or project their own experiences onto her and just remember that everyone’s journey is different and be proud that she took the brave step to come forward and share her story, which will help so many people. ”
Treating hearing loss can greatly reduce the risk of early death, a new study finds
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Reality TV personality Abigail Heringer in Los Angeles on December 8, 2022.
Paul Archuleta/Getty Images
Looking back on her time on the show, Bachelor in Paradise The alum, who is currently engaged to Noah Erb, adds that at first she was afraid of how people would see her.
“I had seen the show before and knew it was a big opportunity, but I wasn’t sure how I wanted to deal with my hearing loss on such a big platform,” she says. “I was nervous about how the audience would receive my story and whether they would judge me or my family for going the cochlear implant route.”
“My journey with hearing loss was mostly private growing up, so it was scary to open up about that part of me so I could be criticized, but the kindness of people and their willingness to learn blew me away and now it’s a part of me that I love to talk about! ” she continues.
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Bachelor season 28 airs Mondays at 8:00 PM ET on ABC.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education