Monique Hammond - Author Signing - "What Did You Say?"

Minneapolis author Monique Hammond will sign copies of her book, “What Did You Say? An Unexpected Journey into the World of Hearing Loss,” from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 6 at the Apple Valley Barnes & Noble. The store is located in the Fischer Marketplace at 14880 Florence Trail, Apple Valley, Minn. Hammond will speak with shoppers about important hearing loss topics, answer their questions and provide prevention tips and resources on coping with hearing loss.

Hammond, a former pharmacist, experienced sudden and profound left-sided hearing loss in a matter of four hours. Though experienced in health issues, she nonetheless had difficulty understanding the complexity of what went wrong in her ear. As vague questions got vague answers from professionals, she decided to study up on her own. “What Did You Say?” is the result of her search for answers. An easy-to-understand information guide, it is written from the personal perspective of one who understands the emotional struggle of losing such a precious gift.

Geared to public education, the book is a systematic core of material covering a wide array of topics: from basic ear function and hearing tests, to the often unsettling consequences of hearing loss, such as recruitment, tinnitus and hyperacusis. Hammond shares her story with readers and, most importantly, what she learned from the experience. She also includes a series of handy checklists as a catalyst for more fruitful conversations with physicians and a reference of resources and support groups and organizations.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
“What Did You Say?” was released in March 2012 and is published by Two Harbors Press in Minneapolis. Monique Hammond, RPh, graduated with a B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Minnesota with high distinction. She has worked in health care in Europe, the United States and Australia. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was appointed by the governor to the MCDHH, the Commission Serving Deaf, Deafblind and Hard-of-Hearing Minnesotans, where she served as Vice-Chair. She is currently serving as vice president of the Hearing Loss Association of America, Twin Cities’ chapter. For more information and blog, go to www.what-did-you-say.net.