The title
Tonotopic refers to the “anatomic organisation by which specific sound frequencies are received by specific receptors in the inner ear with nerve impulses traveling along selected pathways to specific sites in the brain” (Miriam Webster).
If we split the word into its’ different parts, topic comes from the Greek word topos, meaning place. Tonotopic can thus be simplified as “the place of tones”. This place can refer to where the sound is received, transmitted or perceived, which is the cochlea or the auditory cortex – the part of the brain that receives and interprets sound.
My personal journey with hearing loss and vestibular issues are frequency driven and I therefore chose a title to pull these aspects together. Of course the word play of topic also allows me to open up this conversation to… well, basically anything I want.
I was inspired to start a conversation simply due to the lack of conversation of people in the same situation that I am: A young-ish professional mother with an active lifestyle that is suddenly confronted with balance issues and hearing loss. I have been confronted with ear problems all my life, problems that will unravel as this conversation grows, but was only recently fitted with a hearing aid and it literally changed my life. This is a journey that started with a simple visit to my ENT and ended with a whole new outlook on life.
About me
My name is Ina du Toit. If I ask the question about what defines me I can make a short list. With regard to my professional life, I am a qualified publisher that holds a Master’s Degree in publishing from The University of Pretoria. I am the CEO of a medical publishing company called Medpharm Publications, based in Centurion, South Africa and I work full time.
With regard to my personal life… I am a daughter, sister and wife. I am a Christian. I am the mother of two 2 year olds. I am a runner. With a wide stretch of the imagination, I am a dancer, a crafter and a cook. I am 36 years old and I am a survivor of many things. And now… today… I am also a writer. A storyteller. A voice. A friend.
I have always been a writer in one way or another. Weather formally for my studies or my work or informally in my journal or social communication. I have however recently been shown that my words and testimony and even my sense of humour could be inspirational, comforting or simply entertaining to others. If nothing else this platform will be a source of organisation and even confrontation to me – Organising my thoughts and confronting my limitations and issues.
When I was diagnosed with hearing loss (only on the left side) and started the journey of addressing my vestibular issues, I reached out to the World Wide Web to contextualise what was actually happening. And to be honest I have had a hard time finding stories, situations and even explanations that I can relate to.
I
am therefore starting the conversation, hoping to either be a voice in the
silence or to invite others. Be it to share experiences or simply not feel
alone.
So I am putting this out
there…