Mikaela Thepvongsa began losing her hearing at just one year old.
Mikaela Thepvongsa was born healthy and hearing, much like everyone else in her family.
As a child, she responded to sounds and even tried to imitate them. But around the age of one, her parents noticed a sudden change.
“I couldn’t stand up, I would fall and wouldn’t cry. My parents would try to tickle me, and I didn’t react anymore,” Mikaela, from Seattle, Washington, shares.
Now 27, Mikaela recalls how her parents raised concerns with doctors, only to be told it might be behavioral rather than medical. But her mother didn’t give up, writing a detailed letter about Mikaela’s lack of reaction to sounds and touch.
One dedicated nurse responded and suggested an MRI, which revealed prominent white matter lesions in Mikaela’s brain, a very rare condition for someone so young.
This led to a diagnosis of bilateral sensorineural profound hearing loss, affecting the inner ear.
By the time she was between two and three, Mikaela had lost all her hearing.
“Living with bilateral profound hearing loss and other chronic illnesses, I’ve faced numerous challenges,” says Mikaela.
“This includes spending a lot of time in hospitals and undergoing various therapies—physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy.”
Growing up with these challenges, she saw the need for accessibility and inclusivity for people with disabilities.
After earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology, she decided to pursue nursing at Washington State University, College of Nursing.
In a viral TikTok video with over 1 million views, Mikaela recounts how an instructor doubted her ability to become a nurse during her first clinical rotation.
“I was going through a tough time and wanted an outlet to share my experiences,” she says. “I also wanted to practice speaking in front of the camera, which had been a major insecurity of mine.”
Despite the obstacles, she graduated from nursing school with honors in 2019.
Starting her career in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as a New Grad Registered Nurse, she later took on a per diem Home Health nursing role as well.
Now, Mikaela has moved into community health nursing, working with patients with disabilities and non-native English speakers. She prefers not to use interpreters, relying on her lip-reading skills.
“Many of my patients mouth their needs, and lip-reading has been tremendously helpful,” she explains.
“I know sign language, but most of my patients are not deaf. In my current role, where I work with deaf patients, my personal experience allows me to relate to them.”
Mikaela hopes her story will inspire others, both deaf and hard-of-hearing, to feel proud and follow their dreams.
“I will always be deaf, which means I’ll always face additional obstacles. I will have to advocate for myself and educate others on deaf and disability awareness.”
“I am proud of myself for achieving my dreams despite the difficulties,” she says. “This is not the end but only the beginning.”
