Conversations with Meaghan Thomas

Today we’d like to introduce you to Meaghan Thomas. 

Hi Meaghan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Hi! Thanks for having me!

I was raised a Georgia peach, but spent a little over 10 years in Alabama before moving here to Nashville in 2020. I am the morning meteorologist for WKRN, News 2 in Nashville. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Broadcast News & Geography from the University of Alabama then completed my master’s degree in Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University. Along with meteorology, my passions involve bringing awareness to the hard of hearing, Deaf & deaf communities! I proudly wear bi-lateral hearing aids, so let me explain my journey and how I got here.

Everyone’s hearing journey is unique. Mine is no exception. For many years my hearing loss went unnoticed which is surprising since my father has worn hearing aids for years with profound hearing loss in both ears.  During my youth, I managed in school by predominantly lip reading since I had tools at home which made hearing easier (e.g.), headphones were available for the TV and my mother normally spoke quite loud for my father to hear. Entering college and attending class in a large auditorium I realized I could no longer clearly see the professor’s face much less his mouth. When the sound began echoing through the room, I realized how much I utilized lip reading. However, at this point, I still did nothing to improve my hearing issue since I associated hearing loss and hearing aids with the ‘older’ generation.

Moving forward beyond college and grad school to my first job in television, my station required the meteorologist position, I held, be fitted for an IFB (the device we use to hear the directors and producers). It was during that IFB fitting appointment a coworker pointed out the technicians had addressed me a number of times while molding my ear piece yet I never responded. I mentioned to my coworker I did not hear well but had been able to manage. The audiologist suggested I return and have my ears examined. Upon administering the hearing tests, they found profound hearing loss in my left ear and severe loss in my right.

At this point, I knew it was time to acquire hearing assistance. Unfortunately, as many of you may know, hearing aids are considered cosmetic thus not covered under insurance. As a young professional, I did not have the funds to buy a pair of hearing aids so luckily on my behalf, my parents were able to intercede and purchase one aid for my left ear.

As time moved on, my audiologist suggested I start aiding my right ear because my issues were not improving. I really needed the additional hearing assistance. This is when I acquired my own first pair of aids. WOW! What a difference it made. It’s amazing how many wonderful sounds I had missed such as birds chirping, car blinkers, and leaves rustling when its windy! What a wonderful experience!

As I have matured, at the beginning of each year, I now select a word to embody all that I want to do within that year. In 2021, my word was BOLD. One day at work I took a picture of myself with my hearing aids then posted the picture on social media. This was my attempt at being bold and trying to embrace a part of me that I typically kept hidden. Oh, did I underestimate the power of the internet. The post went viral overnight. The positive comments and support I received in response to my posts, from everyone, has led to one of the most exciting years of my life!

I am a 30 something, broadcast meteorologist who wears bi-lateral hearing aids and I am proud of it! Shortly after my hearing aid post went viral, I had national news outlets, hearing aid companies, hearing loss organizations, and parents of hard of hearing children reach out to me in response. Reading the words of the parents truly touched my heart. They mentioned how my actions had helped their children with their reality, but little did they know just how much they had enriched mine. I finally felt comfortable in my own skin, if you will, and that sense of loneliness I often experienced as a young woman with hearing loss disappeared.

Upon speaking to a few news outlets and organizations, I felt the need to complete my Children’s book. The title of the book was coincidently selected because I misheard someone saying, ‘hard of hearing.’ I understood it to be, Heart of Hearing. My book Heart of Hearing is a true passion project focusing on young, hard-of-hearing children. The book encourages them to wear their aids in an effort to assist in hearing the sweet sounds the world has to offer. It reinforces how special they are, just as they are. It is also a great resource for hearing children broadening their awareness and understanding of those folks who do wear hearing aids? Inclusivity is very important to me and the world we live in today.

While in the process of completing my book, I decided to create a nonprofit. The Heart of Hearing is an official 501© (3) whose goal is simple: to raise awareness and reduce the stigma associated with hearing loss. With our organization’s mission always in mind, we strive to provide hearing aids for those who cannot afford them by hosting events and fundraisers. The Heart of Hearing team is dedicated to making a positive impact each day to our hard of hearing community thus changing lives while making the process of getting hearing tested and aids fitted as seamless as possible. To find out more information, please visit: www.theheartofhearing.org.

Mark Twain says it best, “kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” And don’t forget, always cheers to your ears!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like I stated before, my hearing journey is unlike many others. Coming from a family that is hard of hearing and who wears aids, I did not see myself as different. When I got to college and sat in large classrooms that changed. Sound would get lost in the room and I could no longer see the professors face to lip read. School became extremely challenging and more frustrating. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an award-winning morning meteorologist at News 2 in Nashville. My alarm goes off at 2:40am and I am on TV from 4 am until 7 am and then again from 11 to noon or whenever severe weather strikes!

In 2012, I earned my bachelor’s degree in Broadcast News and Geography from the University of Alabama. As an undergraduate, I became a member of the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association. I am also a certified storm spotter and storm chaser. As a student at Alabama, I experienced first-hand, the devastating tornado outbreak on April 27, 2011. This experience further reinforced my desire to learn more about atmospheric science. I like to consider myself a true “science nerd.”

In 2014, I completed my master’s degree in Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University. While attending MSU, I was a teaching assistant in the Department of Communications.

During graduate school, I also worked as a meteorologist at WCBI, the CBS affiliate, in Columbus, MS. While there, I helped cover the April 28, 2014, tornado outbreak across Mississippi.

After leaving Mississippi I joined the ABC affiliate in Birmingham in 2014. I served the wonderful people of Central Alabama as their weekend and morning meteorologist at ABC 33/40 for six years covering everything from tornadoes to ice storms. When I wasn’t on TV, I worked at the University of Alabama as an Adjunct Professor teaching the Fundamentals of Electronic News.

I also earned the prestigious Certified Broadcast Meteorologist Seal of Approval. Not only am I a meteorologist that can communicate the weather, but a meteorologist that really knows the science behind it.

Along with meteorology, my passions involve bringing awareness to the Hard of Hearing, Deaf & deaf communities! I proudly wear bi-lateral hearing aids and want to encourage others that being different makes you special. You can learn more about my Children’s book & nonprofit, “Heart of Hearing” at www.theheartofhearing.org.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
Oh goodness, there are so many! But, one that sticks out would be the time I went to space camp in Huntsville, Alabama for a week in the summer when I was 13. This experience introduced me to my love of weather and space. I also attribute this to the reason why I became a meteorologist. I would love to go back again as an adult! 

Pricing:

• $30 Hardback Children’s Book

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.theheartofhearing.org
• Instagram: @megtomwx ; @theheartofhearing
• Facebook: @megtomwx ; @theheartofhearingpage
• Twitter: @megtomwx ; @theheartof_hearing

Image Credits
beerollphotography
Leighton
Amqui
Amelia
Justin