Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Sailing | 20170522 | 20220314 (BBC7) 20220315 (BBC7) | In 1997, Bella Bathurst began to go deaf aged 28. Within a few months, she had lost half her hearing, and the rest was slipping away. She wasn't just missing punchlines, she was missing most of the conversation - and all of the jokes. For the next 12 years deafness shaped her life. Sound draws on this experience, exploring the practical and emotional impact of losing your hearing, and what it teaches you about listening and silence, music and noise. Bella embarks on a sailing trip with friends. She doesn't want to admit her hearing is getting worse, but out at sea even more sound gets lost. As the weather worsens and Bella mishears instructions from the captain, has she put the whole boat in danger? Abridged in five parts by Jo Coombs. Read by Adjoa Andoh. Producer: Hannah Marshall A Loftus production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in May 2017. Bella embarks on a sailing trip. Does her worsening hearing put the whole boat in danger? Bella Bathurst explores the practical and emotional impact of losing one's hearing. |
| 02 | Searching | 20170523 | 20220315 (BBC7) 20220316 (BBC7) | Bella Bathurst tries to find her deaf identity. Can someone who's losing her hearing at aged 28, ever be part of the deaf-from-birth community? And how can she continue to relate to her friends and family if she can't work out what they're saying? In 1997, Bella began to go deaf. Within a few months, she had lost half her hearing, and the rest was slipping away. She wasn't just missing punchlines, she was missing most of the conversation - and all of the jokes. For the next 12 years deafness shaped her life. Sound draws on this experience, exploring the practical and emotional impact of losing your hearing, and what it teaches you about listening and silence, music and noise. Read by Adjoa Andoh. Producer: Hannah Marshall A Loftus production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in May 2017. As her hearing declines, Bella searches for her place in either the deaf or hearing world. Bella Bathurst explores the practical and emotional impact of losing one's hearing. |
| 03 | Fighting | 20170524 | 20220316 (BBC7) 20220317 (BBC7) | Bella continues to try to fight her deafness - and herself. Her loneliness and isolation is typical of people who have lost their hearing, she finds. Depression and social anxiety are very common. In 1997, Bella began to go deaf. Within a few months, she had lost half her hearing, and the rest was slipping away. She wasn't just missing punchlines, she was missing most of the conversation - and all of the jokes. For the next 12 years deafness shaped her life. Sound draws on this experience, exploring the practical and emotional impact of losing your hearing, and what it teaches you about listening and silence, music and noise. Read by Adjoa Andoh. Producer: Hannah Marshall A Loftus production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in May 2017. Bella Bathurst explores the practical and emotional impact of losing one's hearing. |
| 04 | Exploring | 20170525 | 20220317 (BBC7) 20220318 (BBC7) | Deafness dramatically changes Bella's experience of the busy streets of London. But, as she sits on the top deck of a bus, she realises that while she can't hear the sounds of the crowd, she has a new way to read the interactions on the street below. In 1997, Bella began to go deaf. Within a few months, she had lost half her hearing, and the rest was slipping away. She wasn't just missing punchlines, she was missing most of the conversation - and all of the jokes. For the next 12 years deafness shaped her life. Sound draws on this experience, exploring the practical and emotional impact of losing your hearing, and what it teaches you about listening and silence, music and noise. Read by Adjoa Andoh. Producer: Hannah Marshall A Loftus production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in May 2017. Deafness gives Bella a new perspective on city life. Bella Bathurst explores the practical and emotional impact of losing one's hearing. |
| 05 | Changing? | 20170526 | 20220318 (BBC7) 20220319 (BBC7) | By 2009, Bella has made her peace with her hearing loss. She's found ways to cope, and ways to be happy. And she assumes this is the way life will always be. Then a routine visit to her audiologist changes everything. In 1997, Bella began to go deaf. Within a few months, she had lost half her hearing, and the rest was slipping away. She wasn't just missing punchlines, she was missing most of the conversation - and all of the jokes. For the next 12 years deafness shaped her life. Sound draws on this experience, exploring the practical and emotional impact of losing your hearing, and what it teaches you about listening and silence, music and noise. Concluded by Adjoa Andoh. Producer: Hannah Marshall A Loftus production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in May 2017. Could a routine trip to see her audiologist change Bella's life? Bella Bathurst explores the practical and emotional impact of losing one's hearing. |
| OMNI | 20170528 | 20220320 (BBC7) | In 1997, Bella Bathurst began to go deaf at the age of 28. Within a few months, she had lost half her hearing, and the rest was slipping away. She wasn't just missing punchlines, she was missing most of the conversation - and all of the jokes. For the next 12 years deafness shaped her life. Sound draws on this experience, exploring the practical and emotional impact of losing your hearing, and what it teaches you about listening and silence, music and noise. Bella embarks on a sailing trip with friends. She doesn't want to admit her hearing is getting worse, but out at sea even more sound gets lost. As the weather worsens and Bella mishears instructions from the captain, has she put the whole boat in danger? Read by Adjoa Andoh. Omnibus of five parts abridged by Jo Coombs Producer: Hannah Marshall Bella Bathurst went deaf aged 28. This is her vivid chronicle of that experience. |