Matildas star Mackenzie Arnold has opened up about her serious hearing problems – with the gun keeper revealing it was the Covid pandemic that forced her to confront them as her health continued to deteriorate.
As the 29-year-old shot-stopper prepares to defend between the sticks at the upcoming Women’s World Cup for Australia, she has revealed how serious her health problems had become.
Arnold, who trades for West Ham in England when she’s not in the green and gold, had grown accustomed to a life where she couldn’t hear well.
Teammates would have to yell at her during calls, she couldn’t hear the tone on her phone, and meeting friends in noisy coffee shops and bars had become nearly impossible.
But thanks to the help and guidance of brother Sam, who has worn hearing aids all his life, Arnold realized there was more to it – and went to a hearing care professional in London, where it was revealed just how serious the hearing problems had become.
Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold (pictured after being announced as the player of the tournament after February’s Cup of Nations) has spoken out about her serious hearing problems
The West Ham star (left, pictured with girlfriend Kirsty Smith, a Hammers teammate) is now wearing hearing aids after realizing how serious the problem had become
Thanks to brother Sam (left), Arnold had her hearing checked in London by a specialist, who told her she had no choice but to buy hearing aids
“When COVID hit and everyone started wearing masks all the time, I realized I was probably lip-reading a lot more than I realized,” the star goalkeeper told the The Sydney Morning Herald of what led her to finally get checked.
“Because, frankly, I couldn’t hear anything when people had masks on. I was like, ‘What’s going on?’.”
That said, it was still hard for her to take the first step and actually make the deal. Almost two years in fact.
She finally got the specialist to check her out in April and shared the scary moment with fans in a video.
The specialist explained clearly how serious it was and told Arnold that she had almost completely lost the ability to hear high frequencies.
Hearing consonants like ‘s’ and ‘t’ also became almost impossible – so there was only one option: hearing aids.
Arnold, pictured after making a save in Australia’s friendly victory over England in April, is now first-choice goalkeeper for the Matildas
Her Matildas teammate and good friend Caitlin Foord (right, pictured next to their closest mate and colleague Matilda Alana Kennedy, center) joked that she finally didn’t have to repeat herself anymore
“The lady said if I don’t get hearing aids it’s only going to get worse because it’s like a muscle and if you don’t use them it will deteriorate over time,” Arnold explains.
“Honestly, I saw Caitlin Foord (Matilda’s teammate) the other day and we were in a cafe that was kind of noisy, and she said it was so nice to actually be able to have a conversation with me and not repeat herself.
“It certainly made a huge difference.”
Foord herself is certainly thankful that her close friend finally got her ears checked and gave her a gentle ribbing back in April when about 20 of Matilda’s teammates remarked how proud they were that Arnold had her hearing checked.
“Can’t wait to stop repeating myself,” Foord laughed at Arnold’s decision to get hearing aids.
According to the federal government Heath Direct websitearound one in six Australians experience hearing loss – and that is expected to rise to one in four over the next 30 years.
Worryingly, most Aussies wait seven to ten years to get checked, and only one in five who need hearing aids actually use them.
Which highlights why Arnold, and her position as a Matildas and WSL star who shares her journey of struggling with the serious health issues, is so important.
The star keeper hasn’t used them in matches yet – they don’t quite fit well enough – but it certainly hasn’t stopped her on the field.
Having always been the back-up goalkeeper since her national debut for the Matildas in 2012, Arnold comes into her own.
She was in stunning form for West Ham in the WSL, proving herself to be a human standout taking on some of the world’s best footballers.
But it was finally a chance between the sticks by Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson in the recent Cup of Nations, where she came into her own.
Arnold (silver jersey) made some crucial saves against Jamaica and was announced as the Cup of Nations player of the tournament
She seized the opportunity with both hands, making vital saves against Spain and Jamaica as Australia won the tournament.
Arnold was so impressive that she was named player of the tournament as fans, pundits and legends waxed lyrical about her that she finally made the most of her obvious talents.
She is now likely first-choice goalkeeper for veteran Lydia Williams and rising star Tegan Micah – although it’s a competitive battle, a good sign for Australia ahead of the World Cup opener on July 20.
“This part of my career I would say I’m really starting to come into my own, I think this is the first time I really feel part of the team and I belong there. I’ve always felt like I belonged, but I’ve never really felt like that place is mine,” Arnold said. Optus Sports.
“I know, of course, that I still have a lot of competition with Lydia [Williams] and Teagan [Micah] and that has never been forgotten, but i’m just worried about myself and know that the mindset i’m in right now is where i’ve wanted to be for a long time.
“So I’m really happy to have come to this place and I think if I can take it to the World Cup we can have a very successful World Cup.”