Originally Posted by Dixie

I am the same way. I am profoundly deaf in my left ear and HOH in my right ear. I grew up mainstreamed my entire life. I never knew about deaf communities let alone Deaf Culture. Growing up I was always the oddball, the weird one, the one that just didnt quite fit in.

When I arrived here I started posting and I realized Im not as weird as I was thought to be. For the first time I realize that someone understands my story and understands my struggles and what I've dealt with.

Through this forum, Ive learned to embrace my deafness instead of hiding it. I've picked up ASL. Let me tell you for me it is so much easier to communicate visually rather than having to strain to lip-read and match the sounds with shape of the mouth only to realize that they dont want my game, they want my name.

Im glad you've come, now please stay and you call yourself whatever you feel most comfortable with.