Quote:
Originally Posted by freckles
question for profound deafies (all forms of hearies opinions are welcome too), sorry if this was brought up before - do show me the thread if so.
question: I understand hearing impaired is politically corrected term, do you find it offensive? makes you feel really 'disabled'? psychologically disabled? or just fine? if so or whatlike, why, etc.
and by the way, while I think this is a sticky question, do you, people who can hear at least a bit well (with or with no hearing aids), do you consider yourself deaf or hardofhearing?
eager to hear all, diverse thoughts!
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I'll be honest, I hate the Impaired label. I don't know what is so wrong with everybody just being called deaf! HOH seems to imply to the hearing world that with hearing aids I must be able to carry on a conversation no problem. Hearing impaired seems to be telling me that I must be fixed in some way if possible, when in reality I love my life and the person I am and wouldn't change it for anything.
I guess I don't fully understand what "being deaf" (little D) means. Is it complete absence of sound? I hear some sounds without my aids, more sounds with my aids (but I still need to see ones lips to "hear"). What's wrong with the term deaf? Nothing to me. It cuts through all the bullshit. I have a hard time hearing, please stop covering your damn mouth.
I don't know ASL (yet!!), but I find out often how stupid I am for not learning, just by telling people I'm deaf. So many times the customer at work, cashier at the store, lady wanting to shoot the sh#t while waiting, will break out their hands and start signing! It's amazing. Can't wait to quit working and start learning ASL.