Hearing Impaired Term?

I do not find the word "deaf" offensive either...
 
I understand what do you mean. That's interesting. I don't feel shame being deaf. But in my side family think I was shame because I don't use my voice to communicate. They think I was shame for attend to Deaf School and learn about deaf community. I don't mean to against to hearing world. I think it's silly to say shame of me. My old teacher called me hearing impaired. She abused on me for not use speech. I had a time to learn speech because my teeth were crooked. It was bad mid-face. It was not my faulted! I got a brace to make a straight teeth. I lacked of use speech for long times due enrolled to Deaf school. They don't need to use the voice. That's why!

shel90 said:
I think for people who are ashamed of their deafness feel that being called "deaf" is offensive. I grew up so ashamed of my deafness because I was mainstreamed in a strictly oral-only environment and was also taught that being deaf was a terrible thing so if anyone called me "deaf", I would get upset. The reason for that was cuz I was in BIG time denial about my deafness. When I finally learned ASL and discovered the Deaf community, I realized that being deaf was ok and also realized how degrading the term "hearing-impaired" had been for me all of my life. So, since that "wake-up" moment, I have desested that term "hearing-impaired" ever since.

All of my friends in the Deaf community deset that term too.
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That what my cousin's feeling like deaf offense. She really hate when people call her son is deaf. She is out of control with her emotion. She always being moody! She has a moody personality! We are not getting along together. I offer you to read my other thread at sign language and oralism. Go check it out "My view on sign language/non sign language with ci" Can you answer it for me please? Thank you! :)

Boult said:
I do not find the word "deaf" offensive either...
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It depends on how it's used.

I've mentioned this before in another thread... different people have different labels and view labels differently.

If another deaf person asked me what I was, I would say that I was hard of hearing. If a hearing person asked me what I was, I would say that I was deaf.

If a government office asked you what your handicap was, it would be appropriate to say that you were hearing impaired. Even if you said you were deaf, they would still put you down as hearing impaired. If I said I was hard of hearing, they would look at me as a person who is hearing with very little hearing loss and not hearing impaired as a real deaf person would be. (I've been there before.) :roll:
 
Yep, the name game is a wonderful way to deny and bestow "privileges," many of which are basic human rights.
 
Just call me deaf.

My hearie mum hates the term 'hearing impaired' too. She corrected my boss and senior staff when they used 'hearing impaired' and said 'No, she's deaf, not hearing impaired'. 'Besides, the term is offensive to deaf people in general'.

Now they know which is the proper label to stick me with. :D
 
boult, thanks for the information. I know that term doesn't mean whole negatively. I haven't shared my opinion yet but this word IMPAIRED bothers me - words can't express yet. I've just had a knee surgery last fall and legging impaired wouldn't make sense lol. like vampy said, if one is okay with it, then okay. I still wouldn't use it to avoid that term.

the other day recently I was filling out an application, it asked any Disability? and lists all disabilites, I read down to Deaf; I squeaked in a thrill! :D it's time for 2008 now.

deafbaja, that's pretty strong...can you explain why?

miss-delectable, go our moms! :D sometimes I'd tell them - if they must stick to coughshearingimpairedcoughs and find deaf offensive - just call me sonically challenged instead. ;)
 
I like to call myself deaf too, because I really am. I don't like the term "hearing impaired" either.

I do notice that most hearies (not here on AD, but just in general) have a different perspective - they think "deaf" sounds worse than "hearing impaired", as to them, "deaf" sounds REALLY impaired. But I think that's just a matter of ignorance on their part.
 
Same here. Deaf isn't bother me. It's not hurt me. I rather call deaf myself. I don't like hearing impaired either. My cousin is so narrow-minded! If someone ask me "Are you hearing impaired or hearing loss" I told them. I am deaf! If I get CI. I would say deaf and hoh both. I am still deaf.
 
It might be rather idealistic to ask that people call me by my name (either by choice or birth). I am not like other individuals with the label. My needs may not be similar, either. For tax purposes, it is beneficial while, for systems analysis, it is a "deterrent."

When you are given a label and you voice no attitude toward it, you are held at greater risk than if you were to aggressively promise that you are a human.

Every human has a name and the right to be one.

I object to a particular label when/if it impedes the procedure I need to happen.

I do not object when what I need happens.
 
I didn't consider myself deaf....cuz thought full deafies would think I was not. When young I used hard of hearing......later used hearing impaired.........recent years found that the hoh is more typical and some offended by hearing impaired. Guess I am used to both...and even deaf now. As we call each other deafies.
mostly I just say "what?" lol
or clean the shyt of of your mouth just kidding...lol
 
No sweat off my back if I called Hearing Impaired. Going by the definition alone, I AM hearing impaired (a spade is a spade). Now, I guess people have become upset with it as it seems to "imply" more than just being unable hear but also being unable function in other ways. That depends on where one is coming from and how one is perceived by the hearing world. For those who are totally comfortable in the hearing world, it is a moot point to quibble over the phrase. There are bigger issues out there to worry about than this...
 
AlleyCat said:
I like to call myself deaf too, because I really am. I don't like the term "hearing impaired" either.

I do notice that most hearies (not here on AD, but just in general) have a different perspective - they think "deaf" sounds worse than "hearing impaired", as to them, "deaf" sounds REALLY impaired. But I think that's just a matter of ignorance on their part.
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Same here.

It does get a bit annoying when I have to change the way I define my handicap to different types of people. Some people won't understand what "hearing impaired" means, but do understand what "deaf" means... and some others don't understand what "deaf" means, but do understand what "hearing impaired" means. :roll:
 
This thread reminds me of the debate we have in the blind community in regards to the terms "visually impaired" and "blind." There are some people who take a *very* strong dislike towards being called "blind" when they have usable residual vision. In my case, I was born totally blind, so I've not had to deal with this issue.

However, in regards to my hearing, I was diagnosed with a mild hearing loss at age 3 and started wearing hearing aids at age 15. I wasn't introduced to the term "hard of hearing" until my hearing loss reached the severe-profound stage and I attended my local deafblind center for training. It was there that I also learned how to identify myself as "deafblind."

Now that I'm able to hear with CIs, I still call myself deafblind (instead of blind) but indicate to laypeople that I'm hard of hearing with my CIs on and deaf without them.

To those who work in the Deaf community or have experience in the field of deafness, I indicate that I'm a deafblind or Deaf CI user.
 
Hello,

I'm new here, and I came across this topic and decided to post here first.

The term does not offend me, as a specific and logical reference to a particular state. Humans, like most land dwelling beings, are 'designed' for hearing.

'Normally' would hear, but not hearing, for whatever reason = an impairment of hearing. It is not a label, not is it meant to have a negative connotation (in my mind). That's just how it is, and there may be times when it is needed to refer to (hence a forum such as this one?) so it is logical to refer it into an accurate and concise term. Yes, we are 'still human' and whatnot, but I find that distinction irrelevant to what this term is meant to be used for anyway. It is not primarily for identification.

It's like saying a can of soup has soup in it.... It might say Minestrone, but it is also canned soup.

And as far as "blind" goes, being classified as 'deaf/blind' myself, I tend to prefer 'low vision' or 'vision impaired' if it is necessary to point out, simply to keep it clear due to the fact that for many people 'blind' = 'can't see' (as in total lack of sight) which is not the case with me.
 
I grew up with everyone saying hearing impaired. Never had an issue with someone saying that I was hearing impaired. Being hearing impaired just meant that my hearing had a slight kink and I need a little bit of extra help through the aid of hearing aids.

I did have an issue when someone would call me deaf. To mean deaf meant I couldn't hear anything. Without my hearing aids I could still hear a few things. Mind you they are loud noises but I can hear it. It's quite offending to have someone walk up to me and to say that I could not hear noises.

Today I tell everyone that my right ear is deaf and my left ear is hearing impaired because that's the truth. My right ear can't hear anything anymore.

I'd like to remind everyone that they are entitled to have their own opinion and not to bash their beliefs.
 
jenni-m said:
Hello,

I'm new here, and I came across this topic and decided to post here first.

The term does not offend me, as a specific and logical reference to a particular state. Humans, like most land dwelling beings, are 'designed' for hearing.

'Normally' would hear, but not hearing, for whatever reason = an impairment of hearing. It is not a label, not is it meant to have a negative connotation (in my mind). That's just how it is, and there may be times when it is needed to refer to (hence a forum such as this one?) so it is logical to refer it into an accurate and concise term. Yes, we are 'still human' and whatnot, but I find that distinction irrelevant to what this term is meant to be used for anyway. It is not primarily for identification.

It's like saying a can of soup has soup in it.... It might say Minestrone, but it is also canned soup.

And as far as "blind" goes, being classified as 'deaf/blind' myself, I tend to prefer 'low vision' or 'vision impaired' if it is necessary to point out, simply to keep it clear due to the fact that for many people 'blind' = 'can't see' (as in total lack of sight) which is not the case with me.
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I have to disagree that it is not a term primarily intended for identification. It is used by the hearing to identifiy the non-hearing, and terminlogy used is dependent upon attitude toward that particular group.

Soup does not suffer the consequences of labling as do people.
 
jillio said:
I have to disagree that it is not a term primarily intended for identification. It is used by the hearing to identifiy the non-hearing, and terminlogy used is dependent upon attitude toward that particular group.

Soup does not suffer the consequences of labling as do people.
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I can understand some people are idiots, but I don't quite understand this whole line of reasoning of demonizing an otherwise useful phrase just because someone uses it in a way you don't like. They are the ones who are wrong, it is not the word's fault.

But maybe I'm naive.

And, I just figured out how to edit, so I will add:

I had read the original questions as "do you find the term 'hearing impaired' offensive", and had responded based on the premise that we were discussing the phrase itself, not people that use it to be hurtful to others.

Notice that I had specified in what case it does not offend me, and explained why. If I know of someone saying about me something like "Hey, she is hearing impaired, she is so stupid. Haha." then yes, I would be offended, at that person's actions.
 
I am always afraid that if I used the term Hard of hearing, people will equal my hearing loss as elderly ... which most of them have mild or moderate hearing loss. I have severe hearing loss in both ears and it is nothing like old age hearing loss.

But I am also afraid that if I use the term deaf, people think I can't hear at all, even with hearing aids. So I stick with severe hard of hearing.

and using the term hearing impaired for all hearing loss does not help people acknowledge what kind of accommodation the person need (like ASL, speaking up, speak clearly, etc.)
 
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