G'day folks from the other half of the world.
Started off in New Zealand, #2 of 6 kids achieved a moderate hearing loss with something, we think maybe mumps, about 3 years old. Wasn't really acted on until I turned 7-8 moved from the South Island to the North Island (to anyone who knows NZ, this almost equates to 2 different countries! I guess a bit like the North and South of America) and met Dad's mate, an audiologist, who gave me my first aid (case & cord type). Apparently I had learned to lip read, which threw everyone off the scent!
Anyways, Mum refused to send me to the deaf school saying I would have to live in the real world eventually, so I'd have to start off living that way. I was the first deaf kid through these schools in the region, so no-one really knew how to deal with me (including the other kids). I did OK at school, but was also a bit isolated, especially at sports times when the aid came off for safety and it turns out everyone wanted to say something to me then. Of course the only sign language any of us knew where just a handful of obscene ones. No courses for that one there! Needless to say, my team sporting ventures were disastrous and I ended up on the sidelines 98% of the time.
:rl: So I'm no great sporty these days unless they are indivdual pursuits.
I went through high school and in my senior year, I noticed some kids with aids on in the junior levels (I had graduated to an over ear aid by then). But what I did notice, was I couldn't talk to them. Nearly 17 and I'd never met a deaf person before. What do I say? No kidding, I was totally stymied there. So we went on our ways without much more than a quick glance. Even amongst deaf people, I felt I was different and not in a positive way either. I would say that school, even though I did OK academically, was probably one of life's worst experiences for me.
Eventually it was all over and I became an apprentice and went off to work. Great for the first year and things began to unravel slowly for me. I started drinking and mixing with gangs and other anti-social elements and eventually spiralled down in the drug scene for a few years. Eventually made a new mate and we pulled ourselves out of that and ended up in a cult for a while. I left that and met an old friend who was moving to Australia and I followed her over. I had to cut away from my past and start anew. That worked. I have been here many years, still make my mistakes, but have slowly moved forward ever since. On my 2nd marriage now, with 3 great kids.
I have 2 in the ear aids now, but I rarely wear them. When I go to the movies, I still slide down a bit in the seat to hide when I plug them in to listen to the movie. I know it's silly, but it still embrasses me even now to show myself wearing them. I guess I've never quite accepted myself having this disability and no amount of reasoning seems to change it.
I still resent the doors that have been closed to me as a result. I wanted first and foremost to be a pilot in the Air Force. Or in the Navy in a similar role. I found out when I was 16 that it wasn't going to happen - end of story. I must say I was shattered then, I never even thought that my hearing problem was going to close so many doors for me.
My family weren't and still aren't very communicative. They never told me many things - I had to find everything out for myself. I found there were only 2 concessions made for my disability. Everyone came up to me to talk, never from a distance and the TV had permanent headphones attached so I could hear - this was done when I was about 10. Before that I laid on the floor about 4 feet away from the TV.
Sorry folks, didn't realise this was going to be such a ramble
Anyway at the end of this all, I realised I have only met about 6 deaf people in my life and no, I don't know them anymore. Always found it difficult to relate to them.
I stumbled across this website and previewed it for a couple of days before finally deciding "Bugger it - make a move and make some change!" So here I am...
In closing, I'm not normally so depressing (at least, I hope not!). Thank you all for giving me this chance to talk to you. This is believe it or not, the first time I've spoken out about it to this degree.
Started off in New Zealand, #2 of 6 kids achieved a moderate hearing loss with something, we think maybe mumps, about 3 years old. Wasn't really acted on until I turned 7-8 moved from the South Island to the North Island (to anyone who knows NZ, this almost equates to 2 different countries! I guess a bit like the North and South of America) and met Dad's mate, an audiologist, who gave me my first aid (case & cord type). Apparently I had learned to lip read, which threw everyone off the scent!
Anyways, Mum refused to send me to the deaf school saying I would have to live in the real world eventually, so I'd have to start off living that way. I was the first deaf kid through these schools in the region, so no-one really knew how to deal with me (including the other kids). I did OK at school, but was also a bit isolated, especially at sports times when the aid came off for safety and it turns out everyone wanted to say something to me then. Of course the only sign language any of us knew where just a handful of obscene ones. No courses for that one there! Needless to say, my team sporting ventures were disastrous and I ended up on the sidelines 98% of the time.
:rl: So I'm no great sporty these days unless they are indivdual pursuits.I went through high school and in my senior year, I noticed some kids with aids on in the junior levels (I had graduated to an over ear aid by then). But what I did notice, was I couldn't talk to them. Nearly 17 and I'd never met a deaf person before. What do I say? No kidding, I was totally stymied there. So we went on our ways without much more than a quick glance. Even amongst deaf people, I felt I was different and not in a positive way either. I would say that school, even though I did OK academically, was probably one of life's worst experiences for me.
Eventually it was all over and I became an apprentice and went off to work. Great for the first year and things began to unravel slowly for me. I started drinking and mixing with gangs and other anti-social elements and eventually spiralled down in the drug scene for a few years. Eventually made a new mate and we pulled ourselves out of that and ended up in a cult for a while. I left that and met an old friend who was moving to Australia and I followed her over. I had to cut away from my past and start anew. That worked. I have been here many years, still make my mistakes, but have slowly moved forward ever since. On my 2nd marriage now, with 3 great kids.
I have 2 in the ear aids now, but I rarely wear them. When I go to the movies, I still slide down a bit in the seat to hide when I plug them in to listen to the movie. I know it's silly, but it still embrasses me even now to show myself wearing them. I guess I've never quite accepted myself having this disability and no amount of reasoning seems to change it.
I still resent the doors that have been closed to me as a result. I wanted first and foremost to be a pilot in the Air Force. Or in the Navy in a similar role. I found out when I was 16 that it wasn't going to happen - end of story. I must say I was shattered then, I never even thought that my hearing problem was going to close so many doors for me.
My family weren't and still aren't very communicative. They never told me many things - I had to find everything out for myself. I found there were only 2 concessions made for my disability. Everyone came up to me to talk, never from a distance and the TV had permanent headphones attached so I could hear - this was done when I was about 10. Before that I laid on the floor about 4 feet away from the TV.
Sorry folks, didn't realise this was going to be such a ramble
Anyway at the end of this all, I realised I have only met about 6 deaf people in my life and no, I don't know them anymore. Always found it difficult to relate to them.
I stumbled across this website and previewed it for a couple of days before finally deciding "Bugger it - make a move and make some change!" So here I am...
In closing, I'm not normally so depressing (at least, I hope not!). Thank you all for giving me this chance to talk to you. This is believe it or not, the first time I've spoken out about it to this degree.
I am an Aussie and married to a Kiwi so I have been to NZ many times.
here and enjoy AD! 
