OpheliaSpeaks
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- Joined
- Feb 28, 2007
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Hey all,
I hope this belongs here. I'm having some difficulty functioning between the Deaf and hearing worlds and was wondering if anyone could provide some insight.
I am hard of hearing. Due to a neurovascular disorder and some permanent nerve damage, my hearing fluctuates. Some days I am "more deaf" than others. I am on medication and am being followed by a physician of course.
For classroom and meeting situations it is much easier for me to use an interpreter. I am proficient in ASL and prefer to have equal access (not adequate access). I could get 60% of the meeting or lecture with an FM system and hearing aids, but how is that fair? Tuition is expensive! Since I have only been living with deafness for over a year, it is still very new to me. I haven't had my whole life to adjust to using hearing aids in all situations, nor do I think it is always appropriate.
I am in the interpreter training program in my community right now. It is becoming increasingly more frustrating, but I have been getting a lot of support from my peers and the director of the program. I suppose my goal would be to work mainly 1-on-1 in the community as an interpreter, but becoming an interpreter is not my life-long dream.
I think this is mainly just a vent, but part of my frustration lies in seeing some of the interpreters who have worked with me personally (ie: SSDI meeting) at Deaf events in the community. It is strange to know that this individual knows a lot of personal information about me. Anyone else struggle with that?
When I do use an interpreter (for class), I typically don't speak. I wonder if anyone finds this odd? I think part of my problem is that I am worrying too much about what everyone else thinks and not just doing what I feel comfortable doing. The interpreters who work my class for me both know my personally and know that I can speak and interact 1-on-1 just fine with hearing aids.
I guess I'm feeling stuck between 2 worlds tonight. I think what prompted it was being at a Deaf event earlier today and having a Deaf woman assume I was hearing. She asked me to ask her son (hearing) some questions, but I wasn't able to understand his responses and needed my girlfriend's help.
Hope everyone on the boards is well!
I hope this belongs here. I'm having some difficulty functioning between the Deaf and hearing worlds and was wondering if anyone could provide some insight.
I am hard of hearing. Due to a neurovascular disorder and some permanent nerve damage, my hearing fluctuates. Some days I am "more deaf" than others. I am on medication and am being followed by a physician of course.
For classroom and meeting situations it is much easier for me to use an interpreter. I am proficient in ASL and prefer to have equal access (not adequate access). I could get 60% of the meeting or lecture with an FM system and hearing aids, but how is that fair? Tuition is expensive! Since I have only been living with deafness for over a year, it is still very new to me. I haven't had my whole life to adjust to using hearing aids in all situations, nor do I think it is always appropriate.
I am in the interpreter training program in my community right now. It is becoming increasingly more frustrating, but I have been getting a lot of support from my peers and the director of the program. I suppose my goal would be to work mainly 1-on-1 in the community as an interpreter, but becoming an interpreter is not my life-long dream.
I think this is mainly just a vent, but part of my frustration lies in seeing some of the interpreters who have worked with me personally (ie: SSDI meeting) at Deaf events in the community. It is strange to know that this individual knows a lot of personal information about me. Anyone else struggle with that?
When I do use an interpreter (for class), I typically don't speak. I wonder if anyone finds this odd? I think part of my problem is that I am worrying too much about what everyone else thinks and not just doing what I feel comfortable doing. The interpreters who work my class for me both know my personally and know that I can speak and interact 1-on-1 just fine with hearing aids.
I guess I'm feeling stuck between 2 worlds tonight. I think what prompted it was being at a Deaf event earlier today and having a Deaf woman assume I was hearing. She asked me to ask her son (hearing) some questions, but I wasn't able to understand his responses and needed my girlfriend's help.
Hope everyone on the boards is well!