melissa
New Member
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2006
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Hi everyone,
I have been a member for a few years but I haven't posted much until now. Apologies if I make any faux pas, I haven't been on this site very much. I'm considered hard of hearing with mild loss in speech frequencies, and moderate/severe loss in the high frequencies. I can 'get by' without my hearing aids if I want to. I have been thinking and wanted to post to know other people's opinions...
I introduce myself as hard of hearing to people, I don't really know anyone else with hearing problems so I guess I picked up that label somewhere. I always felt that I shouldn't refer to myself as D/deaf as I can follow most conversation (with repeating, speaking slowly and clearly, facing me etc) without using my hearing aids.
I am aware that Deaf refers more to a cultural label than a physical one. I'm also aware that 'hearing impaired' can be seen as a derogatory term. Sometimes I say 'Sorry, I didn't hear you then, can you repeat it, I wear hearing aids' and people say 'Oh, are you deaf?' and I truly don't know what to answer.
Is the difference in terminology just cultural, a label, not important as long as you're happy? Or is there a specific audiogram-related cutoff where you move from being HoH to D/deaf?
Melissa.
I have been a member for a few years but I haven't posted much until now. Apologies if I make any faux pas, I haven't been on this site very much. I'm considered hard of hearing with mild loss in speech frequencies, and moderate/severe loss in the high frequencies. I can 'get by' without my hearing aids if I want to. I have been thinking and wanted to post to know other people's opinions...
I introduce myself as hard of hearing to people, I don't really know anyone else with hearing problems so I guess I picked up that label somewhere. I always felt that I shouldn't refer to myself as D/deaf as I can follow most conversation (with repeating, speaking slowly and clearly, facing me etc) without using my hearing aids.
I am aware that Deaf refers more to a cultural label than a physical one. I'm also aware that 'hearing impaired' can be seen as a derogatory term. Sometimes I say 'Sorry, I didn't hear you then, can you repeat it, I wear hearing aids' and people say 'Oh, are you deaf?' and I truly don't know what to answer.
Is the difference in terminology just cultural, a label, not important as long as you're happy? Or is there a specific audiogram-related cutoff where you move from being HoH to D/deaf?
Melissa.