Hi Everyone!!

Kyle · 10-28-2009, 01:01 AM

Hey everyone. I'm Kyle and I'm 20 years old. I'm not only new to this site, but new to the community alltogether. I've had ear problems throughout my life and became deaf in my right ear about 4 years ago. Very recently, my hearing has started to worsen in my left ear as well. The audiologist said that a hearing aid should work for the short term but I will likely lose my hearing completely within the next 12 months.

Saying I'm scared is an understatement. I've never relied heavily on my hearing but the thought of losing it completely is very upsetting. However, I'm very thankful that I have had the chance to experience the world through my ears for the past 20 years. So many don't get that. I'm trying to stay as positive as I can. I'm thankful for everything and look forward to my future.

Right now, I'm studying ASL and relaying as much as possible to my family. Until now, I never realized the complexity and usefulness of sign. I've found that I can convey anything I want to say with it. I'm not going to rely entirely on it. I've developed the skill of lip-reading over time and I believe my speech should remain intact for the most part. So, I am greatly blessed.

For now, I'm staying positive. Taking everything in stride. My world is not ending, just a new part is opening up for me as one closes. The most frustrating thing is that my family doesn't believe me when I tell them I'm okay. I guess they expect me to be absolutely devastated about it. But, I'm not. Yes, I'm frightened, but not about losing my hearing. The scariest part for me is how my family will adapt. My mom is visibly upset now. I can't imagine how she's going to take it when it actually happens.

Okay, I'm done for now. If you've made it this far, I want to thank you so much for reading. It feels nice to get everything off my chest.

lindalaumtmlp · 10-28-2009, 07:33 PM

hello newbie!
welcome

Bottesini · 10-28-2009, 08:27 PM

http://www.alldeaf.com/general-chat/...-deafness.html

A thread where you will find support and many other people like yourself.

LDNanna · 10-28-2009, 08:39 PM

You will be fine, others will learn to cope. ASL is a great language. You can convey everything and then some. Unlike mere words, ASL includes whole body language, expression, and gesture. You will learn so much. It is good to take a class, with a deaf teacher is best. Meet other deaf or hoh folks, and this may seem hard now, but you are on a journey. It will be what you make of it.

Glad you found alldeaf, this a wonderful resource. Visit the late deaf forum, make new friends, check out schools and technology. Welcome!

Loghead · 10-28-2009, 09:30 PM

to Alldeaf, Kyle.

Passionate4ASL · 10-28-2009, 10:33 PM

Welcome to AD Kyle

Kyle · 10-28-2009, 10:47 PM

Thank you everybody for your warm welcomes. This is a great site. :-D I think I will fit in perfectly. Starting official ASL classes soon. Been studying for a little bit. Think I have greetings, fingerspelling, and numbers down pat.

LDNanna · 10-28-2009, 11:18 PM

Congrats! Welcome to a whole new world.

ASLtees · 10-28-2009, 11:34 PM

YODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE

from Troy

Lissa · 10-30-2009, 05:51 PM

Welcome

Bebonang · 10-30-2009, 09:01 PM

to AllDeaf forum. I hope you have fun reading and posting all the threads here. See you around here.

Phillips · 10-31-2009, 12:09 PM

Hello

Partygirl · 11-01-2009, 08:44 AM

welcome to AD!

Simown · 11-01-2009, 08:52 AM

Hey Kyle, I know what you are going through, I went from hearing to deaf very quickly. It does take a while to adjust to it but it's not the end of the world

I wish I explained to more people what it was going to be like being deaf, most people I know don't have a clue how to communicate with me. If I were to offer you any advice it would be to talk to people you know, while you still have some hearing and explain the situation (although it seems like you've already started doing that

)

Hope to see you around the site

10-28-2009, 01:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
Kyle New to the Community Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Kentucky, USA Posts: 2	Hi Everyone!! Hey everyone. I'm Kyle and I'm 20 years old. I'm not only new to this site, but new to the community alltogether. I've had ear problems throughout my life and became deaf in my right ear about 4 years ago. Very recently, my hearing has started to worsen in my left ear as well. The audiologist said that a hearing aid should work for the short term but I will likely lose my hearing completely within the next 12 months. Saying I'm scared is an understatement. I've never relied heavily on my hearing but the thought of losing it completely is very upsetting. However, I'm very thankful that I have had the chance to experience the world through my ears for the past 20 years. So many don't get that. I'm trying to stay as positive as I can. I'm thankful for everything and look forward to my future. Right now, I'm studying ASL and relaying as much as possible to my family. Until now, I never realized the complexity and usefulness of sign. I've found that I can convey anything I want to say with it. I'm not going to rely entirely on it. I've developed the skill of lip-reading over time and I believe my speech should remain intact for the most part. So, I am greatly blessed. For now, I'm staying positive. Taking everything in stride. My world is not ending, just a new part is opening up for me as one closes. The most frustrating thing is that my family doesn't believe me when I tell them I'm okay. I guess they expect me to be absolutely devastated about it. But, I'm not. Yes, I'm frightened, but not about losing my hearing. The scariest part for me is how my family will adapt. My mom is visibly upset now. I can't imagine how she's going to take it when it actually happens. Okay, I'm done for now. If you've made it this far, I want to thank you so much for reading. It feels nice to get everything off my chest.

10-28-2009, 08:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bottesini Bodhar agus leath dall Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Middle of dog pack Posts: 16,120	http://www.alldeaf.com/general-chat/...-deafness.html A thread where you will find support and many other people like yourself. __________________ It's a joke Nathan!

10-28-2009, 10:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
Passionate4ASL StormyStarySkies Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 277	Welcome to AD Kyle __________________ JennieLynn

10-30-2009, 05:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
Lissa Just me....Lissa Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 3,135 Blog Entries: 3	Welcome __________________ Proud to be deaf and a CI user!!

10-30-2009, 09:01 PM	#11 (permalink)
Bebonang "Deaf Cree Militant" Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Manitoulin Island on Lake Huron in Canada Posts: 2,891	to AllDeaf forum. I hope you have fun reading and posting all the threads here. See you around here. __________________ I HAVE BEEN DEAF SINCE BIRTH, AND IT IS STILL AWESOME TO BE . <Deaf> <very happy>

Today
Deafness	Sponsored Links __________________ This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members. Register your free account today and become a member on AllDeaf.com

10-28-2009, 07:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
lindalaumtmlp Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 86	hello newbie! welcome

10-28-2009, 08:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
LDNanna Everything purple is mine Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 913	You will be fine, others will learn to cope. ASL is a great language. You can convey everything and then some. Unlike mere words, ASL includes whole body language, expression, and gesture. You will learn so much. It is good to take a class, with a deaf teacher is best. Meet other deaf or hoh folks, and this may seem hard now, but you are on a journey. It will be what you make of it. Glad you found alldeaf, this a wonderful resource. Visit the late deaf forum, make new friends, check out schools and technology. Welcome!

10-28-2009, 09:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
Loghead Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,183	to Alldeaf, Kyle.

10-28-2009, 10:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
Kyle New to the Community Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Kentucky, USA Posts: 2	Thank you everybody for your warm welcomes. This is a great site. :-D I think I will fit in perfectly. Starting official ASL classes soon. Been studying for a little bit. Think I have greetings, fingerspelling, and numbers down pat.

10-28-2009, 11:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
LDNanna Everything purple is mine Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 913	Congrats! Welcome to a whole new world.

10-28-2009, 11:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
ASLtees ASLtees Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Newton, Iowa & Austin, Texas Posts: 47	YODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE from Troy

10-31-2009, 12:09 PM	#12 (permalink)
Phillips Lets ride horses! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Spaceship Posts: 9,158 Blog Entries: 3	Hello __________________ *Enjoy life today, Yesterday has past and Tomorrow may never come.*

11-01-2009, 08:44 AM	#13 (permalink)
Partygirl Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ireland Posts: 207	welcome to AD!

11-01-2009, 08:52 AM	#14 (permalink)
Simown std::cin >> Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: The University of York, England Posts: 189	Hey Kyle, I know what you are going through, I went from hearing to deaf very quickly. It does take a while to adjust to it but it's not the end of the world I wish I explained to more people what it was going to be like being deaf, most people I know don't have a clue how to communicate with me. If I were to offer you any advice it would be to talk to people you know, while you still have some hearing and explain the situation (although it seems like you've already started doing that ) Hope to see you around the site __________________

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