stillwaiting

Hi everyone, I'm doing a research paper for my finial exam on self inflicted deafness, is there anyone here that became deaf or had hearing loss that was self inflicted? Any info you can give will be great help to me, the more info the better! So drop a few lines and tell me your story? How did it happen? How much hearig loss did it cause you? How have you adjested? I want 2 thank everyone in advance for all your info!

Deafness

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Tousi

A couple years back on an online forum, there was a hearing guest who was way out in left field and that's putting it mildly, let me assure you. This hearing person was seeking ways he could make himself deaf and mute...long story short.

stillwaiting

Why did he do that? Did he have a mental illness or something?

Hwy99

This might be good one for hearing people who HATE to hear.

I don't have anyone or even know someone who want to be self inflicted deafness, but I can tell that person who are forwarded to it. There is lot of reasons.

*Can't stand to hear
*It always hurt to hear
*Just want to be involved with Deaf Culture
*Maybe need some pity?
*Possible deaf parents could force their children to be deaf

and many... I just don't like the idea of forcing children to be deaf neither, but it's up to adults.

jillio

Falls into the category of Munchausen's Syndrome.

Dixie

I cant imagine either someone wanting to be deaf and trying find ways to self-inflict it. Now I can see someone who has friends who are d/Deaf that sign and they learn ASL to communicate and become aware of the culture, but usually there is some tie to the Deaf culture such as a close friend, family member, or relative who is d/Deaf.

As for people for it is painful to hear, I can see if it hinders everyday life, they might consider a surgery to take out the bothersome ear drum after it has been confirmed time and time again that it is not a recurring ear infection that is causing the pain or there is nothing blocking the ear canal.

As for someone needing pity - sounds like hypochondriac disorder. A mental illness that causes a person to believe they have many things wrong with their body and sometimes it is self-inflicted so they can get pity from others, or to gather insurance payouts.

As for deaf parents forcing their children to be deaf - that is borderline abuse and that is hard to prove in most cases since the child is otherwise being taken care of. The only way out for that child is to report mental/verbal abuse which requires many interviews by DCF authorities, counselors, and possible rehoming into a state foster care system which in most cases is as truamatic as the mental abuse and brainwashing they are going through. I think this something quite rare, but unfortunately, probably does happen.

As for can't standing to hear - there is a disorder out there where the body is hypersensitive to everything including sight, sound, and touch. They are often over-processed and are in constant overdrive mentally. In other words Over-stimulation disorder (I dont know what the exact medical term is for it). I read a story about a little girl who was 8 or 9 at the time and going through it. She would have meltdowns over the littlest stuff and it took years to figure out why. Now she has to go through daily physical therapy and medications and it will likely have to continue for the rest of her life.

Those are just some things to consider for your paper.

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Tousi

Yeah, maybe this guy wants disability benefits, lol.

dreama

I heard of a guy who put his own eyes out. He had mental health problems. I actually met him once although we never discussed that problem. Unfortunately he was also very religious. At the time I was into wicca (white witchcraft) and he didn't want anything further to do with me after he found that out.

Actually I can understand someone not wanting to hear if noise was painful for them. I think there is a proper name for that condition where one is hyper sensitive to noise. I hated the noise my hearing aids made so now I am glad that I am profoundly deaf.

I would be very interested in the results of your research. I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

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farmerjoe

A while back I was looking for deaf email lists and message boards and came across a yahoo group called "deaf wannabes" I couldn't believe my eyes at first and joined just to see what the hell went on in that group. The stuff they talk about is how to fake hearing tests so that they can get hearing aids, different ways of destroying your hearing (perforating your ear drum, using those loud air horn things next to your head, etc) Often they complain "I can still hear some things and the tinnitus is driving me crazy". Idiots.

It was primarily gay men with hearing aid fetishes.

My curiosity was satisfied and I left the group.

Hwy99

Deaf Wannabes? LMAO!

farmerjoe

Other than the mentally ill people already mentioned, the nearest to "self inflicted" is going to fall under categories like musicians (ie "rockers" who diddn't bother to protect their ears) and other accidental causes of deafness, (severe head trauma can cause deafness but, it usually takes several blows over a period of time)

Rush Limbaugh could be an example but that was again accidental. It's believed that his sudden deafness is a result of his addiction to pain medication. Some argue that the pills he was addicted to are not ototoxic, however in very high doses, it can be.

WildHunt

when I hear "self-inflicted deafness" for some reason, I'm imaging someone with knitting needles protruding out of their ears.

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Dixie

The image in my mind is humorus, but the reality is that the person is in dire need of medical attention.

As for Deaf Wannabes, you have got to be kidding me. I may do a google search to find out what the hell is up with these idiots.

__________________
Oh, you will. It is all a dream and since matter cannot be created nor destroyed, the dreams must be real in all their myriad forms. -Beowulf
This Delicate Thing God Has Made
The world is measured in peasants; smaller than a unicorn but, bigger than a tidbit!

jillio

OUCH!

Dixie

I'm back with my Google - this is the closest I came to the Yahoo group short of having to register (which I won't waste my time doing.)

This is a discussion about the group on another Deaf forum (I'm not sure if I can safely post this link here, not trying to advertise, but the mods can remove the link if they wish and no offense will be taken)
http://www.**********2.com/forums/lo...php/t3874.html

__________________
Oh, you will. It is all a dream and since matter cannot be created nor destroyed, the dreams must be real in all their myriad forms. -Beowulf
This Delicate Thing God Has Made
The world is measured in peasants; smaller than a unicorn but, bigger than a tidbit!

shel90

Deaf wannabes? They can learn sign language and be involved in the deaf community! Much less painful that way.

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Dixie

Right on Shel

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Oh, you will. It is all a dream and since matter cannot be created nor destroyed, the dreams must be real in all their myriad forms. -Beowulf
This Delicate Thing God Has Made
The world is measured in peasants; smaller than a unicorn but, bigger than a tidbit!

farmerjoe

they don't give a rat's butt about sign language or deaf culture/community they just wanted to not hear and have hearing aids.
some people get off with whips and chains, others like to stab their brain with a Q-tip.

Nesmuth

That's old adage.

There's herbs and drugs that can turn the ear off for good. We list those out on flyers to help people prevent hearing loss.

Richard

Cowpuppy

I've often considered it. And yes I go over the line on occasion. Yes...mental case. HOH with recent hypercausis. Hypercausis has not tempted me. Maybe a bit. But it is anti-socialism which gets into my head. Be deaf to say F the world don't wanna hear your shyt no more. Like when some are mute. Refusing to be involved in society. My thoughts of self-inflicted deaf comes alongside temptation to go mute. Anti-social. Isolation. I don't think it has anything to do with Munchausan's or hypochondria.................
......<-----will this work? lol

Dixie

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Oh, you will. It is all a dream and since matter cannot be created nor destroyed, the dreams must be real in all their myriad forms. -Beowulf
This Delicate Thing God Has Made
The world is measured in peasants; smaller than a unicorn but, bigger than a tidbit!

jillio

Depends on the circumstances. The situation you described would be related to an antisocial personality, but the way the other situation was described would be a form of Munchausen's.

dreama

I think that being deaf would come as a relief to someone with sound phobia. In the past when I was HOH I always wore my hearing aids switched off and even got them to make the moulds go deep as it cuts sound out better that way. I just liked everything to be quiet but you will always get people who insist that I should be using my hearing aids more.

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Cowpuppy

I don't think in any case it would be up to adults to inflict deafness on thier kid/s.

Hear Again

I hate to say this, but I'm not surprised by this person's behavior. There's a listserv on Yahoo Groups called Deaf Wannabes (do a search for Deaf Wannabes or deaf) in which the members discuss ways they can inflict deafness or hearing loss. Out of curiosity I joined the list just to see what the discussions were about and was shocked (and even angered) at some of the ways these people wanted to deafen themselves. Why someone would want to do that to themselves I don't know, but to each their own. <sigh>

Hear Again

It looks as if this Yahoo Group has already been discussed. I started reading the first page of the thread, so ignore my post.

dreama

Doesn't shock me. I don't see it as any differant then a deaf person wanting to hear. Some people just have problems accepting the way they are so they make changes. Fine by me as long as they don't try to push their views on others.

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Hear Again

A deaf person who wants to hear wants to improve their opportunities for communication, socialization with family/friends, employment, etc.

A hearing person who wants to deafen themselves is deliberately limiting their opportunities by creating a permanent disability that cannot be reversed. (Note: When I say "limiting," I'm talking about not having communication skills such as sign language or lip reading.) Some of them also do it because they enjoy the sympathy they receive from others.

I agree to each their own, but I will never understand why anyone would want to permanently deafen themselves.

By the way, 90% of the people on the Deaf Wannabes list have a self-inflicted mild or moderate hearing loss. I don't think any of them would have the courage (for lack of a better word) to deafen themselves completely. If they did, I'm sure the reality of what they've done would hit them like a rock.

I hope I didn't offend anyone with this message. I'm not saying that deafness or hearing loss is the worst thing in the world -- it isn't. I just don't think these people truly understand the implications of what they are doing.

sr171soars

I agree with your sentiments. Who in their right mind would even consider this?!?!? It is absolutely one thing if this was one was born with and take what life gives you. It is another thing to self inflict it.

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dreama

I've been profoundly deaf and I have been HOH. I must say I prefere being profoundly deaf. I think my communication actually improves as a profoundly deaf person as I don't have to rely on people being quiet so I could use my HA to hear speech with.

Not neccessarily. As a HOH person I was very sound phobic. I could hear but the noise used to bother me a lot. If I avoid noisy situations because I can't bear noise that is also a limitation. More limiting then wearing ear plugs (or deep ear moulds with my HA switched off) to cut noise out completely.

You don't get sympathy as a deaf person anyway. I don't like people feeling sorry for me because I'm deafblind as being deafblind isn't the big deal people think it is.

I suppose it would depend on your reaction to noise. Some people, especially those on the autistic spectrum, have problems with noise. I have mild Asperger syndrome. Not that I've always been this bad with noise. It's got worse since I started wearing really powerful hearing aids after I lost most of my sight. (I still have some useful sight though.)

I think there are people who probably do it for other reasons. Maybe to punish themselves. I think this was the case with this guy I met once who put his own eyes out. He was in a mental hospital at the time. He used to be an artist.

The link didn't work for me so I can't really comment on that but I think it would be probably very difficult and very painful to completely damage your own hearing. I don't know anyone to have done it. I only know people who blinded themselves.

They might like being totally deaf. I do (or rather did). I've just recovered from a really bad ear infection. I had a lot of stuff in my right ear that has been blocking sound out for about 4 years which made me profoundly deaf. Now I do hear some sound but I don't like it very much. It's all so distorted and it keeps setting off my tinitus.

No offense. We just have different views on this matter.

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I speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.
http://www.fightfoca.com/