Things That Only Happen to Deaf People

ladysolitary85

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Saw this article from a friend, thought I'd share:

Whether you’re a signer, a lipreader, a hearing aid wearer or a cochlear implant user (or maybe a bit of each of those), there are some things that truly only happen to a deaf person. Things that simply don’t happen to everyone else. How many have happened to you?

When you tell people you are deaf, they ask if you understand Braille.

You curse your cell’s auto correct function when you tell people that you’re “profoundly dead.”

Once in a while, you lose your hearing aids and spend the morning searching for them, before discovering them in the pocket of the pants you are currently wearing.

At an audiology appointment, you try to *beat* the audiologist by watching them moving their hands on the dial. This makes them irate.

You go to a deaf party just for the warm embrace of a hundred ‘deaf hugs.’

When you tell people you are deaf, they SHOUT at you. You don’t mind, even though it makes it harder to understand them, but the other people in the shop look concerned.

You are told by Deaf people – in a group situation – that you’ve put on a lot of weight recently. Everyone nods. This is completely ok.

You have scars on your forehead from bumping into lampposts in the street as you walk and sign.

You wake up on a long train journey to find all the passengers have changed and the train has arrived at the wrong destination.

You worry that the audiologist knows how much you love them piping goo into your ears when you have new earmoulds made. And that they’re enjoying it too.

You are regularly followed around by young children in shopping malls because they’re intrigued by your hearing aids.

You play the ‘deaf card’ in order to get onto the plane before everyone else. You feel slightly embarrassed as you overtake frail old people and families with children to take your seat on the plane. Then you get over it.

Despite changing your voice answerphone message so it tells people that you are deaf and they should text or email you, they STILL leave a voice message. That you can’t hear.

When you tell people you are deaf, they speak to the person next to you instead. Even when they’re not necessarily your interpreter.

You only realize the doctor has called your name out in the waiting room because everyone else is looking at you, bemused by your lack of response.

Halfway through having a great conversation with a Deaf friend at a bar, you’re bemused when the bartender doesn’t understand your order. You then realize you’ve given it to him in Sign Language.

When the lights go out at home, you spend a split second wondering whether there’s a power cut or whether someone’s just rung the doorbell.

You go to your car in the morning, only to find the alarm blaring. You turn it off, then notice angry looks in your direction from your neighbours. When you find numerous abusive messages tucked under your windscreen, you realize two things: 1. Your car alarm has been going off all night. 2. You may need to move house.

You see an interpreter signing a programme on television, but turn to your partner and comment on their recent haircut, rather than the quality of their signing (with the exception of Lydia Callis).

After a party at a deaf house, you realize you spent the entire evening in the kitchen. And so did everyone else.

During long conversations, you notice hearing people getting more and more uncomfortable at how intensely you’re focusing on their lips. You supress a smile and focus even harder.

You argue with your friend as you get on a train, and continue in sign language as you take your seat, even though they’re still standing on the platform. As the train leaves, you look around at everyone else sheepishly. You continue the argument by text.

You notice that some hearing people assume that you are a ‘good’ person when you tell them you’re deaf. You happily let them think that. You later feel disappointed in yourself when they realize you have the same failings as non-deaf people.

You meet a deaf person you’ve never met before, and they instantly ask “are your mother and father deaf?” closely followed by “which deaf school did you go to?”

You say goodbye to your friends at the deaf club, then say goodbye again an hour later, because deaf people always have “just one more thing” to talk about. Always

Things That Only Happen to Deaf People | Lexington School for the Deaf
 
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Funny. But true.

I had to go re-post that elsewhere. Thanks for posting it here!
 
You only realize the doctor has called your name out in the waiting room because everyone else is looking at you, bemused by your lack of response.

yea happened to me at audiologist's waiting room couple days ago. a nurse calling out my name... in a place where people are HOH or deaf? really? I mean really?
 
yea happened to me at audiologist's waiting room couple days ago. a nurse calling out my name... in a place where people are HOH or deaf? really? I mean really?

Happens to me all the time, especially at the doctor's office. I tell them to look for me because I'm deaf, and 2 minutes later, they turn right around and don't do it. Geesh.
 
yea happened to me at audiologist's waiting room couple days ago. a nurse calling out my name... in a place where people are HOH or deaf? really? I mean really?

i observed that too, yes indeed REALLY? its stupid...like that's where people get their ears checked out, or to maintain some HA performance, - and OF COURSE a high chance they are NOT going to hear their names called out. I think id mention this to my hossy as soon as my next visit.
 
You worry that the audiologist knows how much you love them piping goo into your ears when you have new earmoulds made. And that they’re enjoying it too.
One has to have experienced it to know for sure whether this is sarcasm or not. :naughty:
 
When you tell people you are deaf, they ask if you understand Braille.


Never happened.

You curse your cell’s auto correct function when you tell people that you’re “profoundly dead.”


Never happened.



Once in a while, you lose your hearing aids and spend the morning searching for them, before discovering them in the pocket of the pants you are currently wearing.


Never happened.


At an audiology appointment, you try to *beat* the audiologist by watching them moving their hands on the dial.This makes them irate.


Never happened.


You go to a deaf party just for the warm embrace of a hundred ‘deaf hugs.’


I don't mind being hugged, but never happened.



When you tell people you are deaf, they SHOUT at you. You don’t mind, even though it makes it harder to understand them, but the other people in the shop look concerned.


Might have happened.


You are told by Deaf people – in a group situation – that you’ve put on a lot of weight recently. Everyone nods. This is completely ok.


Actually, with hearing people some would deny it. Still, never happened.

You have scars on your forehead from bumping into lampposts in the street as you walk and sign.


Never happened.


You wake up on a long train journey to find all the passengers have changed and the train has arrived at the wrong destination.


We're deaf not blind, we can read the signs on the subway wall.



You worry that the audiologist knows how much you love them piping goo into your ears when you have new earmoulds made. And that they’re enjoying it too.


For real? Never happened.



You are regularly followed around by young children in shopping malls because they’re intrigued by your hearing aids.


I tell young children I'm in touch with the president(through the aid) and he said behave and go to bed when you're told(works everytime).



You play the ‘deaf card’ in order to get onto the plane before everyone else.



Guilty, it's happened. I can't hear when to board and this can piss people off(not the pre-boarding) who are waiting to sit.



You feel slightly embarrassed as you overtake frail old people and families with children to take your seat on the plane.



You don't. Anyone who is more disabled gets on the plane first.



Despite changing your voice answerphone message so it tells people that you are deaf and they should text or email you, they STILL leave a voice message. That you can’t hear.


Happens, but I use a relay service answering machine.



When you tell people you are deaf, they speak to the person next to you instead Even when they’re not necessarily your interpreter.


Happens often..


You only realize the doctor has called your name out in the waiting room because everyone else is looking at you, bemused by your lack of response.


Never happens, nobody else in the waiting room knows my name.



Halfway through having a great conversation with a Deaf friend at a bar, you’re bemused when the bartender doesn’t understand your order



Possibly happened, but I can't remember being amused about it.



You then realize you’ve given it to him in Sign Language.


Never happened..



When the lights go out at home, you spend a split second wondering whether there’s a power cut or whether someone’s just rung the doorbell.


Never happened, but possible.




You go to your car in the morning, only to find the alarm blaring. You turn it off, then notice angry looks in your direction from your neighbours.


Never happened. I wouldn't look at my neighbors..



When you find numerous abusive messages tucked under your windscreen, you realize two things: 1. Your car alarm has been going off all night. 2. You may need to move house.


Not happening.. LOL.


You see an interpreter signing a programme on television, but turn to your partner and comment on their recent haircut, rather than the quality of their signing (with the exception of Lydia Callis).


Never happen..


After a party at a deaf house, you realize you spent the entire evening in the kitchen. And so did everyone else.


Possible..



During long conversations, you notice hearing people getting more and more uncomfortable at how intensely you’re focusing on their lips. You supress a smile and focus even harder.


Might have happened, but I wouldn't focus harder. The conversation would end shortly anyway.




You argue with your friend as you get on a train, and continue in sign language as you take your seat, even though they’re still standing on the platform. As the train leaves, you look around at everyone else sheepishly. You continue the argument by text.


Possible..


You notice that some hearing people assume that you are a ‘good’ person when you tell them you’re deaf. You happily let them think that. You later feel disappointed in yourself when they realize you have the same failings as non-deaf people.


Never happened..



You meet a deaf person you’ve never met before, and they instantly ask “are your mother and father deaf?” closely followed by “which deaf school did you go to?”


Happened consistently...



You say goodbye to your friends at the deaf club, then say goodbye again an hour later, because deaf people always have “just one more thing” to talk about.



Probably happened, but it happens with hearing people too.
 
When you tell people you are deaf, they ask if you understand Braille. happened

At an audiology appointment, you try to *beat* the audiologist by watching them moving their hands on the dial. This makes them irate. I was an evil child :D

When you tell people you are deaf, they SHOUT at you. You don’t mind, even though it makes it harder to understand them, but the other people in the shop look concerned.
happens all the time.

You wake up on a long train journey to find all the passengers have changed and the train has arrived at the wrong destination. happened to me once, and it sucked. The train didn't have accurate text signs on the walls and I can't hear the speakers for crap.

When you tell people you are deaf, they speak to the person next to you instead. Even when they’re not necessarily your interpreter
yep

Despite changing your voice answerphone message so it tells people that you are deaf and they should text or email you, they STILL leave a voice message. That you can’t hear. Never fails... family even still does this.

During long conversations, you notice hearing people getting more and more uncomfortable at how intensely you’re focusing on their lips. You supress a smile and focus even harder. This happens A LOT.

You argue with your friend as you get on a train, and continue in sign language as you take your seat, even though they’re still standing on the platform. As the train leaves, you look around at everyone else sheepishly. You continue the argument by text. Not this exact storyline, but the idea of it has happened to me. My girlfriend and I will talk one min, then go to a restaurant and start signing.

You notice that some hearing people assume that you are a ‘good’ person when you tell them you’re deaf. You happily let them think that. You later feel disappointed in yourself when they realize you have the same failings as non-deaf people. This has some truth in it, I could be saying something publicly not acceptable to my girlfriend about anything and people would nod and smile to me... if only they knew what I said lmao.
 
Never forget the time I lived at the beach...locked all the doors...took a little nap...woke up to find all the windows wet....(we had a lot of windows...able to see the Ocean at every view)....I figured and thought that it must have rained!...I looked out to see my friend standing there with the water hose...spraying the windows!...He said he knocked and knocked and rang the door bell to no avail...:giggle:...

Another time...a friend came by...I had all the doors locked and I was doing some cleaning on the 2nd floor...he knocked and knocked....no answer...so he climbed up on the oil drum stand....I happened to look out the back window...and there he was!...Hollaring..."hey! let me in"....banging on the window and the oil drum....:roll:
 
Many of those instances happened to me. That article is from the UK. What's missing is:

Saying "excuse me, I am deaf, could you repeat that please?" is almost always followed with a very long, loud, and articulated "OH, I'M SO SORRY"...
 
Many of those instances happened to me. That article is from the UK. What's missing is:

Saying "excuse me, I am deaf, could you repeat that please?" is almost always followed with a very long, loud, and articulated "OH, I'M SO SORRY"...

To be fair, the SO SORRY usually means they didn't know, but it always sounds like they feel bad.
 
Many of those instances happened to me. That article is from the UK. What's missing is:

Saying "excuse me, I am deaf, could you repeat that please?" is almost always followed with a very long, loud, and articulated "OH, I'M SO SORRY"...

I've had a person look at me insanely pissed off and saying "ARE YOU F***IN DEAF?" then I calmly smile and say "Actually yes I am" The look on that lady's face... priceless!
 
I've had a person look at me insanely pissed off and saying "ARE YOU F***IN DEAF?" then I calmly smile and say "Actually yes I am" The look on that lady's face... priceless!

My last actual, physical fight resulted from someone saying that. Long story.
 
Many of those instances happened to me. That article is from the UK. What's missing is:

Saying "excuse me, I am deaf, could you repeat that please?" is almost always followed with a very long, loud, and articulated "OH, I'M SO SORRY"...

In a bizarre twist of events, I was talking to someone who didn't understand English well. I had to talk slowly and repeat myself a lot. What a switch that was lol :P
 
Never forget the time I lived at the beach...locked all the doors...took a little nap...woke up to find all the windows wet....(we had a lot of windows...able to see the Ocean at every view)....I figured and thought that it must have rained!...I looked out to see my friend standing there with the water hose...spraying the windows!...He said he knocked and knocked and rang the door bell to no avail...:giggle:...

Another time...a friend came by...I had all the doors locked and I was doing some cleaning on the 2nd floor...he knocked and knocked....no answer...so he climbed up on the oil drum stand....I happened to look out the back window...and there he was!...Hollaring..."hey! let me in"....banging on the window and the oil drum....:roll:

There really needs to be an loud alarm someone can call and trigger :)
 
There really needs to be an loud alarm someone can call and trigger :)

:hmm:...profound deaf...can't hear the alarm...plus when ur asleep...can't see the doorbell light either...really no big deal at that time (no emergency)...
 
:hmm:...profound deaf...can't hear the alarm...plus when ur asleep...can't see the doorbell light either...really no big deal at that time (no emergency)...

Okay then a powerful vibrate alarm that you can trigger by phone :)
 
:hmm:...profound deaf...can't hear the alarm...plus when ur asleep...can't see the doorbell light either...really no big deal at that time (no emergency)...

... I just had a thought, and I need to get together with one of my software coding buddies. :shock: You just gave me a wonderful idea for some Deaf assistant software! :ty:
 
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