AJWSmith

Just came across this video which had me in tears :'(
BSLBT > British Sign Language Broadcasting Trust > My Song

Here's the blurb about this video:

A thought-provoking drama about deaf identity

A young deaf girl learns sign language to try and find herself, but instead becomes caught between the deaf and hearing worlds

My Song is the debut drama from C&B Films, a new production company headed by director William Mager and scriptwriter Charlie Swinbourne, aiming to tell stories that express deaf culture in an original, compelling way.

Starring Lara Steward, My Song is a coming of age story which follows Ellen, a young deaf girl stuck in the middle of the deaf and hearing worlds. Feeling as if she doesn’t fit in, Ellen learns sign language, attempting to enter the deaf world by taking part in a sign song competition in London.

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Born deaf. Profound hearing loss in both ears (90-105dB). Wears Oticon Spirit Zest C SP (Chili)
You can also find me on twitter as @AJWSmith and on Google+ as AJW Smith

Deafness

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jillio

Thanks for the link! Very interesting.

DeafCaroline

I saw it three days ago - the scene when she comes home and destroys her room, made me cry. Been there myself.

AJWSmith

DeafCaroline, I read your story elsewhere on AllDeaf and when I watched this film yesterday it reminded me a little of your experience at camp.

My sister who was raised as an oral deafie like me told me that she had similar experiences when she started learning BSL and attending Deaf social events here in the UK. But she said the message at the end not give up is so important and that she met individuals like Ben who encouraged her after bruising encounters.

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Born deaf. Profound hearing loss in both ears (90-105dB). Wears Oticon Spirit Zest C SP (Chili)
You can also find me on twitter as @AJWSmith and on Google+ as AJW Smith

jillio

Oh, geeze, yes. I can imagine. There is a scene from the movie, Mr. Holland's Opus, when mother and son are having diffuculty communicating, and both end up crying and yelling from frustration. It brings tears to my eyes everytime, as I can remmy a few scenes like that when my son was small.

AJWSmith

That's an amazing film that never fails to bring tears to my eyes

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Born deaf. Profound hearing loss in both ears (90-105dB). Wears Oticon Spirit Zest C SP (Chili)
You can also find me on twitter as @AJWSmith and on Google+ as AJW Smith

Speedy Hawk

That was good programme. I watched it earlier in week.

BecLak

Of course every family is different, yet I can relate to the same frustrations she faced with other people. I have had people do that silly hand-wiggling at me when I started learning sign too. It's interesting that Ellen had been learning for 2 years. That's exactly the same time period for me right now.

Thanks AWS for sharing this. I am going to show it to my kids today.

__________________
Severely deaf from birth.
Deaf with a Purpose. God designed me this way so I do everything by God's Grace.

Exodus 4:11 Ignorance is no longer bliss. Be Educated.

KEEP IN STEP WITH ME: Sign Text Email Pen and Paper

jillio

Yes. It is a classic in my eyes. And gave such a wonderful portrayal of the family dynamics in a hearing family with a deaf child. Quite realistic.

bbaseballboy123

dammmmn. easily one of the best videos on youtube.

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Deaf and Smart. Business Major at RIT. Have Bi-lateral cochlear implants. But know ASL as well.

Working on a new project that will benefit deaf peeps

DeafCaroline

Jillio- "when mother and son are having diffuculty communicating, and both end up crying and yelling from frustration...as I can remmy a few scenes like that when my son was small."

- my mother and me too! My god, the stories I could tell you of my temper tantrums and my mother ripping her hair out. She said I was an absolute holy terror at times.

AJW - yeah, so true.

Dixie

I will watch this when I come back from the farm this afternoon. Looks very interesting!

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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!

stueyyy

I think the person who becomes TOTALLY Deaf, is the real person sitting on the wall not knowing what to do, no hearing aids NOTHING.....she does have a choice...hearing aids or NO H.Aids.....

Bottesini

Have you met KristinaB and drphil? You are not alone!

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KristinaB

Gee, does this mean I should be sitting on a wall and doing nothing? I think not. Just because I am total deaf, does not mean I am a bump on a wall. I am a living viable human being whether I can hear or not. I am a productive member of society whether I can hear or not. There are certain limitations, to being total deaf, but they do not define me. It's called acceptance on your part. If you can accept yourself as you are, then you will be able to go farther in life as a happier person.

Bottesini

I have the idea he is very new to his stone deaf state. I see a lot of negativity every time he posts.

Maybe in time he will come to the point of taking his life in hand, but he may have to work through his bitterness first.

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KristinaB

Yeah maybe so, but I still felt like I should validate myself, sorry. Maybe I came across too harsh. I have had now 5 years to get used to this being total deaf. Rockin Robin has had a lot longer and I think she's doing wonderfully well as well.

Bottesini

I don't think you were harsh. My husband's grandfather was stone deaf and he lived to 96. He was a happy cattle farmer who made everything work for him.

He sent the dogs by sign to round up the cattle, raised three children, traveled the country, and was tough as shoe leather.

Deaf grandparents of mine just lived life too.

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drphil

Well Botresini in the end how one's deals with the fact of becoming deaf is "up to you"-regress into passivity/helplessness vs trying to get a Cochlear Implant ( if suitable) OR learn ASL forthwith.
I have been bilateral deaf since December 20, 2006

As I understand my user name thoughts: Put verbs into your sentences. His Life Law #5

Implanted Sunnybrook/Toronto Advanced Bionics-Harmony activated Aug/07

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Get Real:Implanted Sunnybrook/Toronto -Advanced Bionics-Harmony activated Aug/07

Bottesini

Yes. Just sitting there whining is not going to help, but we can't force him to stop.

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jillio

Yep. Putting verbs in sentences does no good unless one gets up off their butt and engages in the activity those verbs describe.

stueyyy

Yes Every family is different, Im sitting on fence Im TOTALLY Deaf, I mean TOTALLY, yes its rare but I am.

I Dont know much sign language at all, I lip read but its hard work, Im always falling out with people because they Dont see my point of view, That girl had hearing Aid and wasn't sure where she fitted? I have Nothing so where do I fit?

Im on anti depressants to help me.... there's a difference between TOTALLY and severe or profoundly even as I've been there, but now different world altogether....

You never see much for those who lose ALL as in TOTAL DEAFNESS, Maybe because there isnt many I Dont know..All I know is Im 1 of those..

I've often sat and wondered what their feelings are losing everything say at teenage years, everything to me seems to focus on Hearing Aids etc...I cant go anywhere without my partner, its so different...

Im not moaning, far from it :-)

stueyyy

What do you class as total deafness ? I went to special place for a week to help me accept, and its better now but still difficult.

KristinaB do you wear hearing aids ? or 1 whatever, By the way Im not moaning.

on my medical notes its gone on front of notes, Total deaf in L Ear, profoundly deaf R ear & Hearing Aid, Cochlear Implant failure. removed, now have red sticker from corner to corner stating Totally Deaf.Well that long time ago now.

So guess Consultant thinks there is differences as well. Im about to retire so furthest I can go is take holidays...Im very very happy person.

I just feel that Totally Deaf seem to be pushed aside...not me personally.

KarissaMann05

I just shared with my friends with that video a few days ago. It's fantastic story. AJWSmith.

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"Pragmatic language is a vital social skill that enables the school-aged child to navigate their way through demanding social situations." -- R. Owens

stueyyy

I have spoken to DrPHIL before hearing journey, he knows about my problems that's for sure....

Please Im not moaning and negative, maybe i am!! But if you had been through what I have you might understand..but would take way to long to explain, honestly it would...

stueyyy

Errr drPhil Im the guy from hearing journey (CJ) I think you know about all my problems with ears, if it is you?? that forum a good forum it is as well..

The guy who has severe spasms in face, paralysis on side of face, 2 brain abscess operations 6 months in a coma TWICE over 8 years,Labrythectomies, Balance Nerve cut,1st person in Uk to have cavity built in ears,etc etc etc tinnitus in both ears, Totally deaf with Complete Obliteration in both ears, failed cochlear Implant, now been removed, rushed back because meningitis even after injection, averages 2 operations a year on ears since birth til present day, and my next trick Im having op on eye cause by ear and bells palsy Im having whole eye stitched up.....Now on anti depressants..

Oh lets be happy, heavens above I do try....

Surely I have room to speak my feelings....I just feel Totally Deaf people seem to be ignored....I know when CI is off you are DEAF, and if hearing aids are off you are Deaf, but when they are on difficult or not it helps...sadly I tried for CI so its still Nothing...Oh well

Sorry if seems like negatives, but heck I try.....no bitterness though.

AJWSmith

stueyyy If I understand you correctly (and correct me if I'm wrong!), you are comparing the fact that have lost all of your hearing next to the girl Ellen in the film who still has some hearing. And you are pointing out that at least she still has some hearing compared to yourself. And therefore she still has a choice, such as the choice to wear HAs. Is this right?

The point this film makes is that being able to hear sounds isn't good enough. To belong properly to the hearing world, you need to be able to follow a conversation in its entirety, and that is impossible for Ellen. I'm similar to Ellen in that I can hear sounds and music, but I cannot follow a conversation at a dinner table. I hear voices, but not words. One of the loneliest places to be is in a group of people you cannot understand or connect with. And one of our most fundamental needs as a human being is to be able to connect to other human beings. I do exercise my choice to wear my HAs every day (which I understand that you don't have), but this doesn't make me part of the hearing world. Do you see the point I'm making here? The pain Ellen (and I) feel is that we don't belong to a "tribe" either hearing or Deaf. This is a deep and different pain from not being able to hear sound. It's about belonging, a basic human need.

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Born deaf. Profound hearing loss in both ears (90-105dB). Wears Oticon Spirit Zest C SP (Chili)
You can also find me on twitter as @AJWSmith and on Google+ as AJW Smith

BecLak

I also felt the pain as AWS and Ellen in the story. I did show it to my family (who are all hearing) and now they are accepting my choice to identify myself as Deaf, using Sign Language and voice off more now.

__________________
Severely deaf from birth.
Deaf with a Purpose. God designed me this way so I do everything by God's Grace.

Exodus 4:11 Ignorance is no longer bliss. Be Educated.

KEEP IN STEP WITH ME: Sign Text Email Pen and Paper

Speedy Hawk

I think your forgetting what it like be Profoundly Deaf. Yes you MAY be able to hear something with hearing aids BUT most of sounds you hear are noise, they do not make sense, it impossible to pick out what words are and tell the difference from one word to another. Some profoundly Deaf can, it depends on the person.

I am profoundly Deaf and I can't tell from 1 sound from other sound, most of sounds are same to me. I can't tell if someone is speaking from someone is shouting or singing or it car, etc so there no way I can tell the words. Only sounds I know from my hearing aids is BANG cos it easy sound and it comes with vibration.

KristinaB

I do not wear hearing aids or have a CI. They will do nothing for me. I have no ear drums, no cochlea, and just recently found out, I am losing the bones in my ears as well. Everything is disappearing due to a freak of nature. I was born with calcium deposits in my ears that keep spreading and squeezing everything off. No surgery will help. I used to wear hearing aids from ages 7-10 and 38-41 (just double checked the dates and I was previously wrong). At just before my 43rd birthday, I lost all hearing. I am total deaf with zero residual hearing. I do not hear sonic booms, I do not hear rockets going off from Cape Canaveral, I do not hear the airplanes just 1 mile from home. There are a few of us here on AllDeaf that are total deaf with zero residual hearing.