Can someone explain what a deaf person is "supposed to look like"?

Ambuhhlurr

Ambuhhlurr

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It seems like a lot of people here (including myself) has experienced someone telling them that they don't look deaf, HoH, or like they have hearing loss.
I'm just curious if there is some stereotypical way people with any type of deafness are supposed to look like and how that stereotype came about and how to get rid of it. Or at least have a way I can understand the ignorance some people have towards things they don't really know about.
I always have to bite my tongue not to say something rude back though, because I really don't understand what it is that I'm supposed to "look like" and why the way I look has anything to do with how my ears function.
P.S. Stereotypes of any type just need to go away. How can people look at someone and already decide what they are or aren't or how they do or don't act just from what they look like?
Sadly, I'm sure sterotypes will continue to live on.
 
This is just my thoughts in response to why people have a stereotypical ignorance to what HOH and deaf individuals look like.

I don't think people have this predetermined way as to which HOH or deaf people are supposed to look like. Even though hearing loss is considered a physical condition, you cannot always see it.

It could just be that initial first glance at someone e.g. that you might look at as you are walking past in the shops. Unless you are looking closely or know them, they to you do not have any sort of loss.

Sometimes, I think stereotypes from long time ago still exist in people's minds. I mean before technology, deaf and HOH individuals to people were considered unintelligent and dumb.

However, I do believe that educating people about hearing loss and how it works can be very effective. And I think that will be the way to reduce (maybe not completely eradicate them) the stereotypes.
 
I once got told on an online forum "You don't seem deaf"

As for people saying it in person, I have this theory that they have met who was deaf along with other noticeable physical disabilities and assumed all deaf people are like that.
 
Ambuhhlurr said:
It seems like a lot of people here (including myself) has experienced someone telling them that they don't look deaf, HoH, or like they have hearing loss.
I'm just curious if there is some stereotypical way people with any type of deafness are supposed to look like and how that stereotype came about and how to get rid of it. Or at least have a way I can understand the ignorance some people have towards things they don't really know about.
I always have to bite my tongue not to say something rude back though, because I really don't understand what it is that I'm supposed to "look like" and why the way I look has anything to do with how my ears function.
P.S. Stereotypes of any type just need to go away. How can people look at someone and already decide what they are or aren't or how they do or don't act just from what they look like?
Sadly, I'm sure sterotypes will continue to live on.
Click to expand...

Duh. You're supposed to look like Quasimodo. Have a limp. And a hunchback. And slobber a lot.
 
Ambuhhlurr said:
It seems like a lot of people here (including myself) has experienced someone telling them that they don't look deaf, HoH, or like they have hearing loss.
I'm just curious if there is some stereotypical way people with any type of deafness are supposed to look like and how that stereotype came about and how to get rid of it. Or at least have a way I can understand the ignorance some people have towards things they don't really know about.
I always have to bite my tongue not to say something rude back though, because I really don't understand what it is that I'm supposed to "look like" and why the way I look has anything to do with how my ears function.
P.S. Stereotypes of any type just need to go away. How can people look at someone and already decide what they are or aren't or how they do or don't act just from what they look like?
Sadly, I'm sure sterotypes will continue to live on.
Click to expand...
 
been though this too many times myself they say you don't look deaf or sound deaf I mostly laugh them off but ive had people people say your just making it up like yeah ok that's why the ENT clinic gave me a hearing aid just want to punch them in face then but they not worth it :cheers:
 
Lots of people assume you are deaf because you are retarded (?) or mute as well (?) and if you look normal and act normal they tend to "spare" you from their definition of deaf. "But you do not look deaf" as in then you are not really deaf.

The same happens when people say a racist thing but then they spare the same people they are insulting if they know them.
The dialogue usually goes like this:
A: Romanians are all thieves!
B: But X, our friend's husband, is Romanian and he's a pretty fine guy.
A: Yeah, I am not talking about him in particular. I am talking about all the others.
B: But also Y, your mechanics, is Romanian. He works his ass off and he is one hell of a mechanics.
A: I am not talking about Y either.

Oh well... :dizzy:
 
Ambuhhlurr said:
P.S. Stereotypes of any type just need to go away. How can people look at someone and already decide what they are or aren't or how they do or don't act just from what they look like?
Sadly, I'm sure sterotypes will continue to live on.
Click to expand...

My grandfather was born in Puerto Rico so I have Puerto Rican heritage. However, I don't "look" Puerto Rican because I have Irish/German/English heritage as well. I have heard anti-Latino things spoken around me because I don't "look" Latina. So, I believe all stereotypes need to go away.
 
A few years ago someone looked at both my aids, pointed at them and asked how many did I have. So, I assume deaf people have more than two ears
 
I don't know but I can ask my dog, Murphy. He tends to bark at me very loudly when he's having a conversation with me about walkies, squirrels or dinner time, so he must suspect that I'm not quite catching everything he's talking about. I've never told him my ears aren't quite as good as his ( long floppy spaniel ears. Great for cleaning the floors with. Just throw a treat and he'll sweep the whole floor looking for it ), but he must know that's the case by the way I look :)
 
I get this quite alot...
Okay here are my two cents.
I think they believe that deaf people are supposed to look handicap, like someone who is a physical challenge, like they are supposed to look different other than "normal looking". That's my take on it.
I don't get WHY people say things like that. It makes them look stupid. Sorry guys I am not trying to bash hearing folks, I am just saying that when they say you don't look deaf, what ARE we suppose to say? Oh thanks, and you don't look hearing? Do you realize how stupid that sounds? I guess they just don't quite understand the D/deaf and HOH culture. It's hard for them to wrap their brain around it.
So we all have different Stereotypes all over the world. It's not just the deaf community but different people of all races. We have alot of learning to do about each other and we are not even close to that level of understanding.

We as human beings have a long ways to go when it comes to accepting all cultures from all types of people around the world. I just wished that THEY would look at US as people too.
 
This reminds me of the first audiologist we ever had for my son. He was barely present during appointments, seemed half asleep, decided my son only needed tubes, and said, "don't worry, he doesn't look like a deaf child". I was shocked. But ultimately not surprised, as I know human ignorance all too well.
 
Deaf people have 16 eyes, 22 noses, 12 lips, 500 ears, 15 dimples.
Green scales, glub glub features, jabawoki horns, dragons tails, dinosaur wings,
Chickens teeth and cats whiskers. Dogs bark and a hamster wheel in there pocket, in case of emergency. I once said something like this and the person was so confused the gave me a puzzle look and then walked away with there friends actually discussing what I had said.
Come up with the most random crap you can possibly think of. It confuses the person and gives them a new topic to talk about
 
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