Am I the only one bothered by this?

CSign

CSign

New Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2010
Messages
3,279
Reaction score
1
I hear commercials on the radio, and I've seen some on TV talking about new hearing devices and CI's. They often say something to the effect of, "you'll be able to hear and no one has to know about your hearing problem." I'm not quoting verbatim, but that's the basic idea. Rush Limbaugh promotes the CI with comments similar to that.
It bothers me to my core, perpetuating the stereotype that there is something wrong with being DHH and that it can be hidden. I'm proud to be out with my son who wears HA's, and proud to be signing with him. I feel that commercials like this are detrimental to those who are DHH and who haven't found their pride in who they are. Being D/deaf doesn't define a person, but it is certainly a part of them.
I hope that these idiots will change the tune of their commercials, I don't see how negativity can bring about anything positive.

C
 
Absolutely, it bothers me. Which is why I continue to speak out against such misleading advertising tactics.
 
It really bothers me when people go on about the stigma attached to wearing HAs and the assumption that only old people need them. Why should there be any stigma attached to wearing HAs? There's no stigma attached to wearing glasses!
 
djchur said:
There's no stigma attached to wearing glasses!
Click to expand...

Yeah, there sort of is. They aren't worn in Beauty Pageants. Famous people who are in the "beautiful" crowd and wear them normally, don't wear them in photo shoots. There's a saying "Guys don't make passes at girls who wear glasses."

It might be mostly unspoken, but it's there.
 
PatsCats said:
Yeah, there sort of is. They aren't worn in Beauty Pageants. Famous people who are in the "beautiful" crowd and wear them normally, don't wear them in photo shoots. There's a saying "Guys don't make passes at girls who wear glasses."

It might be mostly unspoken, but it's there.
Click to expand...

Hi, Pat. Where were you??

*MY glasses are cool too*
 
I wear HA charms on my BTE's tubing. I've actually have gotten compliments on them. When people realize they're on my HA and not my ears (as in earrings), they say it's cool.
 
Bottesini said:
Hi, Pat. Where were you??

*MY glasses are cool too*
Click to expand...

I have both glasses and contact lenses and wear my glasses most of the time (at least one guy made a pass at me; I'm married! :laugh2:).

Just been very busy over the last semester. Next semester two calsses: ASL III, and Deaf Culture.

Thanx for remembering me! :wave:
 
It does bother me if people are misunderstood that CI cures deafness or that we are hearing with CI.
 
I remember meeting another parent (my son was about 10 months old at the time), and she said they took off her sons HA's for pictures. I was so appalled, I hardly knew what to say. I think she caught my drift though because she followed it up with, "but we don't do that now." all I could think was thank God... Poor little guy
 
Oh GOD yeah, and there's a new implant that's "invisable" (the esteem) Personally, I LIKE it when someone notices my hearing aid. It's an indication that I am hoh, and not mentally impaired (which can happen when people hear a deaf accent or when I can't "catch" what someone says.
I used to hate my hearing aids..I mean HATE them. Now I rock the purple ones with the colored earmolds.
 
djchur said:
It really bothers me when people go on about the stigma attached to wearing HAs and the assumption that only old people need them. Why should there be any stigma attached to wearing HAs? There's no stigma attached to wearing glasses!
Click to expand...

PatsCats said:
Yeah, there sort of is. They aren't worn in Beauty Pageants. Famous people who are in the "beautiful" crowd and wear them normally, don't wear them in photo shoots. There's a saying "Guys don't make passes at girls who wear glasses."

It might be mostly unspoken, but it's there.
Click to expand...

It's there. It's subtle, though. I've been wearing glasses since I was a toddler, and, I have no problem with them. However, I went in to see the optometrist for my annual exam, and, he started pushing lasix on me. I didn't want it and said so, but this Dr wouldn't let the matter drop. He really tried to sell the procedure to the point that I got ticked off. I told him off saying that I have been wearing glasses since I was a toddler, and, I had no plans to change that any time soon. Then, I left that office and never returned.

Asthetics is big in this country, and, glasses are looked upon as being the "lesser" option. Especially, when in this case, Lasix was NOT covered by my insurance and the Dr knew it. He wanted to make money off of me, but, I just wasn't going to allow it.
 
My mom proudly had me wear my huge 70s body hearing aids in my baby pictures. I asked her why didnt she take them off and she said she didnt want to hide my deafness. I thought it was strange because she grieved over us being deaf for so long. That one had me scratching my head but I left it at that.
 
shel90 said:
My mom proudly had me wear my huge 70s body hearing aids in my baby pictures. I asked her why didnt she take them off and she said she didnt want to hide my deafness. I thought it was strange because she grieved over us being deaf for so long. That one had me scratching my head but I left it at that.
Click to expand...

Sounds like she was conflicted, but, I think she made the right decision there. She may have had personal issues with your deafness, but, she also knew she didn't want others to make you feel inferior, so she didn't make a point to hide your aids. I admit it does sound a bit confusing; especially given what you went through growing up. I think parents have good intentions, but it also can backfire at times and leaves us wondering why they chose to do certain things. Mixed messages can screw with you. That's for sure!
 
Oceanbreeze said:
Sounds like she was conflicted, but, I think she made the right decision there. She may have had personal issues with your deafness, but, she also knew she didn't want others to make you feel inferior, so she didn't make a point to hide your aids. I admit it does sound a bit confusing; especially given what you went through growing up. I think parents have good intentions, but it also can backfire at times and leaves us wondering why they chose to do certain things. Mixed messages can screw with you. That's for sure!
Click to expand...

I love my mom and she is wonderful but she did get too fixated on trying to make me as hearing as I can because of what the doctors told her. That's why I know that despite their good intentions, most parents do not really know what is best for their deaf child based on their hearing perspectives only.
 
shel90 said:
I love my mom and she is wonderful but she did get too fixated on trying to make me as hearing as I can because of what the doctors told her. That's why I know that despite their good intentions, most parents do not really know what is best for their deaf child based on their hearing perspectives only.
Click to expand...

Shoot, Shel! I think thats true for all kids with special needs. As good as my parents were in certain situations, I also grew up with mixed messages. My ability to do certain things was contingent on situations. What?

Yeah... My parents love me dearly, and for the most part, made spot on decisions. But, not always.

I've gone down this road before, but, it has a lot to do with what is considered the "NORM". I absolutely hate this, because, what the hell is normal, anyway?

Growing up is hard enough. Parents of special needs kids sometimes make things harder by buying into what they are told. I wish it would freaking STOP!
 
I NEVER had thought about this. But now that I do...come to think of it, my mother would tell me to take off my hearing aids when we did our photographs. My parents, especially my father, were really ashamed of my deafness. My father STILL says I'm hearing with a "little hearing problem." I'm DEAF as they come...over 100 dB loss in both ears. :p

To answer the OP...it does more than bother me. It pisses me off. --> :pissed:
 
My family were never ashamed to show me off in photos wearing HAs and even that dreaded FM's.

Deafbajagal, if your dad ever told me that you're a hearing person with a hearing problem. I would have looked at him like he's stupid and tell him to pull his head out of the sand and accept that you're deaf, period. Also tell him that he sounded like an ignorant fool when he goes around saying that.
 
Shoot, Shel! I think thats true for all kids with special needs
Click to expand...
. And that is why deaf rights is also very inclusive with disabilty rights in general.
 
Back
Top