I have a condition called (C)APD. I read on the internet that it is a "physical hearing impairment." I scored at the FIRST PERCENTILE on a test battery recently. I also have some conductive loss (seems to come and go/get better or worse). The audiologist who diagnosed me with APD wrote up a report that said I had it, but has refused to fit me with hearing aids or even an ALD. She claims my hearing is normal. I had this condition diagnosed before, back in 1996, at the SAME PLACE. The audiologist I had then told earmolds that snapped on to a Y-CORD receiver and helped me learn how to use the ALD that I was able to get on loan through the "disability office" at a college I was attending at the time. It helped quite a bit. But it was REALLY EMBARRASSING to use. I like watching an interpreter much better.
When I was at my church picnic last August, I decided to sit with the Deaf members. We sat in the first row. And something kind of "scary" or "weird" happened that day. I could hear people talking some, but I could not understand what was going on. And when people started singing, I couldn't understand hardly anything. I ended up watching our interpreter because I HAD to. THAT was the day when I realized (for sure) that I was not a Hearing person anymore.
What was weird was I could understand most of what the interpreter was signing. But, then, have known how to sign for almost half my life. I am almost forty. I joined my church and took my Confirmation vows in sign language. It would have been almost impossible for me to do it by speech. I just have a lot of trouble talking in front of people sometimes. People have put me down for "talking funny." I switched cell phone companies and got a phone with M4/T4 HAC ratings. I got a hearing aid with a T-coil off the net and now I CAN HEAR ON THE PHONE A LOT BETTER! I can "catch" most of what is going on in church with my hearing aid, but I still miss a few things. I have learned to look over at the interpreter and "pick up" what I missed. But sometimes I can't seem to hear ANYTHING! I was assisting my pastor with Holy Communion a few weeks ago as an altar server, and I JUST couldn't hear his instructions. I felt REALLY SCARED. But my pastor just started signing to me and then everything was okay.
I still feel scared. Am I "hearing impaired" or "Hard-Of-Hearing?" My identity has been TAKEN AWAY from me. I am no longer a Hearing person, but what am I? :Ohno::Ohno::Ohno:
When I was at my church picnic last August, I decided to sit with the Deaf members. We sat in the first row. And something kind of "scary" or "weird" happened that day. I could hear people talking some, but I could not understand what was going on. And when people started singing, I couldn't understand hardly anything. I ended up watching our interpreter because I HAD to. THAT was the day when I realized (for sure) that I was not a Hearing person anymore.
What was weird was I could understand most of what the interpreter was signing. But, then, have known how to sign for almost half my life. I am almost forty. I joined my church and took my Confirmation vows in sign language. It would have been almost impossible for me to do it by speech. I just have a lot of trouble talking in front of people sometimes. People have put me down for "talking funny." I switched cell phone companies and got a phone with M4/T4 HAC ratings. I got a hearing aid with a T-coil off the net and now I CAN HEAR ON THE PHONE A LOT BETTER! I can "catch" most of what is going on in church with my hearing aid, but I still miss a few things. I have learned to look over at the interpreter and "pick up" what I missed. But sometimes I can't seem to hear ANYTHING! I was assisting my pastor with Holy Communion a few weeks ago as an altar server, and I JUST couldn't hear his instructions. I felt REALLY SCARED. But my pastor just started signing to me and then everything was okay.
I still feel scared. Am I "hearing impaired" or "Hard-Of-Hearing?" My identity has been TAKEN AWAY from me. I am no longer a Hearing person, but what am I? :Ohno::Ohno::Ohno:
shadow.
to AllDeaf forum. Very interesting articles from Shadows about their hearing impairements that make the audiologist think that they are hearing and need psychiatrist to help them with their hearing problems. I have never thought of that way before. 
I feel you and understand your situation. Anyway, you come to the right place here and still find some interesting discussions on many of the topics about deafness, Deaf Culture and ASL. I hope you can stay and have fun reading and posting all the threads here. See you around. 
