Hearing Impaired

shel90 said:
I agree with u. I have some issues with another label that I am still not sure how I feel about. People call my kids "mixed" or "mutts" or "Oreo" because they are half Mexican/half white/ and half black/half white. I have a lot of labels to deal with now. :giggle:
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Yeah, myself, my brother and sister are all bi-racial. I can remember my mother (white) getting angry about the word "half-caste" which some people would use to refer to us. But nothing would incense her more than being asked if we were adopted.
 
My mother's eldest sister (she's second oldest) was a first grade teacher for years and died a few years ago. She had called me "deaf and dumb" once and I told her that I wasn't dumb.

I prefer the term "deaf" instead of hoh.

Another thing, hmmm . . . indulge me this . . . :naughty: being called "hearing impaired" is like calling a man who can't get 'it' up -- impotent and a woman whose breasts have been removed due to cancer as not a full woman. We both know it's not true. Know what I'm saying?
 
R2D2 said:
. . . But nothing would incense her more than being asked if we were adopted.
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As if it was their business you were adopted, huh? Kinda like asking a couple, who are trying to conceive and have worked at it for a long time if they've sinned or something. Or saying "maybe it's God's will for you not to have children." Slam! :roll:
 
Good thread here...

To my opinion, some deaf and HOH people who prefer to consider themselves as hearing impaired mean is they are afraid to accept those word "deaf" or "HOH".

The late deafened people consider themselves as hearing impaired or hearing loss is understandable because they are being exposed by the audiologist or doctor who prefer to use those word "hearing impaired" or "hearing loss". I can understand that they never are being deaf in their life and don't know what they really are but deaf or HOH since birth?
 
I did refere to myself as hearing and visually impaired at one stage but it is a bit of a mouth full so now I just call myself Deafblind. The only problem with the word Blind is some people assume that blind means totally blind and can get really angry when they notice you can see a bit, whereas you can tell people you are deaf without them expecting you to be profoundly deaf. Funny that.
 
dreama said:
I did refere to myself as hearing and visually impaired at one stage but it is a bit of a mouth full so now I just call myself Deafblind. The only problem with the word Blind is some people assume that blind means totally blind and can get really angry when they notice you can see a bit, whereas you can tell people you are deaf without them expecting you to be profoundly deaf. Funny that.
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That is odd.
 
I think, I like to see it in this way... it is healthy for everyone to recognize limitations in a society, and then challenge them. Changes are the cornerstone of our lives. We are all human beings who are meant to challenge limitations in our lives. The real trouble is when some people feel they "should" hold deaf people back or not even work with 'em on finding solutions... but we often are the ones who do hold ourselves back, anyway! Heh..

I am comforable with the label, "deaf," - it's fine if people wanna call me hearing impaired too, if it makes them feel safe. It is more for them than it is for me, but I always refer to myself as being deaf without apologies. F 'em if they can't deal with me calling myself deaf. I have learned to not get mad - especially when I live in Norway, which is not the best place for a pro-sign language deaf person to live.
 
Yeah, I accept the recognize that I am deaf. I answer openly who I am when they ask me question instead of hide who I am.

Some hearing people don't know what deaf is about...

I laugh so hard with pain - never forget in my life... An about 15 years ago My hubby & I were about make an appointment with Optician to check our eyes. Optician's assistant fixed the date and time for us... We went there on our appointment day... We saw by coincidence that she put our folders on the table... Guess what? She add *caution noticeable* on our new folder "Mr. **** speak but cannot hear... on my hubby's name of folder and Mrs. **** disablity voice speaking but can hear... on my folder... I never say that I can hear... :rofl:

We correct Optician with those 2 folders that we are deaf. He told his assistant to correct it for us..

It's same with some lawyers as well... They add "deaf and mute" on our records... We correct them that we are deaf which mean that we can't hear.
 
Liza said:
I think, I like to see it in this way... it is healthy for everyone to recognize limitations in a society, and then challenge them. Changes are the cornerstone of our lives. We are all human beings who are meant to challenge limitations in our lives. The real trouble is when some people feel they "should" hold deaf people back or not even work with 'em on finding solutions... but we often are the ones who do hold ourselves back, anyway! Heh..

I am comforable with the label, "deaf," - it's fine if people wanna call me hearing impaired too, if it makes them feel safe. It is more for them than it is for me, but I always refer to myself as being deaf without apologies. F 'em if they can't deal with me calling myself deaf. I have learned to not get mad - especially when I live in Norway, which is not the best place for a pro-sign language deaf person to live.
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:gpost: Absolutely, limitations need to be challenged, especially when they are not real limitations, but limitations placed on an indiviudal by others. And thanks for your insight regarding the societal attitude toward signing deaf in your country. That explains several things to me.
 
Awesome, thanks, jillio!

What few things?

It's not my country... I'm an american transplant soon in transit. *whistle*
Although, I must say, some deaf people want to change the way others see sign language in Norway. There will be a sign language festival in Oslo on Nov 3rd to promote its equality in Norway. Should be interesting!
 
Crystal71 said:
Sometimes I think that it really doesn't matter.... I like going by the name of Crystal..rather then the HoH woman or the girl with the interp. in class.,... i don't like hearing impaired because it offends the Deaf community and I want to be culturally aware of things like that...
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I agree with that comment. I'm Valerie. If I had to say I would say hard of hearing. I do not like the impaired part, I am not impaired. If someone ask me now I say deaf, because medically I am. The only word I hate is the word handicap.
 
Liza said:
Awesome, thanks, jillio!

What few things?

It's not my country... I'm an american transplant soon in transit. *whistle*
Although, I must say, some deaf people want to change the way others see sign language in Norway. There will be a sign language festival in Oslo on Nov 3rd to promote its equality in Norway. Should be interesting!
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Coming back home, are you? Ummmmmm.........some posts I have seen regarding the oralist philsophy.:whistle: Yeah, if you are still aoround Nov 3, let me know how it goes. I'd be interested regarding the reactions.
 
I really really hate this term, Hearing-Impaired. That word made me feeling like second class citizen.

Many people used that term with me, I had to educate them by explained to them that word is an offensive against the Deaf. They felt really bad about it and I told them do not worry about it because not everyone is aware of it. They changed their vocabulary to "Deaf" or "Hard of Hearing". Every time I go to any place that got the sign "Hearing-Impaired" that made me wanting to tear it down or file complaint against it. In my opinion, most movie theaters that got sign of "Hearing-Impaired" that provide hearing devices are fucking morons! I had to get blunt with some of them about that. It is very frustrating because I have to educate them more often while many Deaf people I know are too lazy or coward to do that. Grrr! Sorry I have to vent here.
 
jillio said:
Coming back home, are you? Ummmmmm.........some posts I have seen regarding the oralist philsophy.:whistle: Yeah, if you are still aoround Nov 3, let me know how it goes. I'd be interested regarding the reactions.
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Oh, you have lost me! LOL I haven't been involved in AD as much.. but yeah, I'll be around, no matter where I will be! Thanks for your thoughts :D
 
It's funny but I cannot recall a time when someone called me hearing-impaired directly. Maybe indirectly if I'm with some deaf people.

I don't like the term "hearing impaired" overmuch myself as it feels sterile whereas the term "deaf" feel more natural and, I think, less intimidating, eh.

Beside, I think it's easier to apply the 'deaf' word to everyone who's HOH, and fully deaf as we're all on the same ship, basically.
 
Miss-Delectable said:
It's funny but I cannot recall a time when someone called me hearing-impaired directly. Maybe indirectly if I'm with some deaf people.

I don't like the term "hearing impaired" overmuch myself as it feels sterile whereas the term "deaf" feel more natural and, I think, less intimidating, eh.

Beside, I think it's easier to apply the 'deaf' word to everyone who's HOH, and fully deaf as we're all on the same ship, basically.
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Yep. I agree with everything you said.
 
Miss-Delectable said:
It's funny but I cannot recall a time when someone called me hearing-impaired directly. Maybe indirectly if I'm with some deaf people.

I don't like the term "hearing impaired" overmuch myself as it feels sterile whereas the term "deaf" feel more natural and, I think, less intimidating, eh.

Beside, I think it's easier to apply the 'deaf' word to everyone who's HOH, and fully deaf as we're all on the same ship, basically.
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I agreed, I feel the same way...
 
Miss-Delectable said:
It's funny but I cannot recall a time when someone called me hearing-impaired directly. Maybe indirectly if I'm with some deaf people.

I don't like the term "hearing impaired" overmuch myself as it feels sterile whereas the term "deaf" feel more natural and, I think, less intimidating, eh.

Beside, I think it's easier to apply the 'deaf' word to everyone who's HOH, and fully deaf as we're all on the same ship, basically.
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Yes, I has the same feeling as you.
 
I also prefer deaf as its less intimidating, but it can also cause problems with people who believe that deaf means you cant hear at all. People forget that there are varying degrees of hearing loss - of if you were born deaf there's no loss at all since you can't lose something you never had to begin with.


But look at it this way in the hearing world thinks that deaf is derogatory since the word deaf is often used in a mean tone such as "Are you deaf?!" or "Are you deaf or dumb?" when they dont realize that those in the deaf culture prefer deaf over hearing impaired because the word impaired makes you feel like a leper of sorts.

I think the use of hearing impaired vs. deaf or HOH is a cultural difference between hearing and deaf cultures. The hearing are often unaware and simply dont know anybetter, so when you come across this and you feel offended, nicely, politely, sweetly as you can - say that you prefer the term deaf, or if its a mixed group of deafies and late deafened, HOH old timers then use the term HOH as that seems to be a happy medium that both sides can agree on.

As for the church bulletin, Im not going to say anything, I am only one out of many and I have not had problems lip reading Jamie's sermons, the only difficulty is during prayers when we must close our eyes and bow our heads, then every thing he says kind of comes out all garbled like the adults on the Charlie Brown cartoons that "WAH WAH WAH" type sound pattern, although on my better days I can still hear the prayers fairly clearly, but anymore the only word I listen for is 'Amen'.
 
Dixie said:
. . . As for the church bulletin, Im not going to say anything, I am only one out of many and I have not had problems lip reading Jamie's sermons, the only difficulty is during prayers when we must close our eyes and bow our heads, then every thing he says kind of comes out all garbled like the adults on the Charlie Brown cartoons that "WAH WAH WAH" type sound pattern, although on my better days I can still hear the prayers fairly clearly, but anymore the only word I listen for is 'Amen'.
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:topic: story just for you, Dixie. What did the nuns say when the priests came to visit the convent?

AMEN! (Pronounced: Ah, Men!) ;) Pause after ah, as ah men are two different words. Thought you'd like that!
 
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