Miss-Delectable
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- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
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Osprey Media. - St. Catharines Standard - Ontario, CA
Leah Wilson says she often can't hear doorbells ringing or dogs barking. Sometimes she needs to be tapped on the shoulder before she'll turn around and pay attention to you. And she has trouble following along in class when the teacher faces away from her.
But she said she knows many people have it worse than she does.
That's why the 16-year-old Laura Secord Secondary School student is blocking her hearing and experiencing life as a deaf person for a week.
The idea came to Leah when she read that some celebrities plan to silence their hearing for a day to endorse Hearing Awareness month, which is May.
The Canadian Hearing Society will be promoting its "Deaf" for a Day initiative by offering to block people's hearing in cities across Ontario, including Toronto and Ottawa, throughout the month. Participants have their hearing artificially blocked and are asked to complete a routine task - such as opening a bank account or ordering a meal - while trying to overcome the communication barriers faced every day by people with hearing loss.
Leah said she wanted to challenge herself and go "deaf" for a week instead because she says one day isn't enough to make an impact.
"My friends think I'm crazy, but I want to prove to them that anyone can do it," she said.
Leah will be using special earplugs to block her hearing until Sunday.
The silicone earplugs, which were given to Leah by her doctor, are normally used by people who need complete silence to be able to sleep.
It should be easier for Leah to live in silence than for the average teen.
After an undiagnosed ear infection left her partially deaf in one ear, Leah decided to learn how to read lips.
She also knows some basic sign language.
It was at her American Sign Language class that Leah met her deaf friends and became interested in supporting the deaf community.
She said there isn't a lot for deaf people to do in St. Catharines. What's worse, Leah said, is that some people have told her they think deaf people are also mentally disabled.
This is a misconception that Leah is hoping to clear up by bringing attention to Speech and Hearing Awareness month.
Hearing loss is the fastest growing disability in North America, according to the Canadian Hearing Society. Almost one in four Canadians report some loss of hearing.
While Leah said her hearing loss is "annoying" sometimes, she said she is happy she's been able to learn sign language and meet new friends.
"It's not a disability," Leah said of hearing loss. "It's a door to new abilities."
Leah Wilson says she often can't hear doorbells ringing or dogs barking. Sometimes she needs to be tapped on the shoulder before she'll turn around and pay attention to you. And she has trouble following along in class when the teacher faces away from her.
But she said she knows many people have it worse than she does.
That's why the 16-year-old Laura Secord Secondary School student is blocking her hearing and experiencing life as a deaf person for a week.
The idea came to Leah when she read that some celebrities plan to silence their hearing for a day to endorse Hearing Awareness month, which is May.
The Canadian Hearing Society will be promoting its "Deaf" for a Day initiative by offering to block people's hearing in cities across Ontario, including Toronto and Ottawa, throughout the month. Participants have their hearing artificially blocked and are asked to complete a routine task - such as opening a bank account or ordering a meal - while trying to overcome the communication barriers faced every day by people with hearing loss.
Leah said she wanted to challenge herself and go "deaf" for a week instead because she says one day isn't enough to make an impact.
"My friends think I'm crazy, but I want to prove to them that anyone can do it," she said.
Leah will be using special earplugs to block her hearing until Sunday.
The silicone earplugs, which were given to Leah by her doctor, are normally used by people who need complete silence to be able to sleep.
It should be easier for Leah to live in silence than for the average teen.
After an undiagnosed ear infection left her partially deaf in one ear, Leah decided to learn how to read lips.
She also knows some basic sign language.
It was at her American Sign Language class that Leah met her deaf friends and became interested in supporting the deaf community.
She said there isn't a lot for deaf people to do in St. Catharines. What's worse, Leah said, is that some people have told her they think deaf people are also mentally disabled.
This is a misconception that Leah is hoping to clear up by bringing attention to Speech and Hearing Awareness month.
Hearing loss is the fastest growing disability in North America, according to the Canadian Hearing Society. Almost one in four Canadians report some loss of hearing.
While Leah said her hearing loss is "annoying" sometimes, she said she is happy she's been able to learn sign language and meet new friends.
"It's not a disability," Leah said of hearing loss. "It's a door to new abilities."