Using 'impaired' shows disrespect

Miss-Delectable

Miss-Delectable

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http://www.star.niu.edu/articles/?id=23091

After reading Molly Thurber's article "Who's Your Dream Man (or Greek Goddess)," I was disturbed by the words she used. She referred to Gallaudet as a "hearing-impaired" school. I have a hard-of-hearing girlfriend and I am currently taking COMD 200 and I can safely say that using the phrase "hearing-impaired" is not only wrong, but disrespectful. My girlfriend, and other deaf people I've met, do not consider themselves impaired in any way. It shows the same disrespect as if someone where to refer to a black person as "caucasian-impaired." This type of ignorance is seen in movies when they let us know that the closed caption is for the "hearing-impaired." Hearing people should not be ignorant or scared when talking about deaf people. Refer to them as deaf or hard of hearing, but never hearing-impaired.


Francisco Nava

Sophomore

Political science
 
How is using the phrase "hearing impaired" being disrespectful? I've seen that word a lot in my life, it doesn't bother me.

Only thing I don't like to be labeled "handicapped or deaf and dumb, or deaf and mute" <<That's disrespectful! Because one, I have legs to walk on my feet, sure aren't handicapped, I am sure not deaf and dumb, and I'm sure not deaf and mute, I can speak very well. :thumb:
 
Cheri said:
How is using the phrase "hearing impaired" being disrespectful? I've seen that word a lot in my life, it doesn't bother me.

Only thing I don't like to be labeled "handicapped or deaf and dumb, or deaf and mute" <<That's disrespectful! Because one, I have legs to walk on my feet, sure aren't handicapped, I am sure not deaf and dumb, and I'm sure not deaf and mute, I can speak very well. :thumb:
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blonde impaired?
 
The term impaired sounds like we're broken or nonfunctional. It also emphasizes what we can't do, and isn't really accurate.
Why not just use the terms dhh, rather then impaired? I'm not brown eyed impaired b/c I have blue eyes!
 
Another one

http://www.star.niu.edu/articles/?id=23090

I applaud you for covering the Dream Man and Greek Goddess pageant that raised money for Gallaudet University, but I have to tell you: It's not "hearing impaired." It's deaf and hard of hearing. As a hard of hearing person myself and having many deaf/HOH friends, one of whom goes to Gallaudet, I'm insulted that you keep referring to us as such. If you are going to promote and cover a story, try to do it with respect. It's condescending and disrespectful to call someone impaired. You wouldn't refer to someone in a wheelchair as walking impaired, they would be outraged. Same goes for people like me and my friends. Don't disrespect my people and my culture by talking down to us.

Ashley Brockway

Sophomore

Pre-Sociology
 
I agree..when I use the CC on the DVDs I see the
saying: Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired.
Really it is rude. Hard of hearing is the polite way
of addressing the issue.
Seriousily driving impaired is like driving recklessly under
the influence.
I think they need a motion to change that.
 
Heart2Sign said:
I agree..when I use the CC on the DVDs I see the
saying: Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired.
Really it is rude. Hard of hearing is the polite way
of addressing the issue.
Seriousily driving impaired is like driving recklessly under
the influence.
I think they need a motion to change that.
Click to expand...

Have you forgotten us as Deaf?

Without using your HA/CI, are you :deaf: ?
 
I as an hearing individual (perhaps I am deaf-impaired) wondered about this question as well and actually started a thread on the topic. You can see it at http://www.alldeaf.com/showthread.php?t=26354 Based on the poll I was quite suprised. I don't think that folks intend to be offensive but its more out of ignorance. It's like using the term handicapped to refer to someone in a wheel-chair. Even though it is true, it is offensive. Even the definition in the dictionary says it is sometimes offensive. As I have been on this site, I have learned much and deaf or HOH is how I think most would prefer to be reffered to as.
 
Personally, I don't give a rip whether somebody calls me hearing impaired. As far as I'm concerned, my hearing is impaired. It is not true that I can't hear with my ears? Ummm...let me see, I was born HOH and wore a HA most of my life and now a CI. So, if it is true, what is the big deal? The semantics of the word doesn't have anything to do with intelligence or intrinsic worth. I guess some people read more into words than they should and get all hot and bothered about it. I'll let them worry about it because I got better things to do. I will tacitly agree that the hearing people sometimes project such meanings into the term but that is more out of ignorance and the general tendency of all to generalize what they don't know. The deaf are no different than anybody else in this regard.

This is where I get amused by all the postering and political correctness that at times just goes amonk. The basic expectation for all humans is to have five functional physical senses. We all know what they are but only two of them are really important in the scheme of things. One is sight and the other hearing.

It is implicitly understood when somebody is blind that they are missing their sight. Very few people ever argue otherwise. The limitations are very obvious as well. They can't drive, play certain sports, and other such. Now, we come to the part where fireworks almost always occurs because some people don't like this pointed out. If one is either deaf or HOH, then that person is hearing impaired no whats, ifs or buts. It is a fact and word games won't change the reality. Now, does that imply that the deaf are stupid or slow or whatever other derogoratory term that has been said. Empathatically NO! This is the heart of the issue...

The big difference between blindness and deafness is that blindness is no barrer to communication whatsoever (unless it is compound with hearing issues). Being deaf doesn't inhibit one from doing things that are sight depended it does have huge implications for normal (hearing) communcations. So, out of that comes an ingenious method of communication (sign and other tools) for the deaf or HOH. Trouble here is that only those that depend on sign or is interested in deaf issues bother to learn sign. The rest of the world moves on because they don't have to. It might be nice if they would but it is not going to happen in reality.

One mentioned using the example of being cacausian-impaired or another one where being brown eyed impaired. Talk about the inanities. Nobody is missing anything and the issue here is a different color of skin or eyes. There is no impairement here and it is totally irrelevant. Sure, there are preferences but that is neither here nor there. Human nature is a funny thing.
 
rockdrummer said:
I as an hearing individual (perhaps I am deaf-impaired) wondered about this question as well and actually started a thread on the topic. You can see it at http://www.alldeaf.com/showthread.php?t=26354 Based on the poll I was quite suprised. I don't think that folks intend to be offensive but its more out of ignorance. It's like using the term handicapped to refer to someone in a wheel-chair. Even though it is true, it is offensive. Even the definition in the dictionary says it is sometimes offensive. As I have been on this site, I have learned much and deaf or HOH is how I think most would prefer to be reffered to as.
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Yes, I feel it is offensive when they label me "hearing Imparied" Oh gosh, I hate that terms !!!

I preferred, they call me Deaf instead of handicapped, diability or hearing impaired. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR :pissed:
 
Impaired? I Am Paired?

:stupid: I AM PAIRED? IMPAIRED? hmmmm who wants to pair with me?

heck Deaf or Hard of Hearing are the only words that are proper.

IMPAIRED is not a right word and it is defined by audists.....

only dummies use that word....
 
It may sound disrespectful but "hearing impaired" , "vision impaired" is what grantmakers prefer to see on the RFP's over "deaf", "hearing disability", "blind".

We get better results using "hearing impaired" in our donation requests, and grantwriting.

There's gold in "hearing impaired".

Richard
 
Wow! Why do some of you get upset over "Hearing impaired" There are many different types and causes of deafness. Therefore we are hearing impaires, we cannot hear, our ears are damage in the inner ear, a hearing aid does not cure our hearing or either does CI, But we do pick up sounds, background noises with help by hearing aids and CI, it's not the same as hearing people. So, pretty much describes us as "hearing impaired" same thing as being Deaf. That's my opinion. I still don't understand why it offended some of you? Can you please kindly explain? ;)
 
bad term

I believe "hearing impaired" is bad and degoratory term for us.... we can do anything except to hear...so we are not impaired.

Those who continue to use that word are not helping.

that is my 2 cents worth! I am proud to be :deaf:

he he

:whistle:
 
Nesmuth said:
It may sound disrespectful but "hearing impaired" , "vision impaired" is what grantmakers prefer to see on the RFP's over "deaf", "hearing disability", "blind".

We get better results using "hearing impaired" in our donation requests, and grantwriting.

There's gold in "hearing impaired".

Richard
Click to expand...

I am "Sex Impaired" :lol:
 
Deaf Images said:
I believe "hearing impaired" is bad and degoratory term for us.... we can do anything except to hear...so we are not impaired.

Those who continue to use that word are not helping.

that is my 2 cents worth! I am proud to be :deaf:

he he

:whistle:
Click to expand...

What is Wrong with the Use of these Terms:
"Deaf-mute", "Deaf and dumb", or "Hearing-impaired"?

http://www.nad.org/site/pp.asp?c=foINKQMBF&b=103786

http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-layout/bookreview8.htm

Deaf vs Hearing Impaired
Deaf people generally preferred to be called simply "deaf." The term "hearing-
impaired" is found objectionable by many deaf people because it emphasizes
what is wrong and in need of repair. Most deaf people don't considered
themselves "impaired." Rather, they consider themselves a part of cultural
minority group of which they are proud. If some "miracle cure" for deafness
were discovered, most deaf people would not want to become hearing.

Deaf
Deaf can mean a profound hearing loss, but may also be used by someone
with a less severe loss.
 
What's wrong with the term "hearing-impaired?"

The term hearing-impaired has been used lately as a politically correct term for deafness. However, those individuals that label themselves part of the Deaf Community have rejected this term for several reasons.

First, like many other minority groups, the Deaf Community prefers to label themselves, rather than to accept the labels of people who do not understand them. Second, "hearing-impaired" is a term that focuses on the negative aspect of deafness. People who are culturally deaf do not consider deafness to be negative. Therefore, they are proud to use the term deaf to identify themselves.

The important thing is to be sensitive to the students in your classroom. Respect and goodwill can be communicated, no matter what words you are using.
 
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