Chapters 60 - 70 For Hearing People Only

Chapter 60 -  Is the Internet going to destroy Deaf Culture?

My first thought is how can it destroy Deaf Culture? I my mind I can only think of ways it could help the Deaf Culture.

Page 353 states that “the Internet is a relatively Deaf-accessible medium.”  It seems that for quite a while Deaf clubs were a place where Deaf people could hang out with other Deaf people. This is where they socialized, watched movies, played games, and whatever other things they could do, just so they could be with other Deaf people.

TV came out with closed captions so Deaf people could stay at home and watch movies in their own living room. Then came the Internet and things really started to change. A survey showed that rather than watch TV, more and more Deaf people were surfing the Internet. Deaf chat rooms began to spring up on the Internet and rather than go to a Deaf club, they could stay at home and be with other Deaf people with the use of the Internet. I myself, Skype with my friends who live in other towns on a regular basis. I can’t afford to go see them, so I use my Internet.

Deaf people have the ability to email people, instant message people, skype, as well as get into chat rooms. They are not limited to communicating with only other Deaf people. The sky is the limit as to who and how they can talk with others.

The Internet gives Deaf people, who may not like to get out much, the ability to “travel” and see places on the Internet. They can shop; get instruction, medical and financial advice, just to name a couple, with a click of the mouse.

I guess the only down side, as seen in hearing as well, is you can become addicted to the Internet and do nothing much of anything else. To think this would destroy the Deaf culture is crazy, if anything it has helped the Deaf culture in that they can be exposed to so much more and in a comfortable environment. I think it is a great thing.

Chapter 61 – Are deaf people stereotyped?

It appears that deaf people are stereotyped, even in Hollywood.

There have been many shows and movies that have portrayed a deaf character in many ways. In some they are the weak and victimized poor soul. They are portrayed as lonely people with no friends. They have been a character that taught a lesson to the hearing and they all lived happily ever after. Some are in shows as being sent from God or evil and cursed by God.

In any case, yes, deaf people are stereotyped. Unfortunately the hearing world sometimes believes that a deaf person has these traits and lives these lives…especially the negative ones.

The last line on pg 363 sums it up rather well, “Stereotypical thinking is a symptom of ignorance. Ignorance is the most devastating of all disabilities, but the most easily cured.”

I just never realized how deaf people are stereotyped until I read this. I remember some of the shows mentioned…if not that show, one that is similar. A deaf person being a victim, sad, lonely, or evil on shows of today. I hope that in 2013 people don’t still fall for that character portrayal as it is so far from the truth.

Chapter 62 – Is there a Deaf Literature?

I really don’t see why there wouldn’t be Deaf Literature. I know from earlier reading that many Deaf have trouble reading so probably trouble with some writing, but that doesn’t mean there wouldn’t be any Deaf Literature.

The literature would include poetry, fiction and non-fiction, plays, journalism, and much more. The main difference would be, pg 365, the distinction between “literature expressing a Deaf viewpoint and Literature created by Deaf people” the two are quite different.

Since the 1820’s there have be many professional deaf writers. They have written in many genres. These authors have been very successful. Today there are Deaf writers who write in ASL. There is no way it is written. The stories are “written” and performed on video cams for the Deaf to “read”. I think this is great! It is their language so why not write in their language. Other authors write in other languages other than English and are successful, so why not ASL? There is already mime and pantomime which is a story acted with out words, and people love that.

I guess when I first heard of “deaf literature” I was thinking of someone who is deaf writing…..on paper. It never occurred that it could also include someone writing in the language of the deaf, which is the ASL. This is a pretty cool thing.

Chapter 63 – Can you help me determine which films have a guaranteed appeal for deaf viewers?

My first thought would have to be anything with action. I had forgotten about the silent ones from the early years of movies. The main thing is the deaf could not hear the music that was played, but they could easily follow the story plot.  I also did not consider that this was a good time for the deaf to be working in the movies. There were no talking scripts and the technical crew had no problems.

When the talkies took over things changed for the deaf. Couldn’t follow the plot and many workers had no work.

It amazed me to learn that a man in 1947 took the time to splice captions in to talkie movies. What an incredible thing for someone to do to help the deaf. Seems like at that time many wanted to do away with the deaf and here was someone, on his time, helping.

Another way for deaf to enjoy a movie, and a movie that I would NEVER want to attend would be a foreign film. I would never want to read a movie. But I guess for the deaf it was welcomed.

As I had guessed, the number one movie a deaf person would enjoy is the Action film. Can’t know the dialogue… but the action is good.

Then there is the way of reading the book before watching the movie. A thought that makes perfect sense, other than, in many cases the movie is not always like the book, but I can see how it would help.

Waiting until it comes out in DVD and have captions is a choice. I think it is great that there are some places like Philadelphia or LA that have movies that are open – captioned in theatres…the new movies.

I’m not a big moviegoer myself; I would rather watch it in my home. I can see how being able to go to the movies like everyone else would be important to hard of hearing or the deaf. I is good there are options for this type of entertainment.

Chapter 64 – Can all deaf people dance?

Deaf people as much ability to dance as a hearing person. Some hearing people dance terribly as do deaf, which some hearing dance well and do deaf. Common sense tells us they do not “hear” music the same as hearing, but they can pick up on the beat and from that they can dance. One thing that can have an impact on whether or not a deaf person can dance is if the deafness affects their balance. Balance is an inner ear thing and deafness can lead to some one being off balance. I have been told many times how I couldn’t walk until I was 16 months old, as I had no balance. I had had a lot of fluid behind my eardrum and got tubes on my first birthday. It was 4 months later, once the fluid was gone, that I could walk. I had not connected this to a deaf person not having balance and possible dance issue.

According to the book, on page 377, “what’s required is sharp eye, alertness, sensitivity to rhythm, and coordination – the same skills any good dancer develops” The rhythm is not felt from the floor but as it travels in the bones of the deaf person.

I remember when Marlee Matlin was on Dancing with the Stars, I thought how is she going to do this? She did a good job. As does the dance troupes with deaf people in them. Gallaudet University has one and apparently does a great job. I think it would be neat to watch.

It boils down the facts that some deaf people can dance just as some hearing people can dance. If you have good coordination…you have a good chance of being able to dance.

Chapter 65 – Can Deaf people appreciate music at all?

For those who care they main thing a deaf person can get from music is the booming rhythms from the percussion. Some do not care much about music at all.

At the deaf get – togethers they have discos with VERY loud music. I can only imagine how loud the music gets. As with anything, some enjoy themselves and dance the night away.

Not a watcher of MTV, I was not aware of the closed – captioning of many of the videos. Many deaf enjoy watching the “visual rhythms and body language” and thus enjoy watching MTV.

Then there is the “sign – songs” in that popular songs are translated and many enjoy that. I have seen translators to the side of a singer, translating the song. I have seen the National Anthem translated many times.

As the book says, the people who are losing their hearing have the most difficult time with music. I, myself, love music and can only imagine how I would feel if I couldn’t enjoy it due to losing my hearing. My computer is full of all kinds of music I enjoy listening to.

It seems that there are successful deaf musicians that are successful, Beethoven for example. “But most Deaf people don’t enjoy music, as they don’t understand it; music appreciation is a foreign concept.”

Chapter 66 – do signsongs make sense?

It seems that to some deaf people there are negative feelings towards the singsongs in that they are not truly the way traditional ASL performances usually are. On page 386 is states that,”signsongs are more of a Hearing form of expression than a deaf one.” They seem to perform for a hearing audience rather than a deaf audience. The hearing doing the signsongs doesn’t have the authenticity. It looks nice when watching but is it truly ASL with the facial expressions and such. It is “performed in straight signed English-sung lyrics with signs pasted onto them, word for word.” It is not done in true ASL so a deaf person would understand. It is almost insulting to a deaf person. To take their language and not use it correctly. It may look artistic and or pretty to a hearing person in the audience. If a deaf person was watching, chances are, they would probably great difficulty understanding the song.

I can see how this would not be something many deaf people would like to watch. Almost like people are making fun or or insulting the ASL. I myself enjoy watching ASL being used as communication. I don’t think I could look at it as entertainment. So why do signsongs? To the deaf, “their” language doesn’t make sense when done in signsongs.

Chapter 67 – Do deaf people show a slight difference in their facial anatomy?

This is probably the stupidest question yet! I was not aware that deafness was called the “invisible handicap”, but I can see how it is called that. If deaf people had difference in facial anatomy, like Downs, then why have so many children be misdiagnosed?

There is no difference in the lips, eyes, eyebrows, checks, or any part of a deaf person’s face to look at them and think, “oh wow, they are deaf”!

I am aware that deaf people use their face as part of communication but that is just using the muscles for the conversation. There is no difference between the face of a deaf person and a hearing person.

Pretty crazy idea that people think there is!!

Chapter – 68 Don’t Deaf people have to wear dark colors?

What I thought was another stupid question…. turned out to be quite interesting and not so stupid. The Deaf person, themselves, in everyday living do not have to wear black. They can wear anything they want to wear. What is popular for hearing is as popular for a deaf person.

One type of thing that deaf people are careful of is what is worn on the head. Sunglasses, hats, and ski masks can cover parts of the face that is used for expressions. I never considered that facial hair could interfere with the use of the face in conversations.

Wearing dark clothes is actually something an interrupter would wear. If they are signing for the deaf, wearing bright clothes, patterned clothes, and lots of jewelry can interfere with the signing.

As I read this chapter, it made perfect sense that interrupter would have to consider what is worn especially if they are signing and the deaf person were on the other side of the room. I will have to keep this in mind if I interrupt for an athlete in my future.

Chapter 69 – Sleeping with the light on??

I myself have to have a nightlight….but to learn that deaf people sleep in total darkness…I couldn’t do that!

I understand that since lights are used as a means to get a deaf person’s attention that they would want total darkness in order to sleep. But if it were me, I would want to be able to see around me if I woke up. Just to make sure no one uninvited was in my room or house.

Interesting that children at residential school have to be forced to sleep with lights out even if they are accustomed to it from their house. Learning that couples have to come to a solution when one is deaf and wants total darkness to fall asleep, the other can read or watch TV at night. Even the light under a door can prevent a deaf person from going to sleep.

Lights that give me a heart attack, red and blue, can be ignored by deaf. Don’t think they are ignored on a police car, but installed in a house so if someone turns on hall light at night it won’t wake a deaf person up.

These last few chapters have what seem to be stupid questions and yet have some interesting answers I would of never thought of. I still would need a light on to sleep.

Chapter 70 – Are deaf people visually sharper than hearing people?

I have always been told, I think, that when you don’t have one sense, the others are better or more sensitive. I guess since someone can’t hear, they have to rely more on the other senses. A deaf person is “more alert about taking in and processing visual messages.” It is more of a survival skill that anything. Keep in mind that not all deaf people are as good as others when it comes to picking up on visual messages.

It is not that they hear better or sharper, a deaf person has to use the other senses to a higher level since they can ‘t use hearing clues to get their attention. 

Chapters 49 – 59 For Hearing People Only

Chapter 49 – How do people become deaf?

Before I read the chapter, I thought either they were born deaf from some problem in development or maybe the mom had been exposed to something. If they went deaf, I thought there had been an accident or as I was always warned…the music or noise was too loud. I wasn’t wrong, but there was more to it.

The term congenitally deaf is when someone is born deaf and for going deaf it is called adventitiously deaf – strange name. Guess when out being adventitious you did something stupid and hurt your ear? Then there were subdivisions to the last term depending on the age.

More males are deaf and more ”late-deafened elderly women than men”. I was correct in the thought that before birth a mom could be exposed to a virus like rubella and that could cause deafness. Didn’t know there were 3 other viruses that could do the same thing. There were several syndromes mentioned that could also cause deafness as well as the possibility of deafness due to “the hardware of the middle ear” or ear issues such as wax build up or fluid in middle ear. I had extreme fluid problems as a child. I got tubes in my ears on my first birthday. I could not walk until 16 months, because the fluid was so much so, I had no balance. I didn’t have any ear or hearing problems after that, and I could walk!

My thought of adventitious was pretty good as “adventitious deafness can be caused by accidents” and “gradual hearing loss can result from repeated exposure to very loud noise”.

Not all deafness can have a known cause. Almost half of deafness is termed “of unknown etiology”. I understand that, but I would want to know how and why I was deaf. I pretty much know how I got the Celiac; guess I am lucky to know that.

Chapter 50 – Is deafness “bad karma”?

The definition of karma basically says “what you do in this life will have an effect on your next life”. When people say “that’s karma for you” it is referring to someone who had something bad happened due to doing something bad…like being punished. So in this chapter, they are saying that a person is deaf because in a former life they did something bad and are being punished!! Who would even think that????

Apparently in different times “the few deaf persons mentioned in the gospels are described as possessed by an evil spirit” and “deaf people were considered not fully human”. They were considered “outcasts” and not allowed to marry. In the US, long ago, there was “belief that God punishes parents through their children. Some people believe that children are born disabled because their parents did something wrong”. Glad I didn’t live long ago. I know they didn’t know…but what gets me….is I am sure there are people in 2013 that still believe these crazy ideas.

I did like the positive karma idea. “According to the positive interpretation, a soul chooses to be born as a deaf person as a challenge or learning experience”. It goes on to state that it “progress to a higher level of spiritual understanding”. Makes me think of the saying “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”.

Chapter 51 – What other categories are there in Deaf community? (Deaf and hard-of-hearing)

In the Deaf community there are the “culturally Deaf” – ASL users and oral communication, with or without hearing aids. There is also many hearing people – parents, children of, spouses of, teachers, co-workers, and professionals just to name a few.

Turns out the books lists 13 categories in the Deaf community. I was pretty overwhelmed. The categories range from how there is communication, when the person went deaf, and what the relation is to the Deaf person.

I was wondering why all the categories, because the needs are “whatever “category” each member can be placed in, are clear enough: unrestricted communication and unrestricted access to everything hearing people benefit from and take for granted”. So when The Americans with Disabilities Act was created, it “prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in public accommodations, transportation, etc.” Pretty sad that for someone in the Deaf community has to be put in some category so they won’t be discriminated against…that is how I took it.

Chapter 52 – What’s the difference between “hard of hearing” and “deaf”?

I first wondered why a chapter would be written on this difference. Hard of hearing seems to me to be that you don’t hear everything or that you may struggle to hear something. Deaf is you can’t hear anything at all. But it seems that this is not so cut and dry!

I was pretty correct if you think of the definition of each but the difference is in what someone considers themselves to be. “A number of people who are audiologically deaf identify themselves as “hard-of-hearing” or “hearing-impaired”. Conversely, some audiologically hard-of-hearing people identify themselves as “deaf”. Some people who have lost hearing late in life may call themselves deaf or hard-of-hearing since they are “caught between both hearing and deaf communities – wanting to remain in the hearing community, but having difficulty coping with hearing loss”.

Many who consider themselves HOH look down on the Deaf. Some ASL users look down on the HOH “or anyone who thinks and acts too “hearing”. Surprised that they in a sense they almost seem to turn on each other. Attitude seems to have much to do with what they would call themselves.

Apparently, the HOH have a tough time deciding. Do they consider themselves deaf who can hear a little, hearing with some loss, or try to pass as hearing. I can see how this could be a struggle to someone. I like the end in which Clyde Smith said, “as far as he’s concerned everybody with hearing loss is deaf – there are only degrees of deafness”. 

Chapter 53 – Are hard-of-hearing people part of the Deaf community?

The opening sentence was interesting, “Do they want to be”? I would say of course. Then to read on ….”They can be part of the Deaf community if they want to be. But does the Deaf community want them?” Why wouldn’t they is my thought. It comes back to the fact that it is not just an “audiological situation, it’s a state of mind, an attitude, and, in some cases, a psychological defense”.

Some HOH kids in schools for the deaf consider themselves better than the profoundly deaf. They can hear some, so that makes them better than the deaf. HOH people can be a help to the Deaf community or they can be an enemy. They can make a choice to join the community or ignore it. They have a choice, which the Deaf do not. Should the HOH have to learn ASL…it should be a choice as well.

I was pretty surprised with what I read here. I just assumed that the HOH would be considered to be in the Deaf community. I had no idea that some felt they were better than the Deaf because they could hear some. Or that the Deaf would be in a sense jealous that someone could hear a little and turn on them. I guess I can now see how this could draw a line between the two, but again it surprises me. I figured that anyone who had some level of “deafness” would be accepted to anyone else who had a level of “deafness”. I guess all the rejections of the hearing have helped this attitude along, and this is quite sad.

Chapter 54 – What are some of the biggest problems faced by late-deafened people?

The first obvious answer is, where in their mind do they now belong. I would also guess another problem is admitting they can’t hear well anymore. They would probably be wondering how this could affect all aspects of their life, from personal to professional.

I was right!

Depending on if the loss was sudden or progressive and after 18…there will be a more difficult adjustment. The younger someone is, the less difficult and easier to cope rather than someone in a career, marriage, with children, and “stable pattern of life”.

What world are they entering, Deaf or HOH? Things the hearing take for granted will now be a struggle, talking on phone, music, chatting, children, grandchildren, jokes, job conversations, and family interactions are now not the same. “The foundation of their very sanity is shaken”.

Relationships can and in many cases are broken; Workers have lost their jobs. It is no surprise that depression can set in and even thoughts of suicide can come in. Then you have the well-intentioned family and friends who say something that they feel with make it easier, and all it does is make it worse.

You add the attitude that the Deaf community may have in that they now have even the Deaf be unaccepting. The best place to get understanding and help is from someone is the same situation. Using the Internet may be a good place to find others like themselves to just share feeling.

This chapter I could relate to. I was only 2 when diagnosed with Celiac. I know that the others like me try to find food that tastes like what they can no longer have. I guess I was lucky in that I had never really tried a lot. I don’t have to find bread that tastes like Bunny Bread, or pasta that takes like Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. What I eat now….all I can remember. I have a good friend who was recently diagnosed and is trying all kinds of  GF food to find good tasting things. So if you have hearing loss early, it is easier to adjust to life as it will be, just as my diagnosis at an early age has made having Celiac not a big adjustment.

Chapter 55 – “What is Deaf Culture? Has anyone studied it from a sociological perspective?”

The definition is: “a social, communal, and creative force of, by, and for Deaf people based on American Sign Language. It encompasses communication, social protocol, art, entertainment, recreation and worship.” It also states that it is “an attitude” which has been stated many time this blog. “If you are not one of us, you don’t belong”.

It is a fact that people who are deaf want to seed out other deaf and converse in ASL. This is seen in many countries, but the US “has the most sophisticated and creative – and public Deaf culture of any”. The Deaf, who attended schools for the deaf, have a certain attitude and way of interacting with one another. The one thing they consider as a social experience in which everyone can participate is sports. Sports like volleyball, softball, bowling, and basketball are a way the Deaf can kinetically express a belonging.

There was a time in which there were Deaf Clubs. A place where they could go and watch movies, relax, and enjoy the company of other Deaf. These were needed since Deaf people were excluded from radio and movies, and was a way to learn what was going on in the world. In this way the Deaf culture seems to be an attitude in which the Deaf get together with one another and in a sense all belong. There is no need to prove anything to anyone, to just be with someone like them.

Some Deaf don’t think there is a Deaf culture like what is seen in Blacks, Jews, and other ethnic cultures. My guess is in those cultures there is a genetic link, there is a common religion, and there is sometimes a cultural dress, which is not the case of a Deaf culture. I can see how on one hand some think there is a culture but when compared to other “cultures” I don’t think of it as a culture. This is why “titles” can be a problem. Why do we have to call it any thing other that people hanging out since they have something in common. I don’t belong to a Celiac Disease culture.

Then you come to the decision as who would be in the Deaf culture. Deaf only, HOH, parents of Deaf, children of Deaf and the list goes on. So the idea of a Deaf culture once again gets confusing.

Should a hearing person write about Deaf Culture?

My first reaction is why not? Then I think back to some of the crazy things I have read so far in this book and the crazy attitudes people have towards the Deaf and I think twice. If they are writing the truth, then why not. As the book says, “To get a full picture, we want to balance the outsiders’ view with what insiders have to say.” To me, that would be the only way to do it correctly. Example, how could a person who doesn’t have a problem with alcohol write a book about having a dependency on alcohol? You need the view of someone on the inside, some one with the problem. This is how ideas get all messed up.

Fortunately researchers of the Deaf today seem to have a much better attitude towards the Deaf as well as a much better understanding of being Deaf. Another thing that has helped the writings of Deaf is the fact that more Deaf people are much more involved in the writings since they have done research and have published articles and books. I think back to the early chapters in which it said some Deaf people have trouble reading and writing since they can’t sound out words. Some I guess few Deaf people wrote, and now things are changing.

The best way to change attitudes towards the Deaf and have the hearing understand the life of a Deaf person is to do the writing themselves. If they can do the writing, at least be involved with the hearing person doing the writing. Get more involved. This will help the attitudes.

Chapter 57 “How did Bell almost succeed in wiping out Deaf Culture?”

Say What???? Apparently in the 1800s when American School for the Deaf opened, deaf education was beginning. ASL was being used, other schools were opening for the deaf in this country, Deaf clubs opened, and there was an interest in a Deaf college, then came along Alexander Graham Bell! He was rich and powerful and he believed that Deaf people need to learn to speak and be in the hearing society. “Bell believed that deafness was a terrible curse..a pathological aberration that perpetuated negative genetic traits…that deaf persons weakened the society in which they lived”. What a horrible man!

He basically wanted to stop deaf people from even being born! In order to do this, he came up with three (stupid) “preventative measures”. His plan was “eliminating residential schools, forbidding the use of sign language in the education of deaf pupils, and prohibiting deaf adults from being teachers of deaf children.” It almost happened. By 1919 80% of residential schools had “gone oral” and 0ther 20% used combined method. Deaf teachers were forced out of teaching, and oral and signing students were separated. If you were caught signing you were punished. SAY WHAT???? The worst of all was forcing deaf children to talk, no sign language, leaving them with no language at all!

Fortunately this craziness did not last long and today ASL is totally accepted.

I just find this hard to believe someone who isn’t deaf thinks he knows what is best for someone that is. And to force someone to do something that is impossible is nuts. He probably forced people in wheelchairs to get up and walk!!!

Chapter 58 Isn’t deafness a disability? If it is, why do deaf people consider it a culture?

Yes, being deaf is a disability…”a handicap”. A culture “includes language, literature, art, folklore, religion, distinctive cuisines, modes of dress, and social customs.” ASL- Deaf people have all of the above but the dress, cuisines, and religion.

It seems that the Deaf culture has the language, literature, art, folklore, and social customs. This is what draws them to each other, they have being deaf in common, so why not be together, be in the company of people they can communicate with and be comfortable with?

I was not aware there are apartment buildings designed for someone who is Deaf much less retirement communities. What a great idea.

Most minorities want to be mainstreamed and included in everything. This would not be a good fit for all Deaf. Instead of helping, it could lead to more problems, especially more isolation from everyone.

I think my favorite line is, “our experiences with discrimination and prejudice, and the necessity of getting our society to improve its damned attitudes”. This seems to be the center of many problems for the Deaf. Everybody things they know what is best and make blanket statements and solutions for Deaf people. What is wrong with a Deaf person wanting to live in around other Deaf people and what is so wrong with ASL if that is the way you would like to communicate? Thought this was “the land of the free”?

Chapter 59 The Deaf community has been compared to a “ghetto that is disintegrating.” Do you agree?

I am not really clear how the term “ghetto” has come in to this topic. In my mind a “ghetto” is not a positive term.

I guess there is still conversation concerning Deaf people choosing to life with and around other Deaf people. The book talks about the Jewish culture, which to me, seems like it is not critized. Yet there seems to be some problem with the Deaf having their own culture. “Deaf people like to associate with each other, to be in situations where they can communicate freely”, who wouldn’t? To Deaf people, ASL is “a beautiful language crated and refined by Deaf people”. I like doing ASL and I enjoy watching others do it. Even though I can do ASL to a degree, it still amazes me how others can do it.

There will always be Deaf people. No one can stop deafness either present at birth or later in life. So why not sit back and let them do what they need to do to have the best life possible. If they want to use ASL, fine. If they want an implant and can afford it, fine. If they want a hearing aide or to be oral, fine. Who are we to determine what anyone should do? Then to refer to the Deaf culture as a form of ghetto???? What is ghetto is once again the attitude. That is what needs to “disintegrate”!

Many chapters in this book I found interesting and learned from. These chapters just left me angry. I don’t understand how in this day and age there is still so much attitude towards Deaf people. How people think they have the knowledge must less the right to condemn the way Deaf people want to live and how they want to communicate. I would expect this attitude in other countries…but not here.

It bothered me how the Deaf and HOH can be cruel to each other. To actually be snobby to each other….the have and have nots. Like I said, I didn’t really care for these chapters in that I was left surprised with how cruel people can be to one another. I do my best to not hurt someone’s feelings with or without a disability, or if they do or do not agree with me. Just how I was raised.

Chapters 37-48 For Hearing People Only

Chapter 37 Is It OK to use the terms “deaf-mute” and “deaf and dumb”?

To be honest, this chapter has me quite nervous as to what I should say in referring to a person who cannot hear!

I knew using the term mute was not acceptable. It “refers to someone who cannot talk”. I knew before this class that just because a person could not hear, does not always mean they cannot talk. I myself did not and do not use that term. I knew that many could talk; yet I have learned that many do not as they feel uncomfortable doing so since it does not sound “correct”.

The question in the book asked, “why isn’t “deaf and dumb” an acceptable term?” seems to be an extremely stupid question. Being deaf does not in any way mean a person is dumb…I don’t even like using that word in any context or to refer to anyone.

I try to stay up on what are “politically correct” terms for any situation. I was quite shocked to read that Gallaudet University was “Columbia Institution for the Deaf, Dumb, and Blind” then called “National Deaf-Mute College”, and then finally the name it has today. I figured that since Gallaudet and his family did so much to create this learning place that they would of not used “Dumb” and “Mute” in the naming.

I can’t say that I have ever heard anyone refer to a deaf person as “deaf and mute”. I can also understand why it is so insulting to a deaf person. “Deaf – mute suggests that a deaf person is doomed to a life of silence, without speech, without hope.” The term “deaf and dumb” “conjures a pitiful, pathetic, dull-witted image, with a hint of subnormal intelligence. To think that in this day and age, any reasonably intelligent person refer to a deaf person with either of these terms is mind-boggling!

As I continued to read the different terms, acceptable and unacceptable, it was shocking to see that many the “Real-life example” were written and or said in my lifetime, the past 20 years. That reporters, parents, neighbor, and politicians said these insulting terms publicly. The one that stands out the most to me was the story told by Congressman Kennedy in 1990, as he told of a friend of his father being a “deaf-mute”. Only to be corrected in a letter written to him. Way to go Kim!

I would of loved to have been present when the two ladies stood up to the women in the restaurant who said, “look at the dummies, talking with their hands!” When the deaf women stood up and said “What dummies???”, what a perfect way of handling the rudeness.

I usually use the term Hearing-Impaired, but maybe I won’t in the future. I realize it is not “really equivalent to “deaf”. That “deaf and hard-of-hearing people are two distinct groups with different aims, although they do share a common need for accessible communication”. I just felt that referring to a deaf person as “deaf” or “deaf person” sounded so cold. Yet in the chapter, that is what many would like to be called and call themselves. To them it is “a simple, non-judgmental term.” 90% in the opinion poll prefer this term. The one I used, “hearing-impaired”, only 1% used that one. Think I need to use the term that they find more comfortable.

Chapter 38 Can ”Deaf” be used as a noun or only an adjective?

In this chapter I was relieved to know I was saying the term correctly and not insulting any deaf person. It appears that the term “deaf” is and can be used in different ways depending on whether you are deaf and referring to others who are deaf or if you are hearing and referring to someone who is deaf.

It seems that if you are deaf you can refer to others who are deaf as just “deaf” seeing the example in the book, “A group of Deafs traveled to Hawaii”. If a hearing person said this, it would be considered insulting. I, myself, find this insulting and would never consider saying it. The term “Deafie” was mentioned as a term of affection, I don’t see that as to affectionate and would never use it.

I am glad to see that the preferred terms are “deaf persons”, “deaf people”, and “deaf community”. The fact that “they prefer to be seen as people first” is understandable.

In the end it was said that there are no hard and fast rules about the usages. It again seems to come back to “how strongly they identify with the cultural-Deaf community” as to what is said. The final thought is as always, “when in doubt, proceed cautiously”!

Chapter 39 When I use the word “handicapped,” my deaf friend gets angry. Why?

I am beginning to understand being deaf in a different way. I can look at being deaf as a physical disability or an ethnic difference. I guess I looked a being deaf as a form of being handicapped. Handicap does mean “a deficiency especially an anatomical, physiological or mental deficiency that prevents or restricts normal achievement”. Using medical terms “it’s a disability, it’s a disorder, it’s a deficiency, it’s a handicap.” However the majority of deaf people don’t see themselves as handicapped. The only thing they can’t do is hear. Funny that the chapter points out how some people can’t dance, draw, or sing….so are they handicapped – makes you think!!! Deaf people can work, play, dance, draw, and sing and have just a full a life as the hearing.

There are many deaf who fight that they are normal, not handicapped, other than not hearing and don’t want to be looked at as they need to be “fixed”. “Our hardship is more of a communication barrier than a physical disability”.

There are some deaf people who endorse be considered “handicapped” since the world is based on sound and are then “excluded from full participation in a sound-based society”. “They believe that society owe them compensation (benefits) for the hardships they endure”

Finally, we all know that just the term “handicap” can have a negative tone and can bring in pity for someone else. So as in many things learned in this book…it is probably best to stay away from using the term “handicap”. I, myself, try to use the term “impaired” as in “hearing impaired”. I my attempt to not use the term “deaf”, I am learning that that is what I should be using.

Chapter 40 Why do deaf people use the terms “hearing” and “hearings”?

Getting a bit confused as to who is on the inside or outside or the minority or the majority, I am called “hearing” because I am on the outside of the deaf and in the majority. I don’t know if other “hearing” find this insulting or not, I myself don’t. I am hearing so why not call me that. Guess it comes back to calling the deaf people “deaf” which is what they are, and what they want to be called.

The usage of “deaf”, “hearing”, and “they” and what people want to be called does come across as a label. Since I can remember I was taught not to call people things, not to label them, as it is demeaning and can hurt feeling. I guess this is why these chapters are so uncomfortable for me. Chapter 38 was the most uncomfortable as all the labels that were put on someone just because they couldn’t hear. Makes me wonder if there is such a debate as to what to call someone who can’t see other than “blind”???

The last paragraph summed up what was in my mind and answered the question, “aren’t these labels insulting?” “Not necessarily—they reflect a normal human trait of expressing belonging to a group and distinguishing ourselves from those who are different”. Trying to believe that.

Chapter 41 Do all deaf people benefit from hearing aids?

I can answer that without even reading…. NO. I know that it make sound louder…all sound louder. So what ever that sound is good or bad, understandable or not, all it does is make it louder.

What I did learn as is a common theme in the book, it is up to the individual as to if they want to wear a hearing aid…. even if it does or doesn’t make things louder. For some it makes them feel more comfortable and more “aware of what’s going on”.

I was not aware of the fact there were 3 different types of aids available. There is the traditional hearing aid that makes sounds, all sounds, louder. There is a digital aid that can be “programmed to pick up the frequencies of speech, or even whispers. They can “focus” on someone speaking and exclude background noise. It does say that the severely and profoundly deaf do not benefit but the moderately deaf get the most benefit. The final type of aid, and a rather permanent one, is the cochlear implant. For the implant, and hole is drilled in the skull and devises are implanted inside the skull and hooked up to devises outside the skull. This will help get sound to the brain and then allow the person to hear to some degree.

In any choice of an aid, the earlier you can wear it, the better you are, maybe?? This is where a huge problem comes in. If you go with the idea of “early intervention”, that newborns can be fitted…the parents make the decision, creating the problem. Yes, if your child were born “not perfect” you, as the parent, would want to fix it as soon as possible. The problem is in the eye of deaf people, who is to say that being deaf is being “not perfect” and that it needs to be fixed…. at any time?

The aids, of any kind, may or may not help the deaf person. The aids range from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars and they may or may not help. The decision to wear an aid is many times what the parent wants and not what the deaf child may or may not want. “No deaf child or adult should ever be forced to wear one. It should be a matter of personal choice”. Many parents of deaf children are trying to make a good decision for their child and help them be “normal” in the hearing world.

To be honest, I don’t know if I wouldn’t try to do the same thing if my child were found to be deaf. I would want to help, to “fix” things and any good parent would. I am now seeing that being deaf doesn’t need to be “fixed”. I can’t eat food with gluten since I have Celiac Disease…I don’t need to be fixed. I just go about what I eat a little differently than others.

So back to the question of the chapter, do all deaf people benefit from hearing aids? In general no, but some can and do. It just needs to be their choice as to if they want to wear one and if they do which one do they wear.

Chapter 42 The best of both worlds – ASL and a cochlear implant???

It would be great if it could be the best of both worlds, but it seems it is not in many cases. It starts with who is making the decision to have the implant. If the deaf person is a child, the FDA approves implants for children without their consent. Many in the deaf community are opposed to the FDA’s decision as their views, “real world concern”, and firsthand experiences of the implants were dismissed. It appears the “hearing oralists, scientists, executives, audiologists and government officials” know what is best for a person who is deaf. If a parent chooses for their deaf infant or child to have the implant, they, basically, are not “allowed” to have the child also learn ASL. It appears that “sign language interferes with the acquisition of speech”. “The doctors make it clear when they counsel parents of prospective implantees: do not sign.” There is the threat that if they continue with signing….the clinic will drop them….no implant.

Okay….whose child it this anyway. The clinic will get the money to perform the surgery and such. Who are they to tell a parent or child…and “by the way you are not allowed to try to communicate in any other way.”

One must keep in mind that most parents who have made the decision to get the implant for their child have mostly “committed themselves to the oral/aural approach” anyway. They themselves have not taken the time to learn to sign and have no intention of doing so at any time. Parents feel they are doing the best…yet they are not the ones who have had no “exposure to spoken or visual language”. Depending on the child’s age, they already have a “language gap” when they get the implant. They are not the ones who will spend “several long months learning to interpret the electronically processed sounds as meaningful speech”. So are they really doing the right thing…for the child?

There are many adult deaf people who “complained bitterly about the oral/aural regimen” they had as a child, yet no one had the same feelings from learning ASL.

The implant companies prey on the parents who want to “fix” or do what is best for the child. The companies have the money for the fancy advertisements and knowledge as to what works. Then you add the fear of teaching the child ASL as well and how it will make things worse cause “we know” and they have the parent right where they want them. I made me sick to read this. I myself would have to talk quite a few implantees to make the decision to drill a hole my child’s head! Then to tell me I can’t teach h/she ASL in the mean time, I don’t think so!

Implants can work and do work. We again come back to the fact that it should be the choice of the deaf person. A child cannot make that decision and the parent shouldn’t either. If as an adult a deaf person wants the implant and has the money, go for it. If it doesn’t help much, you still have ASL to communicate. So can ASL and implants be the best of both worlds? I can and should be, but if being put in a child it won’t be. How sad is that!!!

Chapter 43 Why are deaf people against universal infant hearing screening? Isn’t a good idea to detect hearing loss as soon as possible?

It is a great idea to detect hearing loss as soon as possible. There are devices that can do just that in newborns. We have come a long way from clapping behind a child to see if they turn their head. The testing is not the issue, but what is done afterwards.

The people who give the test are the same people who “have traditionally broken the news to parents that their child is deaf, and who have encouraged them to have low expectations and /or place the child in oral/auditory or mainstream program”, again someone telling what to do with their child. Parents are devastated that their child is deaf and are then “convinced that the road to “normality” must be a strictly oral/auditory one ….or subject the child to an expensive dose of head surgery”. Many parents run out and buy hearing aids, try talking loudly to the child, and other crazy things to “fix” the child.

What they need to do, when the shock wears off, is get in contact with other parents, establish “a parents’ network and making friends in the Deaf community”…and that would be free.

The testing is great and I would have it done on my own child. The problem is the “expects” telling what I need to do and buy. I would want to talk to other parents of deaf children with the implants, parents who learned and use ASL in the home, and anybody else with a deaf child in a hearing house. The Internet is great to get people in touch someone that has something in common with you medically or socially. I think parents just get so scared and it is easier to just do what someone tells you than take things in your own hands.

They didn’t know what was wrong with me when I was 2 and had Celiac Disease. My mom looked and looked in books and came up with Celiac. This was before the Internet. Finally she found a doctor who listened and sent me to the right place. You just have to fight for your child and not take the easy way.

Chapter 44 When deaf people meet deaf parents of a new baby, they always ask if the baby’s deaf or hearing. Why?

The best answer is the fact that the deaf people want to “get a “fix” on the the baby’s cultural identity – to see if the baby is one of them”. I would hope this would not be considered rude, because I would ask and or want to know that answer for myself. Knowing that most deaf parents have hearing children, that only about 10% deaf parents have deaf children, which would be a reasonable question.

The deaf community has pride in their “ethnic identity”. There seems to be a quick bond and empathy with all deaf children.

Some hearing parents feel threatened in the fact that a total stranger has more in common with their child than the parents do. Some feel that the deaf community will take their child from them. There are some parents who welcome the deaf community in their child’s live because of the deafness commonality. They realize that the new relationship will only enrich the life of their child and want the child as well as themselves in the deaf community.

I think this does take a strong family to open their arms to this “extended family”. I can see how this could scare a new parent. That they may not have the ability to always communicate with their child or the child will build a stronger bond with someone in the deaf community. Just writing this scares me that I may not be the one my child turns to a needs the most. I can understand how scared hearing parents could get.

This will have to be an issue the members of the deaf community will have to reassure the hearing parents, to be sensitive to this fear. Surely the deaf community knows it is there. All parents want what is best for their child, hearing or deaf. I seems in this situation everyone involved with the deaf child needs to keep this in mind and not jump to conclusions, make accusations, or decisions with out all the facts. The deaf community feels that being deaf “is something positive, something to be cherished and celebrated”. Not planning a way to “steal” a deaf child from a hearing family.

Chapter 45 Why do most deaf parents raise a hearing child better than hearing parents a deaf child?

Couple things need to be looked at first. One, this statement all depends on individual parents and the child; second, it depends on the environment in the home.

Common sense tell you that a hearing child of deaf parents will not pick up on a good speech pattern and will probably need speech therapy when they start school. The child may be fluent in ASL yet deficient in English since it is not spoken in the house.

I found it interesting that hearing children in small rural communities, where homes are far apart, have very little or no exposure to spoken English, while in a highly populated areas there is a likelihood that they know more spoken English…never would of thought of that fact.

Back to the question, “most deaf parents (90%) are aware of the problem”, that their hearing child is not learning spoken English, and they want to do something about it. The deaf parents seem to be the ones who research, call, and ask questions as to where and what can be done to expose their hearing child to spoken language. Something hearing parents should do with a deaf child.

The deaf parents “ understand the demands of the Hearing world far better than the Hearing world understands their needs as Deaf people”. Deaf parents and people will do anything to make a hearing person understand them…not so much the other way around.

The chapter goes on to state that many hearing children go on into adulthood and have careers working with the deaf as an interpreter, teacher (ASL), social workers, and more. They seem to enjoy working with and helping people as this has been their world their whole life. Most importantly, they maintain a close relationship with the deaf community they have grown up with.

I remember the first time I saw deaf parents with hearing children, at the pizza place. It was pretty amazing to see the kids being bilingual. Talking with each other and then signing with the parents. It was as easy to them as taking a breath. I think that was what I watched most. Just an everyday family eating at a restaurant, only the parents were deaf and the kids weren’t. No difference at all.

Chapter 46 Parents of deaf children have been telling us what they think is best for their children when they really don’t know them. How come?

Every parent thinks they know what is best for their child hearing or deaf. No parent wants to look like they don’t know how to care for their child. They feel they will look stupid. But in reality hearing parents “do not know what effect deafness will have on their children’s life”.

I talked about those parents who make the decision on hearing aids or implants, do their children want this, or is this something that will make it more convenient for the parent? The parents make the decision at to whether or not they learn ASL. They make the decision on what kind of school they will attend.

The bottom line seems to be that hearing parents try to pull the deaf child in to the hearing world the parents’ way when it should be they go into the deaf community with the deaf child.

Hearing parents will have to admit they are lost and need help. They will need to learn to ask and ask and ask for answers. Parents will need to learn ASL to communicate with their child. Parents need to understand that what works in one family, may not work in theirs and try things another way….not to force.

Hearing parents raising a deaf child is not easy, but it can be done. I guess the best thing is to put the child ahead of the parent’s needs and wants and be open for change.

Chapter 47 Do deaf parents breed deaf children?

I read the title and I thought that this is probably a common question asked by many. I myself was not entirely sure of the answer. But to begin reading about how the deaf and other people were treated hundreds of years ago made me pretty angry. It made me wonder if I would be allowed to father children or even allowed to live since I have a disease that is at times genetically passed??

Many years ago, yes, people thought deaf people would have deaf children. It was also thought to stop this “horrible” thing to pass, adults should “be prevented from reproducing more deaf people”. I was shocked to read that Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone as well as son and husband of deaf women, would want to pass “legislation to prohibit deaf people from marrying each other”. Since he was not deaf this did not include him and his wife?? This was not passed, yet because of his ideas, this lead to many American deaf children being sterilized. The Nazis did even more sterilizing “deaf Jewish and Christian schoolchildren, teenagers, and young adults to ensure that they would never be able to breed “defectives”.” And lastly, the reading of how some 1,600 were murdered by carbon monoxide poisoning due to the fact they were ill, handicapped… “defective” and “undesirable”…. just writing this makes me mad. Again I ask, with my celiac disease, would I have been allowed to live, or my grandparents with diabetes????

Thank goodness we have come a long way from that thinking. Interestingly “and estimated 90% of all deaf people have hearing parents. And 90% of all deaf parents have hearing children”. That should answer the question of the chapter. In genetics, it has been learned, that most of the “deaf genes” are carried then transmitted by the hearing parents. One or both of the parents “carries” the gene and when a child is born, that gene may or may not produce a deaf child. Even more interesting is the fact that the gene shows up randomly. A hearing couple, in which one parent has the gene, can have 3 children and only one is deaf.

Some children who are born deaf may be so due to the mother being exposed to rubella. Some children who are “early – deafened” may have had a bacterial or viral infection, high fever, or an accident, nothing to do with “deaf genes”.

To think that having any child with any kind of problem should never have children or be physically changed so they can’t is so horrible. Yes, there are some exceptions, but think that because someone is deaf and should not have children is just crazy. What about the people who abuse their children and continue to have children, those are the ones who should never have more children or physically changed so they can’t!!!

The sad story of the woman who took the love of her life to meet her deaf parents was scary. The fact that he would not marry her due to the fact that her parents were deaf and he didn’t want “deaf children” is probably still true today. I wonder myself if my children will get celiac disease and wonder if this will affect me finding a wife???

My favorite sentence in the book, so far, is “The quality of parenting, not the health of the auditory nerves, is what’s important”. I so agree with that.

Chapter 48 Is hearing loss in my family heredity or that my grandmother fell down the steps?

I found myself laughing at this question. I was thinking it was made up, but then to read that someone really asked this question because this is what she grew up believing was pretty crazy. It bothers me that the grandmother may have lived all those years thinking that she was the reason she had children with different levels deafness. Have to blame someone I guess.

Nice to remember, that in most cases, if a pregnant mother does fall, the baby is almost never injured, especially that the fall could not injure the inner ear of the baby.

We need to come back to the genetics and whether or not either of the parents carries the gene. The last paragraph states, if you are concerned as to if you have the gene, and could you transfer it, go to a genetic counselor. There are tests that can be done to determine and give you the answers. I have heard of women have the test done to see if they have the gene for breast cancer. Thank goodness for our modern day science.