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Hearing loss: How do you identify yourself to others?
Hearing Loss | Last Active: May 11, 2019 | Replies (77)Comment receiving replies
Hi. Good question. It is different, depending on who you are around. I come from the hearing world. I have always had some hearing loss, but it wasn’t until my 40s & 50s, that my hearing loss became so profound. If they don’t know this, in public places, depending on their communication with me, I can get some strange looks. I probably didn’t hear what they said, and they look at me like I am crazy. 😂. Sometimes I find that I have to explain that I don’t hear well, or that I have a profound hearing loss. There are a few times I even show my hearing aids. Woah, that gets them. Then I am put into their disabled or whatever category.
I do not know sign language, but someday I plan to. Being from the hearing world, I never thought about it, or that it would ever be needed. Now, I do need it sometimes and so does my family.
JoAngela
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@joangela
Hi, You sound much like me...starting losing hearing around the 40s to a profound loss in my 60s and here I am in my 70s. I either say “I don’t hear well” or “I read lips” and sometimes add “I need to look at you to hear” I also point to my hearing aids. As you said, it depends on the situation.
I took sign language classes about 15 years ago and met a great group of people . I go to most monthly meetings of HLAA but unless you are are around others who sign on a regular basis, you will forget all you learned. My friends and family are all hearing . I’ve retained some words and phrases but I tell people that I don’t sign . You develop a family style way of signing....making up your own signs. May I suggest you learn what is called Pidgin signed English...PSE....uses a combo of ASL words and English and is easier than sign. Even my friends who are proficient signers tell me the Deaf community can’t understand them or they are doing it wrong. Friends who do sign talk and sign at the same time so you will remember what you learned. However you have to associate with them on a regular basis. All my regular friends and family are hearing. ASL is a beautiful language, though.
Regards fro Florida Mary