The worst thing is the belief that all deaf people are dumb...which doesn't mean not smart but unable to talk. That old phrase, "deaf and dumb." Worse, when we're in a group situation (or with a person with an especially difficult voice to hear/understand), we FEEL stupid, no matter how smart we know we are. Many of the things people say, like "it wasn't important" only reinforce our own feelings of being stupid, even though we really know that's not the case. Shoot, we're working far harder just to hear and decode everything that's said than some of the other people in the group--some of whom may truly not be as smart as we are. AARGH!

@julieo4
Hi everyone,
Love this discussion . I will list some things that have been said to me on more than one occasion and these comments are actually the myths about heating loss.

1. Hearing aids are ugly (I wear 2 BTEs.) Your hair is kind of long so you can’t see them. I once responded “glasses are ugly” (that person wore glasses and was offended).

2. An ENT doctor actually asked me if I drove. I was also asked this by someone else and said that I use my hands to drive , not my ears...do you drive? This also goes for ...Do you watch TV...go to the movies etc.

3. At an airport years ago I told the attendant I wouldn’t hear my seat number announced and why ( we were being led onto the plane in orderly rows). She asked me if I needed a wheelchair. I burst out laughing and just said no thank you.

4. Well, you can read lips so that’s okay.

5. You are so lucky you can’t hear that...whatever it was.

6. Oh you can hear when you want to (in other words it’s selective hearing)

7. Do you sign? No, do you?

8. Well being hard of hearing is not who you are. I guess that’s true to an extent but it affects every second of every minute of every hour of every day and what I do.

I’m a big advocate but still amazed at what people think a person with hearing loss CAN’T do.
I have short explanations to explain my loss and what I need from the other person...it varies per situation and how long the encounter is. I am always courteous but can come back with a zinger if needed. My loss is not my fault.

I have had a sign I made up years ago on red construction paper for medical facilities that says “Please Note...Patient has hearing loss and may not hear name called. Please being this with you when you call my name”. I insist that it be attached to the front of a chart. This takes the stress off of being in the waiting room and I usually see the red paper when they come to get me. I take it back after checkout.

I’m always upfront about my loss . In social gatherings some people are curious enough to ask about it and others ignore you. With the mask situation it is easier to explain I can’t understand you through a mask and whip out one of my several phone apps.

I don’t expect hearing people to understand what hearing loss is but I also don’t expect rudeness and stupidity. Unfortunately it’s an invisible condition and the advertisers play a big part in the shameful stigma surrounding Hearing loss. Think of all the movies or tv shows that poked fun at people who couldn’t hear...there are a lot of them...and the people portrayed are usually old. I have seen young bullies taunting a deaf classmate in movies and calling him dumb. Have you seen any advertisements depicting young children with hearing aids? I only see seniors.

I have the same pet peeves as everyone else. I doubt the advertisers will change their marketing status. It’s up to us to spread the word. I do think people are more informed today but it’s still an uphill struggle for all of us, young and old. I have hopes for the younger generation to change things. I find them more tolerant of people with disabilities of any kind.

FL Mary