Comparing the Deaf community to a ghetto?
I thought this chapter was a little far fetched. I do not think that Deaf culture is dying out because of the cochlear implants, it is a major/ dangerous surgical procedure and it is very expensive. I do agree that "deafness is a part of their personalities that they cherish, and consider special."
This chapter says that a ghetto is "imposed on a population as a means of oppressing it, keeping it under control- powerless, demoralized, terrified." I do not think that any of the above applies to deaf culture. The Deaf community is very powerful and are not afraid or incapable of standing up for themselves.
One aspect where I do agree that the Deaf community may be like a ghetto is in the aspect that "they derive a feeling of safety, security and shared concerns.
Overall I would not compare the DC to a ghetto, yes they like to associate with each other in a place where they can communicate freely, however I think the word "ghetto" has such a negative connotation that I would not use it to correspond with the Deaf community.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Chapter 57 :)
"How did Alexander Grahm Bell almost succeed in wiping out Deaf Culture?"
Ummm.. WOW! I always thought that Alexander Grahm Bell was an advocate for the deaf, and I just assumed he was all in favor of Sign Language! Even today I have heard about the American Association to Promote the Teaching of Speech to the Deaf. If he is a leading advocate for this association, why would he think that "deafness was a terrible curse... a pathological aberration [that] perpetuated negative genetic traits."
I always assumed that because Alexander Grahm Bell was such an advocate for the Deaf, that he also loved and embraced Sign Language. It is sad that he tried to ban marriage between two Deaf people, and in addition to this he also tried to take away their only comfortable means of communication.
This chapter was a real eye opener, I am so surprised and saddened that someone with so much esteem and power could try to use their power to pretty much wipe out ASL and the Deaf community.
Ummm.. WOW! I always thought that Alexander Grahm Bell was an advocate for the deaf, and I just assumed he was all in favor of Sign Language! Even today I have heard about the American Association to Promote the Teaching of Speech to the Deaf. If he is a leading advocate for this association, why would he think that "deafness was a terrible curse... a pathological aberration [that] perpetuated negative genetic traits."
I always assumed that because Alexander Grahm Bell was such an advocate for the Deaf, that he also loved and embraced Sign Language. It is sad that he tried to ban marriage between two Deaf people, and in addition to this he also tried to take away their only comfortable means of communication.
This chapter was a real eye opener, I am so surprised and saddened that someone with so much esteem and power could try to use their power to pretty much wipe out ASL and the Deaf community.
Chapter 58 :)
Deafness: A disability or a culture?
Before taking ASL I considered deafness to be more on the side of a disability, in the school system deaf children seem to be grouped with the special needs/ disabled children and I had never really been aware that Deafness had so much culture! This chapter quotes [there is] "richness and color in our lives- as deaf people." Through learning ASL and watching others sign I can see the life in the signs. There is more to ASL than just signs, there is so much expression and mime, ASL literally draws a picture full of detail and sometimes I get a better understanding through signing than speaking words. The 3D aspect of ASL is amazing and it really makes conversation interesting.
I thought it was really cool that there are APT buildings as well as retirement communities designed for deaf people! That is very cool, this really goes to show that Deafness is not a disability. "Deaf people can do anything hearing people can do, except hear."
Before taking ASL I considered deafness to be more on the side of a disability, in the school system deaf children seem to be grouped with the special needs/ disabled children and I had never really been aware that Deafness had so much culture! This chapter quotes [there is] "richness and color in our lives- as deaf people." Through learning ASL and watching others sign I can see the life in the signs. There is more to ASL than just signs, there is so much expression and mime, ASL literally draws a picture full of detail and sometimes I get a better understanding through signing than speaking words. The 3D aspect of ASL is amazing and it really makes conversation interesting.
I thought it was really cool that there are APT buildings as well as retirement communities designed for deaf people! That is very cool, this really goes to show that Deafness is not a disability. "Deaf people can do anything hearing people can do, except hear."
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Chapter 56 :)
"Should A hearing person write about Deaf Culture?"
Chapter 56 discussed some topics that had never crossed my mind before. It is a great point that both insiders and outsiders should write about culture so that people can get some understanding from multiple view points. I also think that it is important for the outsider to know some background information on the subject they are observing/ writing about and also always keep an open mind!
I have been to the Educational Resource Library in Gary Randsdell Hall on Western's campus and while they do have an ASL/ Deaf Culture section it is very mall. Is this just because there isn't much literature on Deaf culture, or is is just that WKU doesn't have many resources?
When I read the section that talked about Your Deaf Child: A Guide For Parents, I was shocked to read that ASL was not mentioned one single time in the text!! how else are Deaf people supposed to communicate effectively?? I think that it is important that hearing sociologists and linguists are paying more attention to the Deaf community and ASL, maybe more accurate and positive literature will be produced!
While I can see where some Deaf people could feel suspicious at first about becoming the "subjects of hearing scholars' studies," I really hope that the scholars can be inviting and open minded and maybe learn some ASL so that the Deaf person feels more comfortable and willing to share their culture.
I thought it was great that the author mentioned a solution to having more Deaf scholars, being that more Deaf people master the complexities of written English. I can not imagine how difficult it is to master... considering I grew up speaking, hearing, and writing English yet I still could never write at a publisher's level. I think I now have a better understanding as to why there is not as much literature out there written by Deaf people.
***"The root of prejudice is the inability to accept human differences"*** I LOVE this quote! This pretty much sums up this chapter :)
Chapter 56 discussed some topics that had never crossed my mind before. It is a great point that both insiders and outsiders should write about culture so that people can get some understanding from multiple view points. I also think that it is important for the outsider to know some background information on the subject they are observing/ writing about and also always keep an open mind!
I have been to the Educational Resource Library in Gary Randsdell Hall on Western's campus and while they do have an ASL/ Deaf Culture section it is very mall. Is this just because there isn't much literature on Deaf culture, or is is just that WKU doesn't have many resources?
When I read the section that talked about Your Deaf Child: A Guide For Parents, I was shocked to read that ASL was not mentioned one single time in the text!! how else are Deaf people supposed to communicate effectively?? I think that it is important that hearing sociologists and linguists are paying more attention to the Deaf community and ASL, maybe more accurate and positive literature will be produced!
While I can see where some Deaf people could feel suspicious at first about becoming the "subjects of hearing scholars' studies," I really hope that the scholars can be inviting and open minded and maybe learn some ASL so that the Deaf person feels more comfortable and willing to share their culture.
I thought it was great that the author mentioned a solution to having more Deaf scholars, being that more Deaf people master the complexities of written English. I can not imagine how difficult it is to master... considering I grew up speaking, hearing, and writing English yet I still could never write at a publisher's level. I think I now have a better understanding as to why there is not as much literature out there written by Deaf people.
***"The root of prejudice is the inability to accept human differences"*** I LOVE this quote! This pretty much sums up this chapter :)
Chapter 55 :)
"What is Deaf culture? Has anyone studied it from a sociological perspective?"
I REALLY enjoyed reading chapter 55! So many good points were made clear. I like that even on the first page that the authors emphasize that Deaf culture is more than just ASL.
I found it interesting that the "U.S. arguably has the most sophisticated and creative-- and public-- Deaf culture of any." My first thought was that maybe this is true because America is [becoming] more accepting of different cultures and people. It is disappointing however that there is a "certain anti-intellectual bias" still present regarding the Deaf community.
Something that I found interesting... and surprising is that "to Deaf people, sports are a social experience, a kinetic way of expressing "belonging."I did know that the hand signals in baseball were made for Deaf baseball players! I wish more hearing people just saw sports as a fun social experience, I think we often take these types of events too seriously.
One topic that this chapter addresses is racial segregation among Deaf people. This is a topic I had wondered about before, I was not sure if all deaf people no matter of skin color had always been grouped together or if segregation had in fact even existed in the Deaf community! Interesting!
Another topic this chapter addressed is ethnic culture. It is a good point that often Deaf children of hearing parents don't have as strong of a connection with the Deaf community. It makes perfect sense that Deaf children with Deaf family members have a better sense of belonging in the Deaf community and are more confident when signing. I can relate to this matter because in classes where I have a background in the material and understand it I am more apt to speak out in class and volunteer to help others.
I thought the concept of the "Deaf Renaissance" was really cool! I am sure deaf art and poetry/plays etc are all very dramatized and interesting to watch because ASL is so visually based.
The remarks made at the end of the chapter by Dr. Allen E. Sussman were very true and thought provoking. He makes some great points in saying that so many professionals are concentrated with what is wrong with Deaf people rather than what is right! He makes some great points that we should try to apply to all aspects of life!
I REALLY enjoyed reading chapter 55! So many good points were made clear. I like that even on the first page that the authors emphasize that Deaf culture is more than just ASL.
I found it interesting that the "U.S. arguably has the most sophisticated and creative-- and public-- Deaf culture of any." My first thought was that maybe this is true because America is [becoming] more accepting of different cultures and people. It is disappointing however that there is a "certain anti-intellectual bias" still present regarding the Deaf community.
Something that I found interesting... and surprising is that "to Deaf people, sports are a social experience, a kinetic way of expressing "belonging."I did know that the hand signals in baseball were made for Deaf baseball players! I wish more hearing people just saw sports as a fun social experience, I think we often take these types of events too seriously.
One topic that this chapter addresses is racial segregation among Deaf people. This is a topic I had wondered about before, I was not sure if all deaf people no matter of skin color had always been grouped together or if segregation had in fact even existed in the Deaf community! Interesting!
Another topic this chapter addressed is ethnic culture. It is a good point that often Deaf children of hearing parents don't have as strong of a connection with the Deaf community. It makes perfect sense that Deaf children with Deaf family members have a better sense of belonging in the Deaf community and are more confident when signing. I can relate to this matter because in classes where I have a background in the material and understand it I am more apt to speak out in class and volunteer to help others.
I thought the concept of the "Deaf Renaissance" was really cool! I am sure deaf art and poetry/plays etc are all very dramatized and interesting to watch because ASL is so visually based.
The remarks made at the end of the chapter by Dr. Allen E. Sussman were very true and thought provoking. He makes some great points in saying that so many professionals are concentrated with what is wrong with Deaf people rather than what is right! He makes some great points that we should try to apply to all aspects of life!
Chapter 54 :)
Problems faced by late-deafened people
I found this chapter to be very interesting, I love working with older people and in the future I hope to be employed in a nursing home setting.
I can not imagine what it is like to be deaf, especially after experiencing the hearing world for many years. As the book says, "picking up a telephone and making a whispered call, music, conversations, family dinners, interacting with children and grand children, chit-chat and jokes, on-the-job communication, the everyday spoken details of life--"aural wall paper." all of these things that people take for granted their whole lives becomes impossible.
It is very sad to me that "rock solid marriages" can fall apart after a partner is deafened. This just goes to show how important communication is. I can not imaging losing my hearing and my family... Isolation is such a scary thought.
I was glad to read that there is a group like the Association of Late-Deafened Adults exists. I am sure sharing experiences and talking about what is going on really helps late-deafened adults to express their feelings and talk about problems and everyday life. It is always helpful to talk with others who understand your situation and can sympathize.
I found this chapter to be very interesting, I love working with older people and in the future I hope to be employed in a nursing home setting.
I can not imagine what it is like to be deaf, especially after experiencing the hearing world for many years. As the book says, "picking up a telephone and making a whispered call, music, conversations, family dinners, interacting with children and grand children, chit-chat and jokes, on-the-job communication, the everyday spoken details of life--"aural wall paper." all of these things that people take for granted their whole lives becomes impossible.
It is very sad to me that "rock solid marriages" can fall apart after a partner is deafened. This just goes to show how important communication is. I can not imaging losing my hearing and my family... Isolation is such a scary thought.
I was glad to read that there is a group like the Association of Late-Deafened Adults exists. I am sure sharing experiences and talking about what is going on really helps late-deafened adults to express their feelings and talk about problems and everyday life. It is always helpful to talk with others who understand your situation and can sympathize.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Chapter 53 :)
"Are hard-of-hearing people part of the Deaf community?"
Chapter 53 elaborated on many of the points brought up in chapter 52. One thing they really hit the nail on the head with is that "the situation is complex and sticky."
A main point that I need to keep in mind is that "hard-of-hearing is not just an audiological situation, it's a state of mind." I feel like there are so many different categories of hard-of-hearing that this phrase is really important to remember.
When I first read that HOH children who attend a school for the deaf feel like they're "better" I was caught off guard. There seems to be so much snobbery and snubbing over this issue... it is hard for me to fully understand it. I didn't really like how this chapter ranked people, everyone is different and I feel that the more people rank each other and put others or themselves in a hierarchy there will be conflict and hurt feelings.
As I read this chapter I began to wounder..."how new of a conflict is this?" I always grouped hard-of-hearing and deaf people together," but this chapter definitely let me know that this is not the case!
These lats 2 chapters have definitely made me sympathize with hard-of-hearing people. Every one wants to have a sense of belonging and I get the feeling that HOH people don't feel that way with the deaf or hearing community.
Chapter 53 elaborated on many of the points brought up in chapter 52. One thing they really hit the nail on the head with is that "the situation is complex and sticky."
A main point that I need to keep in mind is that "hard-of-hearing is not just an audiological situation, it's a state of mind." I feel like there are so many different categories of hard-of-hearing that this phrase is really important to remember.
When I first read that HOH children who attend a school for the deaf feel like they're "better" I was caught off guard. There seems to be so much snobbery and snubbing over this issue... it is hard for me to fully understand it. I didn't really like how this chapter ranked people, everyone is different and I feel that the more people rank each other and put others or themselves in a hierarchy there will be conflict and hurt feelings.
As I read this chapter I began to wounder..."how new of a conflict is this?" I always grouped hard-of-hearing and deaf people together," but this chapter definitely let me know that this is not the case!
These lats 2 chapters have definitely made me sympathize with hard-of-hearing people. Every one wants to have a sense of belonging and I get the feeling that HOH people don't feel that way with the deaf or hearing community.
Chapter 52 :)
"What's the difference between 'hard-of-hearing' and 'deaf'?"
Chapter 52 was a little sad... I had no idea there was this much drama there was over this seemingly small issue.
I was surprised to read that hard-of-hearing isn't an audiological category, it does make sense that it can be a state of mind. I think I may disagree that "if you loose your hearing after age 8 you are concerted hard-of-hearing, no matter how deaf you are." I just don't understand this, if I meet a 10 year old who can not hear... I would say they are deaf, 8 is still young and learning a new language would still be fairly easy. I have a friend who came from Cuba to America when she was 10, she didn't know a lick of English but she picked it up perfectly after being immersed in American culture. Now if you met her you would have no Idea she ever knew anything but English. I think that if a child becomes deaf any time before about 13, and are immersed in deaf culture and sent to a school for the deaf they will learn Sign Language and pick up the norms of deaf culture naturally.
I found it disturbing that "within the Deaf community. Each faction looks down on every other one." I think that a little bit of this happens in every society. It almost seems to be (a tragic) part of human nature to look down on other people who may not be just alike.
After reading this chapter I think that I have come to the realization that I would rather be Deaf than hard-of-hearing. It seems like HOH people just don't really fit in anywhere. They can't function normally in the hearing world and Deaf people usually reject them because they see them as "hearing in the head." I could guess that HOH people are not as proficient of signers as Deaf people, I think that it would be more difficult to become motivated to learn and practice ASL if I could communicate somewhat effectively in the hearing world.
Chapter 52 was a little sad... I had no idea there was this much drama there was over this seemingly small issue.
I was surprised to read that hard-of-hearing isn't an audiological category, it does make sense that it can be a state of mind. I think I may disagree that "if you loose your hearing after age 8 you are concerted hard-of-hearing, no matter how deaf you are." I just don't understand this, if I meet a 10 year old who can not hear... I would say they are deaf, 8 is still young and learning a new language would still be fairly easy. I have a friend who came from Cuba to America when she was 10, she didn't know a lick of English but she picked it up perfectly after being immersed in American culture. Now if you met her you would have no Idea she ever knew anything but English. I think that if a child becomes deaf any time before about 13, and are immersed in deaf culture and sent to a school for the deaf they will learn Sign Language and pick up the norms of deaf culture naturally.
I found it disturbing that "within the Deaf community. Each faction looks down on every other one." I think that a little bit of this happens in every society. It almost seems to be (a tragic) part of human nature to look down on other people who may not be just alike.
After reading this chapter I think that I have come to the realization that I would rather be Deaf than hard-of-hearing. It seems like HOH people just don't really fit in anywhere. They can't function normally in the hearing world and Deaf people usually reject them because they see them as "hearing in the head." I could guess that HOH people are not as proficient of signers as Deaf people, I think that it would be more difficult to become motivated to learn and practice ASL if I could communicate somewhat effectively in the hearing world.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Chapter 51 :)
"What Categories does the Deaf Community Include?"
Oh my! This Chapter was very informative. There are so many labels and such... I had no idea! This chapter reiterated some information introduced in chapter 49, as well as expanded on many new terms.
One big concept that I had wondered about for a while is whether hearing people can be considered a part of the Deaf Community. I know Deaf people can give hearing people sign names, so does this mean that you are considered a part of the Deaf community? Anyhow I am glad that I now know that relatives, friends, and other supporters of the DC can be considered as a part of the Community.
I really like the sort of vocabulary list laid out on page 310, this is a good reference sheet for all the different titles per-say for people who may be a part of the Deaf Community.
The last sentence of this chapter really left a lasting impact on me... it reads, "All members of the Deaf Community, as U.S. Citizens, have specific needs, and our democratic society is obliged to ensure that those needs are met." I think this is a great closing statement that throws all of the titles and hostilities out of the way and just talks about what should be done.
Oh my! This Chapter was very informative. There are so many labels and such... I had no idea! This chapter reiterated some information introduced in chapter 49, as well as expanded on many new terms.
One big concept that I had wondered about for a while is whether hearing people can be considered a part of the Deaf Community. I know Deaf people can give hearing people sign names, so does this mean that you are considered a part of the Deaf community? Anyhow I am glad that I now know that relatives, friends, and other supporters of the DC can be considered as a part of the Community.
I really like the sort of vocabulary list laid out on page 310, this is a good reference sheet for all the different titles per-say for people who may be a part of the Deaf Community.
The last sentence of this chapter really left a lasting impact on me... it reads, "All members of the Deaf Community, as U.S. Citizens, have specific needs, and our democratic society is obliged to ensure that those needs are met." I think this is a great closing statement that throws all of the titles and hostilities out of the way and just talks about what should be done.
Chapter 50 :)
"Is deafness 'bad karma'?"
This chapter caught me off guard a little bit... it seemed a little outdated to me.
When I first hear the word "Karma" I think of the phrase what goes around comes around, I do not think of previous lives or reincarnation. I think that it is slightly crazy that people think that "a deaf or disabled person must have done something bad in a previous life to deserve the punishment of being born "defective." This phrase shows ignorance and holds absolutely no truth. Another absolutely crazy thing this chapter talked about was the Ancient Greeks would abandon their babies to die of starvation and exposure if their children were different. The only way I could justify this is with the fact that in early civilizations, anyone who was the least bit different was shunned and treated badly. I am in no way making this seem okay, but this is the only tiny bit of reasoning I could find in this situation.
As I continued to read this chapter it just seemed to give example after example of horrible instances: parents believing that they are punished through their children, deaf people not being considered fully human... all so crazy!!
Finally at the end there is a little light at the end of the tunnel... I definitely like the outlook that "a soul chooses to be born as a deaf person as a challenge or learning experience," this outlook is much more positive. I am also glad to hear that Deaf Muslims are making some degree programs and that they have their own Sign Language. This is something I have thought of before.... If Deaf people are still sometimes looked down upon and denied rights and freedoms in modern day America, then what is it like to be a Deaf person in another country, especially a developing country.
This chapter was overall eye opening! It makes me realize how lucky I am, as well as how ignorant people can be.
This chapter caught me off guard a little bit... it seemed a little outdated to me.
When I first hear the word "Karma" I think of the phrase what goes around comes around, I do not think of previous lives or reincarnation. I think that it is slightly crazy that people think that "a deaf or disabled person must have done something bad in a previous life to deserve the punishment of being born "defective." This phrase shows ignorance and holds absolutely no truth. Another absolutely crazy thing this chapter talked about was the Ancient Greeks would abandon their babies to die of starvation and exposure if their children were different. The only way I could justify this is with the fact that in early civilizations, anyone who was the least bit different was shunned and treated badly. I am in no way making this seem okay, but this is the only tiny bit of reasoning I could find in this situation.
As I continued to read this chapter it just seemed to give example after example of horrible instances: parents believing that they are punished through their children, deaf people not being considered fully human... all so crazy!!
Finally at the end there is a little light at the end of the tunnel... I definitely like the outlook that "a soul chooses to be born as a deaf person as a challenge or learning experience," this outlook is much more positive. I am also glad to hear that Deaf Muslims are making some degree programs and that they have their own Sign Language. This is something I have thought of before.... If Deaf people are still sometimes looked down upon and denied rights and freedoms in modern day America, then what is it like to be a Deaf person in another country, especially a developing country.
This chapter was overall eye opening! It makes me realize how lucky I am, as well as how ignorant people can be.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Chapter 49 :)
"How do People Become Deaf?"
I thought this chapter was sooo interesting! I love learning all of the terms and causes of Deafness, I find it all so interesting! I am currently working on an undergraduate degree in Speech-Language Pathology, and I think that knowing and understanding these terms is important. Someone who is postlingually Deaf may have a better/ different understanding of speech, and therefore the SLP will likely use different methods on a postlingually Deaf person than on a prelingually deaf person who may not grasp the concept of speech sounds so well.
In addition to all of the terminology, this chapter gave some interesting facts! I would have never thought that "more males than females are born-deaf and early-deafened. I was aware that women usually outlive men, but I had not previously made the connection that more women than men become deaf late in life. May I add that I think this is God's way of saving men from their stubbornness... in my experience women are much more resilient to change, and are much more willing to learn new things, even at an old age. =)
Another thing I was surprised by is that roughly 1/2 of all known deafness is caused by "unknown etiology," with all of the medical technology today I am very surprised that this is still the case.
Also before reading this I thought that Deafness commonly ran in families... As I have mentioned in many previous blogs, my best friend Charlie's grandparents are both Deaf. Charlie's mom teaches at the Indiana school for the Deaf (but is hearing), and his sister is Deaf. I thought she was congenially deaf because of a gene or something. He was at my house this past weekend when I began to read this chapter and I asked him if he thinks he will have deaf children.... well come to find in conversation it came up that his sister was born hearing.... she got meningitis and had a very high fever which deafened her! What a coincidence!
I find it interesting that there is 2 types of Deafness: sensorineural and conductive! The conductive deafness is new to me, I think tinnitus would be incredibly annoying and frustrating. I think I would rather lose hearing in that ear than hear a constant buzzing, ringing, or wooshing sound. In a gerontology class I took we did a simulation project where we had to put a shell up to one ear and hold it there for an entire class period.... and boy was that annoying. The constant noise drove me insane!
Another type of deafness that I didn't know was real is adventitious deafness. My mom has always joked about Waylon making her 'deaf' (she was right next to the speaker for 2 Waylon concerts within like a week of each other) and since that day she says her hearing hasn't been the same since. While the loud music damaging hearing makes since, I was really surprised to read that living too close to an airport and riding a subway often were really surprising! I am from a small town with no airport and definitely no subway... so I have to ask.... does anyone warn people about these dangers?? Scary!
So far in my experience with Deaf culture I have made the assumption that they are very blunt and will ask/ tell anything.. so would it be rude to ask when/how they were deafened?
I thought this chapter was sooo interesting! I love learning all of the terms and causes of Deafness, I find it all so interesting! I am currently working on an undergraduate degree in Speech-Language Pathology, and I think that knowing and understanding these terms is important. Someone who is postlingually Deaf may have a better/ different understanding of speech, and therefore the SLP will likely use different methods on a postlingually Deaf person than on a prelingually deaf person who may not grasp the concept of speech sounds so well.
In addition to all of the terminology, this chapter gave some interesting facts! I would have never thought that "more males than females are born-deaf and early-deafened. I was aware that women usually outlive men, but I had not previously made the connection that more women than men become deaf late in life. May I add that I think this is God's way of saving men from their stubbornness... in my experience women are much more resilient to change, and are much more willing to learn new things, even at an old age. =)
Another thing I was surprised by is that roughly 1/2 of all known deafness is caused by "unknown etiology," with all of the medical technology today I am very surprised that this is still the case.
Also before reading this I thought that Deafness commonly ran in families... As I have mentioned in many previous blogs, my best friend Charlie's grandparents are both Deaf. Charlie's mom teaches at the Indiana school for the Deaf (but is hearing), and his sister is Deaf. I thought she was congenially deaf because of a gene or something. He was at my house this past weekend when I began to read this chapter and I asked him if he thinks he will have deaf children.... well come to find in conversation it came up that his sister was born hearing.... she got meningitis and had a very high fever which deafened her! What a coincidence!
I find it interesting that there is 2 types of Deafness: sensorineural and conductive! The conductive deafness is new to me, I think tinnitus would be incredibly annoying and frustrating. I think I would rather lose hearing in that ear than hear a constant buzzing, ringing, or wooshing sound. In a gerontology class I took we did a simulation project where we had to put a shell up to one ear and hold it there for an entire class period.... and boy was that annoying. The constant noise drove me insane!
Another type of deafness that I didn't know was real is adventitious deafness. My mom has always joked about Waylon making her 'deaf' (she was right next to the speaker for 2 Waylon concerts within like a week of each other) and since that day she says her hearing hasn't been the same since. While the loud music damaging hearing makes since, I was really surprised to read that living too close to an airport and riding a subway often were really surprising! I am from a small town with no airport and definitely no subway... so I have to ask.... does anyone warn people about these dangers?? Scary!
So far in my experience with Deaf culture I have made the assumption that they are very blunt and will ask/ tell anything.. so would it be rude to ask when/how they were deafened?
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