Comments on: i now tell people that i’m deaf. this seems to work better.

By: Travis

Travis — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:54:24 +0000

Just found this website (hence the late comment).

It might also be helpful to keep in mind that another common title of (C)APD is “central deafness”; therefore, if questioned, after claiming “hearing imparment” et al., you could elaborate on your claim (“The type of impairment/deafness I have is called…”) with out feeling the need to withdraw it (“Well, I’m not actually deaf…”).

Also, “the labels of ‘peripheral’ and ‘central’ are somewhat artificial differentiations, as both contribute to the behavioral or functional auditory deficits…” (quote from Gail M. Whitelaw, Ph.D.; See the web link below)

Communication disorders are a spectrum, and labels are meant to simply cluster AS MANY SYMPTOMS AS POSSIBLE (no to pigeon-hole people). So choosing a general term which is more readily understood is both honest and practical (as long as you show an understanding and respect of the more specific titles to which your symptoms do not fit).

FYI: I adopted this perspective not on my own accord, but by recommendation from Deaf colleagues at the school for the Deaf where I taught… They saw that I was nervously struggling with identity.

Web link:
http://www.audiologyonline.com/articles/article_detail.asp?article_id=2138

By: rachel

rachel — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:43:41 +0000

I totally get what you mean… ask someone to slow down so you can understand and they treat you like you are slow. And how many times is it polite to ask someone to repeat themselves before you just quit, because you realized you are never gonna get what they said. And I’m beginning to think that it would be easier to say I was deaf… after all, aren’t we hearing impaired?

By: aspietalk

aspietalk — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:24:31 +0000

i appreciate all your comments, thanks for the support. i was doubting myself, thinking i was infringing on deaf peoples’ territory, but the comments about me being, in fact, accurate when i said i was hearing impaired… good to hear, and i hadn’t thought of it that way. thanks.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:56:55 +0000

I have been telling people I am hearing impaired for years. It is true-from a certain point of view. I do really well with the phone-sound goes right into my ear, it is crowds of people talking where I lose it.

I even got tested for hearing problems as a child because processing disorder had not been coined yet. It was patently obvious to teachers and my family that I could not ‘hear’ in a crowd.

My dad is the same way, funny thing that……. :-)

~Sarah

By: Evonne

Evonne — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 22:49:46 +0000

I agree as well; if the guilt gets to you, try using vaguer rhetoric. Glad your second print job was easier. :)

By: Patrick

Patrick — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:00:12 +0000

I side with Nebula, I have no problem telling people I have hearing problems, but I do try to keep it at that, and not go to the extreme. Hope things keep working out for you!

By: Bad mommy

Bad mommy — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:39:53 +0000

Don’t feel bad. Communication is a two way street, right? And you need to work towards your audience when you tailor a message. This audience are not a bunch of sophisticates, and they need a reason that they can understand. In fact, you basically are hearing impaired (you didn’t say deaf, you said “hearing impaired”): when people talk, you don’t hear it well. It’s not at the level of auditory nerve damage, it’s at the level of the temporal lobe not processing those sounds the way that some people do. There isn’t any need to go into that kind of detail with some printer. Just use what works.

In a better world, people would just follow the instructions their clients or customers give them for communication. Christ, I hate getting phone calls (and my auditory processing is just fine, thank you – I just hate the phone interfering on my life! I’d rather deal with people when it works for me rather than when some alarm sounds). I also have a persistent problem with giving people the cell phone number, and asking people to use the cell phone number, and having them call the home number. I’M NEVER HOME. If you want to reach me, follow instructions.

Er. End of rant. Having spent a couple of days with a book at the printers babysitting production, on a couple of occasions, I feel your pain. Just tell the yahoos whatever it takes to get it done.

By: HopefulNebula

HopefulNebula — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:53:41 +0000

What I do with my SID is I tell people that I have hearing problems, so it’s best to work in a more visual/textual medium. I don’t say “deaf” or “hearing impaired,” just “hearing problems.” It’s the truth, it’s enough to placate (most of) the people who might otherwise make a fuss, and it leaves the lines of communications open enough to be able to work with the people I’ll be working with more than once.