I love hearing from people all over the world about how they have been impacted by hearing differences. Some have loved ones that have lost hearing. Some have children who are born without hearing. Some have hearing differences themselves. Others have met and/or worked with those impacted by hearing loss. Whatever your experience, tell us your story. We want to hear from YOU!
Check out this story from a mom about her thoughts on labels…
Words are where we agree that this series of sounds means something. It is similar with labels. We as a group of Americans who speak English agree that to be deaf means not being able to hear. Deaf culture states that those who cannot use a telephone are “big D, deaf”; as opposed to “little d, deaf” just meaning that one cannot hear. As a mom who was trying to process the fact that my 18-month old son was deaf, I did not care if it was big D, little d, or what label others wanted to place on my child. I wanted to know how I can teach him communication!
We were blessed with many people during those early years. I fought many battles in order to give my child hearing, speech, and yes, sign language. I fought those battles to fight them again for my daughter and as they grew, both of them. But this is not about how I fought those battles, but how do we talk about this new world of Deaf, hard of hearing, blind deaf, and latent deaf? Can my children, now teenagers, talk on the phone? No. Could they if they wanted to? Maybe. They have the technology, as they have cochlear implants. But understand that they are both very DEAF proud and they want to be in the deaf culture as much as they can be. So, the stigma of the phone is huge for them. However, how many teens do you know that actually talk on the phone? It could be moot point.
To use a term that I was just introduced to “hearing differences” would be a nice way of talking about this new world that has been opened by the cochlear implant and other devices like it. Not to try and take the DEAF pride away, but to try and speak openly, honestly, and professionally without leaving anyone out of the picture. To be all inclusive of (wait for it, the really long list of labels) deaf, hard of hearing, blind-deaf, and latent deaf; into a simple two-word phrase of “hearing differences” is easier and does not leave out those who were Deaf who now function hard of hearing or those who were hearing and are now latent deaf, but just got cochlear implants and now function hard of hearing.
See how convoluted this gets?
I speak to people all the time who find out my kids are Deaf and are confused as to how they talk. Being the person I am, I normally say, “with their mouth and hands”, but that is an honest question from an outsider. They don’t understand and thirty minutes later I have more than likely bored them to tears with the answer, but how else does one talk about this very odd situation? So, I’m sitting on this new label of “hearing differences.” I’ll communicate with my kids and see where they are on this new label. Because I am still processing it myself.
Katrina Marie Meacham, mom of David (16) and Grace (13) – bilaterally implanted children who use Speech, ASL, SEE, text, and random gestures to communicate.
If you are looking for a place to connect and share YOUR perspective, join the Moms Matter group for their next event on Thursday, Oct 13th, 2016 at 6:30pm at LaMadeline Café located at 810 W. McDermott Drive, Allen, Texas 75013. Can’t be there in person? Join the Moms Matter Facebook Group and keep up with other local moms that are on this journey of communication for their children with hearing differences.
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