Jill's Jottings November 2015
I have shared with you in previous Jottings an article from Gael Hannan (http://hearinghealthmatters.org.betterhearingconsumer/ . Here is another, which I thought would be of interest (from Deafness Forum's newsletter - One in Six 14-10-15).
Initially, she speaks of the comments hearing people make to, or about we hearing impaired ones, and shares her thoughts about what not to say to hearing impaired people!
“Oh, you'd never know to look at you!” (We don't see this as a compliment)
“And yet you speak so well” (we don't see this as a compliment either)
“How do you drive a car?” (You're kidding me, right?)
“Can you read?” (I've never been asked this, but friends of mine have)
“Do you use braille?”
Those misconceptions again!!
(Peter and I have had similar comments / queries. When I started wearing hearing aids in my late 40's, I was told 'but you're so young to be wearing hearing aids'!..... Wonder where that leaves young children?.
Peter has also been asked about his ability to drive as a profoundly deaf person. We have always wondered about the teens and twenties who drive around with their 'boom, boom' ??music blasting from their radios – essentially deaf to any warning sounds and distracted by their ??music!!
Then there were the times when we travelled interstate by plane. When we board, we advise cabin attendants that we are hearing impaired, and since we do not understand what comes over the plane's public address system, would they personally tell us if there was any urgent information. On 2 occasions the staff considered our request and thoughtfully asked “Do you use braille?” Our puzzled expressions made them rethink that query and they apologised, acknowledging that it was irrelevant.!!!)
However, I went to the link above to read more of Gael's article, and here are just a few of the suggestions given to hearing people to say to people with hearing loss.
Anything they ask you to repeat – no questions asked, just repeat it
Is there anything I can do, right now, to improve communication? Let me know if I'm not speaking clearly
Because of you, I've become a better communicator
I like how you look people in the eye
I wonder what sort of experiences you have had. Next Jottings I will look at Gael's suggestions that we as people with hearing loss, could say to our hearing family, friends and acquaintances.
