This is just the beginning of a long list, and I intend to add to it over time. If I’ve forgotten anything, or anyone has something to add, please let me know and I’ll be sure to add it. I also wanted to mention that the answers to most of these questions appear in the books from my summer reading list, most of which were written by Deaf people.
“All Deaf people can read lips, and as long as I speak distinctly and look at them, they will always understand every word I have to say”. Actually, lip reading is an amazingly ineffective way of communicating. It’s estimated that lipreaders can understand only 30% of the conversation taking place. That’s like missing two of every three words being spoken! In situations where the Deaf person is familiar with the speaker or the conversation is easily predictable (such as at a check out stand) comprehension goes up to 60%, but that’s still almost every other word missing from the exchange. Pretty terrible, really.
“All Deaf people were taught to speak in school using an easy process where each letter has a mouth shape they learn, and then they’re good to go.” Though some Deaf people were taught to speak in Oral schools using a tedious process requiring years and years of one-on-one study, many Deaf people do not speak. That’s OK, they are really adept at communicating with Hearing people in other ways. You should be flexible and let them get their point across with pen and paper, or anything else that works for them.
“Deafness is genetic. All people who are Deaf will pass Deafness onto their children.” There is a type of Deafness that is genetic, and some Deaf people do have Deaf children, however 90% of all Deaf people were born to Hearing parents and will also have Hearing children. There has been no proven scientific basis for the policies of Eugenics that have plagued Deaf adults since this country was founded.
“Sign Language is bad for Deaf people because they will rely on it too much and it will make them unable to communicate with Hearing people.” Study after study has shown that keeping Sign Language away from Deaf people does nothing except keep all language away from Deaf people, and it can have numerous negative effects on their ability to learn. Even Deaf adults who have never learned to speak still live in a world that is mostly Hearing, and have developed incredible skills for making themselves understood. On another note, Doctors are continually saying how good Sign Language is for Hearing babies, why would this not be true for Deaf babies as well?
“Sign Language is universal. People from over seas and people from America get together and can instantly understand each other.” Actually, there are at least 70 signed languages existing in the world at this time, that we know of, and all of them are incredibly distinct. American Sign Language is used in the United States, parts of Canada, and some South American countries, and has loose relations to French Sign Language (much like French and Italian are related). British Sign Language is completely different and BSL signers and ASL signers are as incomprehensible to one another as German speakers and Italian speakers.
“But when I see Deaf people from different countries get together, they seem to communicate just fine…” Deaf people have a lot of experience communicating with Hearing people who don’t understand them, no matter what country they are from. When Deaf people get together with other Deafs who don’t speak their language, they already have a ton of practice making themselves understood and are able to draw on this experience to communicate with each other more easily than Hearing people in the same situation.
“Deaf people don’t want to be deaf, they are hoping for some miracle cure that will make them hear.” – Deaf people actually like being deaf. They consider it more peaceful than being able to hear everything all the time. Most Deaf people I’ve talked to also feel like the majority of hearing people are insensitive and oblivious. They don’t want to belong to a community like that.
“Deaf people can’t drive a car.” – Deaf people drive cars all the time. In fact, some studies have shown that Deaf people are actually better drivers than Hearing people due to the fact that Deaf people have enhanced peripheral vision. If you think about it, nothing about driving really requires you to be able to hear. After all, there’s a reason emergency vehicles have both sirens and lights.
“Deaf people read Braille.” – Braille is a writing system where each letter is represented by a series of raised dots. This makes it so that Blind people can read, even if they can’t see. There’s some scientific evidence that Deaf people see better than hearing people. They’re just fine reading the regular way.
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April 24, 2010 at 8:13 AM
Debt Settlement
Sorry for my bad english. Thank you so much for your good post. Your post helped me in my college assignment, If you can provide me more details please email me.
July 28, 2010 at 12:45 PM
monica
i liked your posts they were all good and corect, but you did forget one of the most stupidly and most common ask question, which is, can deaf people drive. you would be surprised by how many people actually ask that question.
August 31, 2010 at 7:14 AM
caseykins
Thanks Monica!! I’ve never been asked that myself, but I’ve heard other people mention that they get it all the time too. I’ll add it in. 🙂
April 16, 2013 at 10:27 PM
Mike
One of the “myths” you addressed was about deaf people liking the fact that they are deaf and wouldn’t want to be cured. How would a deaf person know that they would enjoy being deaf over hearing? They can’t hear, so how do they know they wouldn’t want to hear. That’s like if I said I didn’t like something but had never tried or experienced it before. Example: I don’t like skiing but I have never skied before. I don’t like ice cream, but I’v never tried it before. Wouldn’t you have to experience something in order to know that you don’t like it?
April 18, 2013 at 7:51 AM
caseykins
Hi Mike,
While I think that’s true to a certain extent, I also think that people don’t necessarily think that way when it comes to their cultural identity. For instance, I am an American. I don’t really think I’d like to become an Iraqi or an Egyptian. I don’t know that for sure, I’ve never tried it, but I presume I wouldn’t like it based on the things I see on the news about what is happening in their current culture. I think that it’s OK for Deaf people to look at wider hearing culture and think that they like their situation better, and I think that a lot do. I also think that a lot don’t, but we can’t automatically assume that everyone who is Deaf wants to be hearing and is waiting for a miracle cure. That’s all I was trying to say with the “myth.”
May 31, 2015 at 6:10 PM
jojo t
Hi, My name is joey t and I am 100% deaf w/ cochlear implants. you can ask me questions anytime because i understand both sides of being deaf and being hearing:)
June 14, 2015 at 7:51 PM
Evan Johnson
Mike, this goes the same for you. You don’t want to be Deaf but you’ve never been Deaf. Hear people imagine what it’s like to be deaf by closing their ears. It doesn’t work that way. It takes time for Deaf babies to develop their unique skills as much as Hear babies develop theirs. The unique skills are wider peripheral vision, higher motion detection skill, fuller occipital lobes and higher Theory of Mind if they expose to a signed language at early age, dream in colors (90% of us dream in colors and 50% of your people dream in black and white), and higher spatial skill. It would be too late for late deafened people, because neurons explode at fast rate in babies and slow down until stop at around age of 25.
March 19, 2011 at 9:08 PM
Maara
My hearing impairment only hear loud noise ambulance while drive the car so move the car away when is emergency. when my friend is full Deaf cant hear while behind other people car have to move away….. He cant understand why cars move away? look out behind ambulance Gap straight away move the car. yeah its problem for full Deaf. My hearing impaired is fine because only louder nosie ambulance/fire engine, big bang.
January 5, 2012 at 10:20 PM
Claudia
If a deaf person can read lips and speak, it is difficult to tell if they are deaf, unless their voice is dramatically different, which in most cases the voice of a deaf person is different. Many people don’t know that I am deaf, because I can speak, read lips and I can also Sign. My voice is also not noticeably different than that of a hearing person.
December 26, 2012 at 9:46 PM
Earlyne Thomas
How do you know how your voice sounds if you are deaf and/or how do you know how your voice sounds to others? I can usually tell if a person has a hearing problem, even if it’s minor by their voice. There’s something a little different as to how the sound comes up from the throat. At any rate, I admire deaf people who have made many strides in a world that still tends to design and build everything as though everyone has the full use of all of their five senses, all of their limbs intact, etc.
February 27, 2013 at 1:35 PM
Anne Thorlin
I have this problem too, started losing my hearing when I was a teenager, was pretty bad by age 30 (now 39) and still getting worse. Dr says I have a very good chance of losing it all. Today I hear only loud sounds and speech but most words are cut up and incomplete even with the aids. because I can hear some parts and read lips I think I do well with filling in the blank spots if the speaker is looking at me and i know what the conversation is about. But because I was hearing for so long, I know I speak well, many are confused when I tell them Im hearing impared and dont understand what they are saying. I cant imagine my voice changing if and when I have total hearing loss.
December 28, 2015 at 7:15 AM
Greg Tompkins
Coughing or I have a cold would be speaking differently, right?
June 13, 2016 at 10:22 AM
ettinacat
I’d say that you can probably tell your voice sounds different from people asking you to repeat yourself a lot or asking what your accent is.
November 1, 2016 at 12:47 PM
thomas moore
same here, however when i am having a completely normal conversation with a teacher (for example) she speaks normal until she sees my hearing aid, then goes in super retarded mode and start speaking stupidly , I understand that they’re trying to help ‘n’ all, but seriously?! you had been speaking normally for ages and i have responded several time, but the you notice my hearing aid, *boom* RETARDED ENGLISH TIME!
February 10, 2012 at 3:10 AM
Sam
I am a profoundly deaf (acquired hereditary) adult who lives and works successfully (most of the time) in the hearing world. I can read lips to a point, my sign language is extremely minimal and rely on my phone and my streamer in order to communicate and hear the tv. I take enormous care of how I speak. I used to teach adult acquired deaf lip reading but found that the restraints in teaching methods where old fashioned at best. If you sound like you are deaf you are treat differently, notably like an idiot. I often focused in my classes on how my students sounded and reminded them of language skills they had forgotten as they aren’t hearing them.I found the meter of poetry, in particular rhythmic poetry effective. In particular, Banjo Patterson as an example. The start and finish of words especially the soft sounds that often get cut off in spoken language by deaf and hearing impaired.
I have a deep voice naturally so I don’t think my voice has changed dramatically and I do listen to myself speak with aids of course. I was raised in a deaf house but my mother spoke and did not use sign hence her deaf children had to adjust or perish basically. I do not like being deaf. I find it restrictive and annoying not to mention a pain in the proverbial butt. Career wise much to my chagrin, it is a stopper, A major flaw that cannot be corrected no matter how smart or how much experience, knowledge or inventiveness you have.
I am having a really hard time finding a forum of similarly effected people to air my angst with and discuss lifestyles etc. I think most forums are aimed at born deaf rather than the hearing impaired as they call us who have a speech history but are effectively deaf. It is the same boat, just different oars.
April 2, 2012 at 6:57 AM
Allyson
I am looking for Deaf and HoH persons to help improve airline travel for the Deaf community. Please email me at allysonforsythe@gmail.com to receive the survey. It is only 5 questions. Must be Deaf or HoH to participate. Deadline is April 20, 2012. The survey will be sent to you via email reply as an attached Word document, and can be returned to me via email or my home fax which will be provided. Thank you!
:::: taps flat hand to chin ::::
September 7, 2012 at 3:14 PM
Brenda Dawe
Sam… there is a forum for you … it is called the “Say What Club”… most are late deafened but run the gamet of born deaf to hard of hearing normal people. They are professionals, laymen, homemakers, artists, lawyers, magicians, authors (published and not), from all over the US and other countries as well. They have mini cons all over the US and chat about life, careers, politics, etc.
They accept you as YOU are… attitude is everything. check them out: http://www.saywhatclub.com …. tell them Brenda D from Mich sent you.
September 12, 2015 at 12:30 AM
S.l. Joiner
Hi Sam!
First, may I applaud you! It seems you’ve taken the high rode in every way possible yet still struggle with those that hear that just don’t “get it!”
Too, I’m proudly deaf. Like you, I know little sign language. I was raised by a wonderful best friend, teacher who just happened to be my mother & taught me what “noises” were when beginning to wear hearing aids so those noises wouldn’t frighten me. We all know we don’t hear “sounds” & it’s mostly through speech therapy we learn to speak through tones, feel, vibrations etc. It took a few years & an enlightened audiologist to realize I’d picked up lip reading on my own as a child & for the most part kept being thrown at me “I just wasn’t paying attention” when it came to “being able to hear.” Yep, us hearing impaired have to deal with the “dumb.” Frequently I must remind the “hearing” folks that the deaf can’t hear! Many hearing folks believe the deaf are “born with the ability to sign” & baffled I don’t. But that’s as absurd as expecting one born without legs is born with a wheelchair.
While my mother lay dying, her siblings & their families resorted into claiming I was “faking being deaf” after half a century of my parents & I doing everything possible allowing existence in the “hearing world. “The family” forged their way into making a “mental case” of me after having attained college degree & accepted into law school.
It’s been 7yrs now I’ve been fighting for my life after “the family” stripped me of hearing/seeing devices & nothing I owned but the clothes on my back.
Even after finally finding my canine hearing companion the family had removed from me & taking us, leaving us on a concrete floor in another county, it was pure he## for us with no funds, food, clothing or ability to seek help.
Eventually we were able to get to the other side of the state to request help from the Commission for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing. That too was a disaster as previous social worker I sought deemed my speech led her to believe she “didn’t believe I had a hearing problem.”
My canine hearing companion died at 17yrs old.
I’m struggling to survive myself even though the authorities recognize the crimes against me no one will help.
I hear you of the struggles no matter how smart or anything achieved done, it just isn’t always possible gaining any ground on that. I had done fine until “the family” decided they wanted everything I’d gained.
Now I just struggle to return the honor stolen by the family of my parents graves where they can’t defend themselves.
February 28, 2012 at 8:40 AM
lauren
i think being deaf has its advantages and disadvantages. Im not deaf in any way. I have full hearing. Im trying to learn sign language and just understand. I feel like a connection with someone else who was deaf would be a great deal stronger then any connection you would ever try to make with someone else.
September 7, 2012 at 3:19 PM
Brenda Dawe
lauren… want to learn ASL free? Two great sites with tons of links that are realiable and get great marks for being trusworthy… http://www.lifeprint.com (Dr. Vicors teaches this on college level but offers it all free too) and http://www.startasl.com (Michele Jay… easy site to maneuver …colorful. I teach ASL at a small Mich. college and refer my students to both of these sites.
B. dawe
December 2, 2012 at 7:35 PM
unknown
Can you tell me some things a deaf person can do that us hearing people can’t?
December 2, 2012 at 9:49 PM
caseykins
I’ll admit that I’m not Deaf, so I’m not conversant on all the facts, but I do know that it has been proven that Deaf people see better than hearing people. There have been a bunch of scientific studies that prove that Deaf people have better peripheral vision than hearing people. There is also some evidence that the part of human brain that is usually reserved for hearing has been adopted for seeing by people who are deaf. They really are more visual. If you’re interested in learning more, I highly recommend “Seeing Voices” by Oliver Sacks. He has all the fancy scientific studies in his book.
May 4, 2014 at 10:44 PM
Melanie G.
I would imagine that in addition to all the amazing skills that deaf people develop (many simply by virtue of living in a world not designed for them), they can concentrate and sleep better than hearing people, or at least better than hearing people with ADHD who are very easily distracted by sound.
August 16, 2016 at 4:30 PM
Anais
Hello My name is Anais and i am from Nauru, was reading through this comments and wanted to say something. I am engaged to a man who happens to be deaf. from my experience and to my knowledge deaf people may not be able to use one of their five senses but their other four senses are a lot stronger than a hearing persons’. My boyfriend can smell, see, taste and feel better than i could.
April 24, 2015 at 1:49 PM
Christine
We can probably fall asleep faster since we don’t have the trains, barking dogs, and/or leaky faucet distracting us. 🙂 These are good points! I have been HoH since I was 3, or 4. Nobody else in my family signs, or is deaf in any way and I had to adapt to the hearing world but because of age and health problems my hearing has declined rapidly. I’ve adapted so well to hearing, I’m finding out I need to adjust to a new norm and to educate people who ‘forget’. Thank you for posting this.
June 13, 2016 at 11:00 AM
ettinacat
I’m not Deaf, but one thing I’m sure of is that sometimes hearing is a problem. If it’s really noisy and loud, a Deaf person would concentrate better. At university you see students freaking out over the slightest noise because they’re trying to study – I bet Deaf students don’t do that!
People with hearing aids or cochlear implants often report removing their aid when they want to concentrate or relax.
December 15, 2012 at 2:29 PM
Shannon mosley
My mother is deaf herself and I can do BSL very well, I want to do it as a career but I can’t just yet, I do feel sorry for deaf people cause they get the mick took out of them I’ve been with my mum when someone has done it and I’ve had to tell them to grow up!! Xx
December 19, 2012 at 5:05 PM
The Deafia » Myths about Deaf People (and the truth) « If My Hands Could Speak…
[…] Myths about Deaf People (and the truth) « If My Hands Could Speak…. […]
January 9, 2013 at 10:52 AM
Linda Levitan
Some things Deaf people can do that hearing (nonsigning) people can’t: talk and drink at the same time, converse over distances too great for a voice to carry, communicate comfortably underwater, or while wearing gas masks that obscure the mouth, and so forth.
February 1, 2013 at 6:57 PM
AliciaCW
Can someone direct me to a site that will help me understand the best way to help a deaf IT tech learn his job? He seems to not pay attention and already several people have tried to show him how to do our work, but yet, he still does not do it right. How do you teach a deaf person? The approaches we have used is face to face with and without an interpreter, emails, and texting. So far, seven months have passed and we are still trying to get him to learn the basics the right way.
April 25, 2014 at 11:02 AM
Allysin
ALICIA~ Have you asked to see what he doesn’t understand, or maybe hire an interpreter to do a training with him, as SL is usually conceptual? I know it’s frustrating, but patience is important.
May 4, 2014 at 10:57 PM
Melanie G.
On behalf of all hearing people, I apologize for any unkindness you may have experienced from us. I would like to ask something, though: how to hearing people come across as insensitive and oblivious? Maybe it’s because hearing makes us lazy: in a world where hearing is the norm, we don’t have to pay as much attention as a deaf person does.
Also, please try to be patient with our inattention. Many of us are actually sensitive to sound and get distracted by the world’s constant barrage of noise. Even if we’re lucky enough not to live next to couples who resolve problems by screaming at each other, every store and doctor’s office seems to think having music or a TV blasting is a requirement to be in business. It gets so bad for people with ADHD (like me) that we sometimes wish we could turn off our hearing.
May 6, 2014 at 7:35 PM
caseykins
Hi Melanie, I’m hearing as well so I can’t really speak to all of your questions. I do think, though, that trying to be aware and being willing to learn will take you far in the right direction. 🙂
March 21, 2013 at 5:48 AM
Everyone Deserves to Be Heard | thebigword blog
[…] though someone might be deaf or hard of hearing, there is no reason why there should be any miscommunication between them and someone else. Some people just might need extra training or tips when it comes to communicating […]
May 4, 2013 at 8:55 PM
RipplePost » Blog Archive » Myths about Deaf People (and the truth)
[…] Myths about Deaf People (and the truth)This is just the beginning of a long list, and I intend to add to it over time. If I’ve forgotten anything, or anyone has something to add, please let me know and I’ll be sure to add it. I also wanted to mention that the answers to most of these questions appear in the books from my summer reading list, most of which were written by Deaf people. “All Deaf people can read lips, and as long as I speak distinctly and look at them, they will always understand every word I have to say”. Actually, lip reading is an amazingly ineffective way of communicating. It’s estimated that lipreaders can understand only 30% of the conversation taking place. That’s like missing two of every three words being spoken! In situations where the Deaf person is familiar with the speaker or the conversation is easily predictable (such as at a check out stand) comprehension goes up to 60%, but that’s still almost every other word missing from the exchange. Pretty terrible, really. “All Deaf people were taught to speak in school using an easy process where each letter has a mouth shape they learn, and then they’re good to go.” Though some Deaf people were taught to speak in “Oral” schools using an awful process requiring years and years of one-on-one study, many Deaf people do not speak. That’s OK, they are really adept at communicating with Hearing people in other ways. You should be flexible and let them get their point across with pen and paper, or anything else that works for them. “Deafness is genetic. All people who are Deaf will pass Deafness onto their children.” There is a type of Deafness that is genetic, and some Deaf people do have Deaf children, however 90% of all Deaf people were born to Hearing parents and will also have Hearing children. […]
June 17, 2013 at 12:47 PM
humphreyytgk.bravesites.com
Wow, this article is good, my sister is analyzing these things,
therefore I am going to tell her.
June 20, 2013 at 8:58 PM
John W Dudley
I have a deaf friend, deaf from birth, he tells me that it is very frightful to drive even he has been driving for several years. He is extra careful of his surroundings.
June 20, 2013 at 9:02 PM
John W Dudley
to correct an error to my web-site
July 30, 2013 at 8:50 AM
uney
I am a hearing person so I don’t know if this is totally true for everyone but my daughter is hard of hearing and people ask me all the time if she can read braille. I have asked other people who are in the deaf comunity and they said they have been asked that to. Is that true for you too?
July 30, 2013 at 9:21 AM
caseykins
Hi Uney,
I’m also hearing, but other people have told me that’s a common question they get. That and people pronouncing Deaf as “Death.” It would be a good one to add to the list! Thanks!
September 8, 2013 at 3:35 AM
george brannan
My name is George Brannan
Over 10 years ago I began to suffer from Tinnitus in my right ear, I have not had the use of my left ear since aged 2 years. Some time ago I also began to suffer from Hyperacusis {constant sound fluctuation re everything I hear}also in my left ear and after a great deal of research, E.N.T. appointments and audiology tests, I am now at the point where I feel unable to continue, as I am a prisoner in my own home and cannot stand this for much longer.
I am very aware that my next question is going to cause much anger among many commentators. So here we go… IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A SURGICAL PROCEDURE THAT WILL NOT ONLY ALLOW FOR ANY EXTERNAL SOUND INPUT TO BE SEVERED, BUT ALSO ALLOW FOR THE HEARING PROCESS CENTRE TO BE DEPRIVED OF USAGE. As anyone who is deaf may find this request insane, Please be aware that this Tinnitus noise and Fluctuating sound has no cure and please believe when I say that I have tried them all over the last 10 years and 3 months. I have spoken to my wife and son over several years on this subject as well as my family, who are all in full support of my request. Have I and other not suffered long enough
September 16, 2013 at 9:04 PM
jsizzle
http://www.noiserelief.com/
My father was in a terrible TERRIBLE car accident which, among many other things, left him with a constant ringing that was driving him quite mad. He uses this machine (it’s small like a Walkman with headphones) which plays classical music, under that at a sub-hearing level is a pitch which is supposed to counteract the ringing. It tricks the brain into stopping the noise. Granted he’s supposed to wear this for several hours per day…but he claims it has helped tremendously. The above link references this. As you have been dealing with this for over a decade, I am sure you are aware of it, but just in case.
I do not thing there is an operation you could undergo to sever your hearing. You should talk to your ENT dr. about it.
September 18, 2013 at 7:33 AM
caseykins
Hi George,
While this won’t help you not be able to hear any more, I know that Chochlear Implants actually sever parts of your ear drum and destroy any residual hearing in your ears. Instead, they put an implant in your brain. I’ve heard people describe it as hearing from your forehead instead of your ears. I concur with jsizzle above, though, that you should talk to a medical professional. Some might balk, but I’ll bet you could find someone sympathetic to your wants eventually. Best of luck!
May 7, 2016 at 5:28 AM
Dee
Sounds like you may have Meniere’s disease. That’s why I lost my hearing.
October 4, 2013 at 6:53 AM
REGGIE ALLAN ANDREWS IS NEW ONE I NEED
i feel not happy with old full name so i need new full name is reggie allan andrews please very soon but i’ve pay for it cost £15 pounds hope any accept and help me walk to freedom form old family is gone only one brother is married with lots family of his own blood old friends and old friends ero good bye for all i want start new life in spain near future
October 6, 2013 at 8:03 AM
Howard sindani
I love that good explanation gotten a wind about deaf people want to learn more
October 11, 2013 at 11:45 PM
Joshua
The one myth about deaf people I was hoping wasn’t true, you confirmed. Deaf people are often jerks and don’t like people who can hear. I’ve encountered many deaf people and know how they like to stick to their own, but at some point it seems like they’re acting like they’re superior (which you effectively corroborated here). Deaf people just assume hearing people are “insensitive and oblivious oblivious”.
October 14, 2013 at 4:22 PM
caseykins
Hi Joshua,
I appreciate that you’ve had those experiences with Deaf people, but I think it’s dangerous to generalize a whole community into feeling one way. If it’s anything I’ve learned from my time in the Deaf community, it’s that Deaf people are really a lot like hearing people. There are insensitive jerks, yes, but the majority of people I’ve encountered are great and welcoming. With the comment above, I was more making a point that just because we can hear (and like to be able to hear) we shouldn’t assume that everyone else feels the same.
May 6, 2014 at 8:53 PM
Allysin
Joshua~
I do apologize that you think all deaf hate hearing and have superiority complexes. I am Deaf and 99% of my friends are non-signing Hearing people. I actually think that Deaf try hard as a general rule to be more welcoming because of the discrimination that they fight for daily. For instance, Deaf churches will have interpreters for Hearing people, even though most Hearing churches (albeit not All) do not have them for Deaf. is it because we want to be better than thou, no… we just understand the need to do away with a language barrier so everyone can understand.
I have learned growing up to be a bit of an activist for equal access, and am a bit outspoken when it comes to ADA Laws and Deaf Rights, but in the same trade off, I also advocate for homeless families and abuse towards animals. again, not just Deaf exclusive.
I think there are jerks in all cultures, with all abilities. it’s part of the human condition, not just the Deaf condition.
Thanks for hearing me out.
October 25, 2013 at 3:26 PM
Kam
While it is true about when you said that deaf people like being dead, I am deaf, but I do hope for a miracle cure. I enjoy being deaf at times, like when it comes to sleeping. I often wish that I could speak better. I also wish I could be better engaged in group conversations. I do enjoy enjoy the advantages such as being more attentive, and noticing how hearing people can be so rude at times. But I think that since I have already experienced this, since I already know, it would help me to be an even better person, if there was a miracle cure.
November 14, 2013 at 1:28 PM
Michelle
Hello,
I’m a hard of hearing/blind individual in my sophomore year of college. I’m an education major and I’m currently writing an essay about the best way to teach deaf children. I’m also suppose to explore their culture and shed light on myths. I would like very much to quote the bit you have about 30% of words can be seen on the lips, while 60% is missed. Where did you find this fact? Possibly from one of these books you’ve read?
November 14, 2013 at 4:05 PM
caseykins
Hi Michelle,
I’m almost 90% sure it was in “Seeing Voices” by Oliver Sacks. It was so long ago, though, that I can’t be 100%. I know for sure that he has some great stats about Deaf people’s brains changing so that spots that are designated for processing language through sound become sight-oriented instead. It’s fascinating. Sorry I can’t be more helpful with the percentages, though!
December 23, 2013 at 8:45 PM
Angela
Hi there. I am blind and have a mild to moderate hearing loss. I have a neighbor who lives above me who is deaf. When she comes to my apartment, we use my laptop to type back and forth to each other. My question is, why do some deaf people make noise when they sign? I mean, I know they cn’t hear themselves do it, but I didn’t know if there was a reason. I showed her once when I talk how my vocal cords vibrate. So she felt her own throat when she made sound. She’s a lot louder in her own apartment than she is in mine. I realy
June 13, 2016 at 11:06 AM
ettinacat
Probably just not suppressing the ‘effort noises’ that a lot of people make. You know how someone lifting something heavy will grunt? Well hearing people try not to do effort grunts unless they have to, but Deaf people can’t tell if they’re making those noises, so they don’t stop them.
January 26, 2014 at 11:49 PM
Elizabeth
Cam deaf people write or text
January 27, 2014 at 6:35 AM
caseykins
Hi Elizabeth,
Deaf people can totally both write and text. In my experience hanging out with Deaf people, they actually write and text more than hearing people. They use it as a way to communicate with acquaintances, store clerks, or basically anyone who doesn’t know sign, but they also text their friends instead of calling like I would.
February 26, 2014 at 5:43 AM
Unknown child
I’m not deaf but I love to hear story’s about them. It is so amazing to see them accomplish their dreams, when people tell hem they can’t. So Andrew j. Foster is a real romodel when he help Africans and he got his doctoral degree what a grat person.
~unknown child
March 7, 2014 at 10:40 AM
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[…] Speak out Myths about Deaf People (and the truth) | If My Hands Could Speak… […]
April 7, 2014 at 4:38 AM
invisible hearing aid
ow do you know how your voice sounds if you are deaf and/or how do you know how your voice sounds to others?
April 25, 2014 at 10:57 AM
Allysin
I am full Deaf with HoH Husband. I became deaf at age 3, due to abuse. However, I did learn to talk before that, and still do.
What I get a lot is : YOU CAN TALK SO YOU MUST BE ABLE TO HEAR.
Also: ALL DEAF CAN LIPREAD.
Most hearing can’t lipread, but they expect all Deaf to somehow miraculously know how. I lipread my husband when he forgets to sign, and even though we’ve been exclusive for about 4 years, I still miss about half to 3/4 what he says. How much better does others expect me to be with them? yet it always seems to be the first question I get: Can you lipread? “No. I’m terrible at it, sorry!”
Then, they hear me talk to my Hearing sister because she doesn’t sign and automatically assume I was just pretending to be Deaf. I’m sorry… did you miss the paper she was writing back to me on? Honestly, I try not to assume about others. it just seems a generality between Hearing and Deaf culture that no Deaf can speak and that all Deaf can lipread.
May 6, 2014 at 8:41 PM
Allysin
I think the worst thing happened 2 weeks ago with my son’s occupational therapist. She has been having our 2 year old practice drawing lines and circles with a crayon. At home, the chairs are too low for him to be able to reach, so he sits on my lap making communication difficult. I draw the line and clap as he does it and kiss the back of his head in praise.
She sat him across from me in the room and we proceeded to do what we are so accustomed to doing at home. I draw the line, he draws the line, we clap, he gets a kiss. I draw the circle, he does his best to try to draw the circle, it comes out looking like a smooshed egg, we clap for his trying, he gets a kiss.
During this ritual, she looks at me and asks, “Do Deaf people actually like talk to each other?”
I don’t know what answer she was looking for, but I was quite close to asking her if Hearing people talked to each other, just to get her to think a sec about how that sounded.
August 3, 2014 at 11:00 AM
SP
Hi. I’m a Masters student currently working on a project to increase integration and social inclusion between deaf and hearing adolescents. One major aspect I need to bring out is the common misconceptions the two groups have of each other. I have read a lot regarding the misconceptions that hearing people have of deaf people. I am trying to find misconceptions that deaf people have of hearing people, e.g., thinking that hearing people are talking about them because they look/glance at them when talking. The cultural exchange is very important to have these kids understanding and thinking positively about each other.
Thanks!
August 27, 2014 at 12:10 PM
Jeni
I took a class in ASL and my teacher said that some deaf couples would prefer to have deaf children. What do you think the percentage of deaf-deaf parents wish for deaf babies? Can you touch on some of the reasons that this might be the case?
September 14, 2014 at 6:44 AM
caseykins
Hi Jeni,
Well, first of all you have to understand that I’m hearing and there are other people more qualified than I am to speak on the subject. I don’t know that I could ever give you a good, defendable as a legit source, argument. I’m not sure about the actual percentages of Deaf people who want Deaf children (or where you would find that info). I can speak to my own experience in Deaf Culture though, and in that experience nearly everyone I’ve met wants Deaf babies.
I think that, no matter who you are, all humans sort of want a child like they were. I’m blue eyed, blonde, and curly haired. I hope my children will be at least some of that (although they’re unlikely to be – my husband is brown of both eye and hair and that tends to win, genetically). “Deaf” is a trait that is hugely influencing on identity, so a Deaf child is someone like them that they can identify with. I also think that there are larger family dynamics at work. Deaf people are sort of isolated from Hearing culture just by the nature of things – they don’t overhear stuff when people chat around them and thus miss out on a lot of news. They don’t make small talk at the deli. Many of their family members didn’t bother to learn Sign Language, perhaps even one (or both) of their parents. Having a Deaf baby might be a way to give the kid the childhood they never had themselves. A Deaf parent can pass down tips and tricks, and the two of them may have a similar outlook on life as well.
I think there are also some cultural dynamics going on. In Deaf Culture there are a number of social statuses that operate, and one of the highest is a Deaf child of Deaf adults. I have spent a little time visiting Deaf Culture and find that it’s AWESOME, so I’m sure that knowing your child belongs in that world and it’s theirs is also gratifying.
By being in an ASL class, I’m getting a skewed sample. I’m interacting with (well educated) Deaf people who have been saved by Sign and really love Deaf culture. There are other deaf people who aren’t as thrilled with ASL, Deaf Culture, or even being deaf in the first place. So “everyone” to me may not actually be everyone or even most everyone. But I hope that helps shine some light on the issue. Thanks for asking.
September 14, 2014 at 8:37 AM
Allysin Vally
Although I am Deaf, I can’t give you statistics either. However, I do have a Hearing son (CoDA or Hearing Child of Deaf Adult). I can tell you from experience that I did wish he was birn Deaf, because I personally don’t understand Hearing Culture or the Hearing world in general. I remember too when he passed his audioligy test at the hospital, the nurse said, “Congratulations. He’s Hearing.” And to me, I was offended because it felt like she was basically saying being Deaf was not okay. I chewed her out by asking if he couldn’t hear would she have congratulated me, and she responded saying if he couldn’t she would set up an appointment to see about getting him a Cochlear.
From growing up, I think it would be easier to have a Deaf child simply because I could relate better. I know the struggled I went through and could help him deal with those things. However, since mine is CoDA, I feel more like an observer, watching as he verbally talks to his friends, and my family, and how he interacts with a world and culture I will never be a part of.
That said, he still signs, and is still immersed in Deaf Culture and the Deaf world as well, so I do believe he is in a good position to understand Hearing and Deaf both. And although I did secretly wish he was born Deaf, I still love and accept this awesome boy for who he is.
There is another thing to consider also. Some Deafness is congenital, meaning it gets passed down like a gene. I have met families of 6-8 generations, all Deaf. So there are some aspects of deafness in general to look at.
One film actually explores two families with deaf kids, one deaf, the other Deaf (there is a difference). It’s called Silent Fury, and currently available on Netflix. I found it interesting as it explores Cochlear Implants, but also the different views that Hearing parents have vs Deaf parents have about deafness.
I hope this helped if even a little.
November 25, 2014 at 3:22 PM
Annie
I have a question regarding my dead brother, and I am wondering if this is true for the majority of the deaf community – you state that deaf people find hearing people to be oblivious and insensitive, but my brother who is an active member in the deaf community acts like he lives with a chip on his shoulder. If someone doesn’t stop what they are doing to answer his questions then he follows them around screaming at the top of his lungs about how discriminatory they are. He doesn’t have any control over the level of his voice, well, he actually does but only if you remind him. I tried explaining that screaming at people is the equivalent of having someone shine a flashlight in your eyes. It is invasive and makes people nervous. He spends all of his time playing video games and researching cop brutalities on disabled people. He has a lot of hate for people who hear.
So my question is, is this the norm within the deaf community? I have aspergers, so I understand to an extent what it is like to live in a world where people don’t get you or have the time to understand.
It seems like he spends a lot of time researching evidence to perpetuate his hatred of hearing people, and reading things like, “deaf people find hearing people to be insensitive” sounds very much like his diatribes.
I am his younger sister, I care for everything in the household, from the bills, to cleaning, caring for the pets. and all he does is work part time and play video games.
For someone who hears, having a person screaming at you really is the equivalent of having a light shined in your eyes, and I personally have extremely sensitive senses due to my own disability.
I’ve met his friends and they all live in single room places and don’t work, just collect from the government. They are extremely cliquish. So I am wondering if perhaps being less closed off in right knit communities and actually interacting with the world might make them and my brother less… Lazy? For a lack of a better word. Maybe not have such a chip on their shoulder? I know that actually getting out there and interacting with people helped me with my disability emmensely. And not every person had time for me, I know how it feels to be snubbed, but it got me out of my bubble.
I see the same phenomenon in the autism community, too many people sitting at their computers with chips on their shoulders perpetuating the problem by agreeing that ‘this just is the way it is’ without really giving other people a chance to show that it’s not always like that.
Keep in mind, I’m 26 and he is 40 and I am essentially his keeper.
I just can’t understand what goes on in his head when he’s so defensive about such a close minded mentality that has gotten him nowhere, and here I am, a hearing person – doing everything for him (parental pressure) so the world couldn’t be that selfish. I’ve sacrificed a lot for a person who gives me grief and anger in return for my time.
November 25, 2014 at 3:26 PM
Annie
I apologize for my phones auto correct and or my fingers hitting the wrong buttons, these iPhone keyboards are frustrating. I also applogize if this comes of as vindictive, but I know where he is coming from, do everything for him, and am still treated like I am just a bother. His friends do this too. But they know as little about me as I do them.
April 7, 2015 at 8:51 AM
Τάνια Χριστοφοράτου
Annie, I have no specialist instructions or answers for your questions; nor do I want to praise you on your sacrifice, because I am not in a position to do that. I simply wanted to praise your ability to convey your thoughts and your feelings in writing. I think that you could write very successful short stories. Maybe you could give them to your brother to read. (I don’t think that lazy people, deaf or hearing ones, ever cure; they prefer being served by others, leaving all responsibilities to them, being thus able to blame them if something goes wrong). Stop paying his bills, would be an advice.
May 31, 2015 at 8:09 PM
DeafTrekker
Well, Am Fully Deaf (No CI or HOH) and sometime i do hate Hear people.
For example i went to Australia for Holiday Working VISA. A Visit in Australia really amazon and huge experience challenger. But for Holiday Working VISA, Oh yea that where i hate part.
Image: have a Highly experience of landscaping lawn A to Z lawn/garden/leader/never have client complain of poor job on property . Make feel good with have lots of knowledge and know how right treat client on property.
But guess what?, Many time i hand CV/Cover Letter to Companys or websites jobs and Never reply back to me!. How can i learn gain experience if no one interview or why am not hire???.
Maybe i shouldn’t put required contact: “email address/text ONLY” Then what? how can i get contact for interview?.
Oh right i actually put DEAF on my CV too… hmm. should i give up to try find a job? or ask hear people to help me and take call for me so i can be lazy and wait for good news!. dont feel right. AM Adult.
You people willing face society?, I DID.
Am start up run my own business Landscaping Lawn/Garden.
Current Drive Licence. Total owner of vehicle so far is 11th (not once 11th a day, year year year different vechile since get licence). Do Manuel speed even i drove in Australia/Europe/North American without any problem or misunderstood happen
What i hate most is Hearing People or Doctor do/did make judge to Deaf is (BAD MOVE) big time!!!.
Hear-Hear=
Deaf-Deaf=
Hear-Deaf=
Deaf-Hear=
Can you answer that 4 question: (S) Same / (D) Different.
So Far Deaf tries/tired to meet half way and wait for another half way to meet.
Sorry, I tried my best to explain on my third language.
January 7, 2015 at 6:17 PM
no name
Could you teach me how to speak deaf plz
May 31, 2015 at 6:07 PM
jojo t
rude
March 21, 2015 at 2:02 PM
Gilberto Quiroz
“Deaf people like being deaf” That’s quite the bold statement, no?I mean, I, having ADHD and high functioning Autism, am not really part of the majority, and am just fine that way, but I at least acknowledge not eberyone with my diseases has a had that experience, that comment, despite coming from someone saying that hearing people are insensitive, is quite the unsensitive statement.
May 31, 2015 at 6:06 PM
jojo t
Hi, im a deaf girl who has two cochlear implants because I’m completely deaf. deaf people DO like being deaf because they get all quiet noise and they completely understand their own world. I like being deaf because its fun having two different sides of me:)
May 31, 2015 at 8:37 PM
Mike
I am not deaf and I completely understand understand my own world. My question is if you do like being deaf so much then why did you get cochlear implants? I mean that implies to me that you wanted to hear. If being deaf was so great you wouldn’t have gotten them. I can’t imaging not being able to listen to music or birds chirping or the voice of loved ones. So why did you get cochlear implants if being deaf is so great?
April 27, 2015 at 7:39 AM
Rin
Oblivious and insensitive huh ?
August 13, 2015 at 1:33 PM
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August 13, 2015 at 4:39 PM
Explain the perceptual process for hearing. | Uni Assignment Writers
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August 13, 2015 at 4:56 PM
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August 14, 2015 at 12:21 PM
Identify the factors that contribute to auditory localization. | Uni Assignment Writers
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August 25, 2015 at 8:14 AM
Being an Ally to the Deaf and HoH Community - Proud Queer Seattle
[…] common misunderstanding is that most Deaf people can read lips. Statistically, most Deaf and HoH are only able to understand about 30 percent of the conversation. Imagine having a conversation with your friends or family and only understanding parts. It seems […]
August 25, 2015 at 11:18 AM
Being an Ally to the Deaf and HoH Community - Proud Queer Bay Area
[…] common misunderstanding is that most Deaf people can read lips. Statistically, most Deaf and HoH are only able to understand about 30 percent of the conversation. Imagine having a conversation with your friends or family and only understanding parts. It seems […]
September 10, 2015 at 7:24 AM
Joe Smith
As hearing loss becomes a greater concern for the aging population, online retailers like Audicus are finding ways to educate how to interact with those with hearing disabilities. Check out their blog post here: http://bit.ly/1KbC2Z6. You can also check out the products featured on their site: http://bit.ly/1FoK8Ic
September 24, 2015 at 11:51 PM
Dee
Thank you for this very insightful article. I shall save the link so I can refer to it again. I’ve learnt lots of new things
April 21, 2016 at 2:39 PM
Booger Bender
One of the most biggest pet peeves for Deaf people (myself included) when sitting with other hearing people. It’s almost impossible to carry on a conversation with hearing people while Deaf. I myself can speak for myself and I have a hidden disability because of my pristine speech yet, I’m deaf. I learned bone conduction and speech therapy. My parents put so much millions into trying to have me be hearing. I never went to Deaf school. I was forced mainstream schooling. 95% of my friends are hearing. I don’t have many Deaf friends either. The biggest myth is that deaf people can have a conversation with hearing people in a group. There are times when I see nobody talking then I bring up a topic and hearing people just look acknowledge my mouth was moving then look away and carry on another conversation as if I was never there. Another pet peeve is how loud/soft we need to speak. We Deaf people sometimes are forced to speak because no other way is accepted among hearing people. Yes, there are insensitive hearing people out there.
April 25, 2016 at 12:22 PM
Alvin
it is an interesting thing to know all this about deaf and hard of hearing people. We must all understand that they have equal abilities any normal person, except for their special kind of disability. They can aspire to be whatever they choose to be, but we should rally our support in advocating for their rights as the handicap and blind people. I think everyone should consider their plight and grant them accommodation in every possible way. I work with deaf people in Africa, and it is sad how they are treated.
May 23, 2016 at 7:56 AM
Micheal
My students and I have been studying pollution and we want to know since hearing loud noise can cause you to die early do deaf people live longer since they cant hear noise pollution
June 11, 2016 at 3:20 PM
Jo
Thank you so much for this helpful list of observations! I have shown this to so many ignorant people that I can almost quote you word for word! I especially like how you dispel the myth that deafness is waiting to be ‘cured.’ In my experience, it’s like having red hair or being left handed or having an ‘outie’ belly button: it’s different and in the statistical minority but NOT a crisis! Thank you again!!!
July 1, 2016 at 6:17 PM
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July 20, 2016 at 11:28 AM
Z
I got a question: Are deaf people even able to speak at all? And by speaking I mean through their mon like everyone else in a comprehensive language.
September 6, 2016 at 5:08 AM
Gaylene Amancio
Definitely believe that which you said. Your favourite reason appeared to be at the net the easiest factor to understand of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while people think about worries that they just don’t realize about. You controlled to hit the nail upon the highest as smartly as defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , folks can take a signal. Will likely be back to gt more. Thanks
November 25, 2016 at 12:15 AM
Shamsa Al Jaberi
In the book “El Deafo” a deaf girl had glasses because she couldn’t see. If deaf people have better eyesight, how did she get glasses?
November 27, 2016 at 3:41 PM
Allysin Vally (Full Deaf)
Shamsa,
I don’t think we see better or worse than normal people; we just pay closer attention to literally everything to accomodate the fact that, being Deaf, we can’t hear. Deaf do not necessarily see better, as there are a number of Deaf-Blind individuals today.
December 6, 2016 at 12:43 PM
marven
How many deaf people can read languages as english and french
January 9, 2017 at 2:17 PM
Lip-Reading Misconceptions | MT&A Sign Language Interpreting Practice
[…] Additional Resources: Myths about Deaf People and the Truth […]
January 24, 2017 at 7:43 AM
Chanti
Myth- My hearing aid doesnt give me super sonic hearing. Im stunned at the amount of times I ask someone to repeat themselves as I didn’t hear them clearly and they look frazzled and say “but you have hearing aids arent they like a load speaker in your ear,maybe you should have them checked” 0_o
September 13, 2018 at 4:45 PM
margopego
This was interesting for me to read & helped me to understand some people who are deaf a little more. Thank-you for sharing these insights.
October 6, 2019 at 3:28 PM
Jakki White
Very interesting.i have a totally deaf BF, who does read lips, but she told me about the every other word thing. She is amazing,and this is good information for to have.
December 14, 2019 at 12:11 PM
Discussion - Essay Mine
[…] Myths about Deaf People (and the truth) […]
May 15, 2020 at 9:43 PM
Sherri Garrison
I like what you said about like be deaf I do like it however I also have Asperger’s and I have sensory processing disorder I feel what goes on around me it’s very overwhelming. I have other health issues too. I am in a homeless shelter and most all staff are not taking into consideration that I lip read gets overwhelmed confused cause they give set rules then they change rules I have only what staff says can have then staff says you can’t have this stuff in bag not changed same things as before. Don’t know how to get them to understand. Some staff say I should not be confused.
April 21, 2024 at 5:13 PM
Jeanni Tiedje
16 years ago (at the age of 58) I had been ill with what I thought was a bad flu bug. Woke up in ICU finding out I was deaf (massive doses of antibiotics used to save my life destroyed the hair cells in both ears). I also had Cdiff, MRSA, bleeding ulcer and a lot more. I cannot find a way to describe complete hearing loss-its not holding fingers in your ears or pillows blocking noise. It is a complete absence of sound. To this day certain members of my family believe I am faking deafness for the attention. I do have cochlear implants that do help a lot, but it is not 100% like hearing. Often I miss sound from behind me or out of vision range. I miss a great deal of conversation because people don’t look at me when speaking. I was taught way back when that good manners meant that you always look at the face of the person you are speaking to. Also, changing the subject of conversation without letting me know is really a bummer. One moment with people talking about how to plant flowers-next I see someone talking about grinding something until a liquid (talking about how to use fresh garlic). Or, how come when I’m driving, I am pulling to side of road because I can “feel” approaching emergency vehicle before I notice flashing lights from rear view mirror before others see it. I have developed a super sensitivity to certain things to make up for being deaf, I guess. I, too, have put up with ‘rule changes”–I live in a senior residence and one day didn’t take some empty boxes to laundry as usual. Fellow resident told me I was taking the housekeeper’s job because now they are supposed to take boxes. It was changed at resident meeting the previous day , but the summary of the meeting had not been posted yet. Yes, life can be frustrating at times–especially when someone is trying to tell you something as a jet is flying overhead. I try to remember to carry index cards & pen with me to make things easier. There are days I try to get even withe the world by perhaps wearing a T-shirt that reads “I’m not ignorant, I AM DEAF. What’s your excuse?” Sometimes you have to overlook things, other times you need to release your fury and tell people off, sometimes just go for a walk and have a good cry. Other times just laugh-like when a server in a restaurant hands you a Braille menu, or someone comments on well you speak even though deaf, or try to keep from laughing in their face when you tell them you are deaf so they scream in your ear. One time I was at a hospital seeking treatment. I had filled out the paperwork, took highlighter out of my purse and wrote across the front page “DEAF-I’m wearing a Green Bay Packers Hat and shirt.” Nurse said she called me 3 x but got no answer. I pointed out the fluorescent orange DEAF in letters about an inch tall. I asked her if she understood the note. “Yes, I understand. I thought that was only meant for the doctor.”