I was born with a severe-to-profound hearing loss. Because I was raised in the "hearing world", I find that most people are vastly uneducated about how being hard of hearing impacts people, especially if they are hard of hearing in the hearing world. Unless you are close friends with somebody with a hearing impairment or you are a person with a hearing impairment, here are seven things that you might not know.
1. Hearing aids only salvage some hearing.
Just because somebody has hearing aids does not mean they are able to hear everything like a person with normal hearing! It all depends on the level of hearing loss and the pitch in which they can and cannot hear. People with a severe or profound hearing loss (think not able to hear a lawn mower) can only hear some sounds, and usually, normal speech can be very challenging for the hard of hearing.
2. We are a very analytical people.
Non-verbal communication, y'all! When people are born deaf, naturally, they see all but do not hear all. What I mean is, when you're talking to somebody that has a hearing impairment, they probably won't be listening as much to what you're saying but how you are saying it... the eyes are the window to the soul.
3. We love being asked questions about it!
Nick says it all.
4. Over-enunciation is NOT key.
I can't speak for everybody with a hearing impairment, but everyone that I've met has learned to read lips to a certain degree; that is, reading lips when people are normally speaking- not when you're trying to unnaturally stretch your lips. Also, if its a joke, its very insulting and also very unoriginal- find a new joke.
5. On the flip side, mumbling is also not key.
This accurately depicts the nonsense that I hear when people mumble. Save me from awkwardly nodding as if I knew what you said and speak normally!
6. Please be patient.
It's not a listening problem, its a hearing problem. Stop getting mad when we don't hear what you say and just repeat yourself. If there's one thing I've learned from being hard of hearing, it's that being deaf is the only disability that people get angry or annoyed about.
7. Our parents are basically our superheroes.
When the doctors diagnosed me with a severe-to-profound hearing loss, they told my parents that I would probably never thrive in the hearing world and that if I were to be raised normally, I would need years of practice, therapy, and extra attention; needless to say, my parents have spent a ton of money on hearing aids, speech therapy 2x a day for five years, and so much time to make sure that I could function in the hearing world. I would never have the confidence to write my story without the two people that believed in me the most. Thanks, Mom & Dad.
