That was interesting - a little long -but interesting nonetheless. I've lost count on how many times I've seen parents say to their DEAF child, "You're not really deaf - just have a little trouble hearing." Some parents seem to feel that as long as they sweep deafness under the rug, things can be seen as "normal" - and that will help shelter the child. Whenever I sign in public in my father's presence, he usually apologizes to someone who might be watching by saying something like, "She thinks she's deaf..."