Deaf vs. Hearing Impaired

Do You prefer to be "labeled":

  • Deaf

    Votes: 33 53.2%

  • deaf

    Votes: 3 4.8%

  • HoH

    Votes: 3 4.8%

  • hoh

    Votes: 1 1.6%

  • Hearing Impaired

    Votes: 6 9.7%

  • None of above

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • All of above

    Votes: 1 1.6%

  • No matter

    Votes: 15 24.2%
  • Total voters
    62
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ChelEler

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*** I did the thread search to find a thread similiar to this thread and found nothing, so I don't think it's a repost. If it is, sorry. :| ***

Do you prefer to be "labeled" Deaf, deaf, HoH, hoh, or Hearing Impaired (if you're in one of these catagory)?

For me, I would rather be called Deaf or deaf, because I feel positive, not negative or put down. The word "impaired" makes me feel negative and pity and I don't like that and I don't want to see that word "labeling" on anyone. "Visual Impaired," "Mobility Impaired," etc. really bothers me because I don't like to put people down like that. Let's say "Partial Blind," "Legally Blind," "Paralysis," etc. sound more positive to me.

What do you know and feel?
 
I really say IM Deaf and was born deaf theres NO need for me to say im impaired when im able to do anything except work with phones
 
Either Deaf or Hearing impaired is fine for me.

I'm not HoH at all. I tend to correct people when they say that I am HoH.
 
Originally posted by ChelEler
*** I did the thread search to find a thread similiar to this thread and found nothing, so I don't think it's a repost. If it is, sorry. :| ***

Do you prefer to be "labeled" Deaf, deaf, HoH, hoh, or Hearing Impaired (if you're in one of these catagory)?

For me, I would rather be called Deaf or deaf, because I feel positive, not negative or put down. The word "impaired" makes me feel negative and pity and I don't like that and I don't want to see that word "labeling" on anyone. "Visual Impaired," "Mobility Impaired," etc. really bothers me because I don't like to put people down like that. Let's say "Partial Blind," "Legally Blind," "Paralysis," etc. sound more positive to me.

What do you know and feel?
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WTG, ChelEler -- despite the fact I have a Cochlear Implant, still I consider myself as 'Deaf' anyway. I obtained the implant out of curiousity to see how it worked and the sorts.
I rarely use it these days, only when I watch dvd's and movies on tv...
 
I have never liked the term hearing impaired. It sounds so clinical and medical, and besides the term stresses what I cannot do. I have never been able to hear like a hearing person. I don't know what I am missing.
BTW, what's the difference between HoH and hoh?
 
I don't care how I'm labeled. However, if someone who's hearing in the outside world asked me... I would say deaf. If a deaf person asked me, I would say hard-of-hearing.
 
Originally posted by deafdyke
I have never liked the term hearing impaired. It sounds so clinical and medical, and besides the term stresses what I cannot do. I have never been able to hear like a hearing person. I don't know what I am missing.
BTW, what's the difference between HoH and hoh?
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To me, it kinda makes the difference. It's almost like having the power.. but really, there's no power there unless you work with someone in a higher class. For like an example... Deaf vs. deaf. Deaf is more like a dominant than deaf. the word "deaf" just tell the person that the person is just deaf, but not part of the deaf community. That's what I feel it means. So look at this with "HoH" and "hoh." I may be wrong.
 
"Hearing Impaired" I don't like that word. But for business, tech, and politcal world use that word for various reasons.

Also another reason, some hearing people think "Hearing Impaired" means cannot hearing anything but lipreading???? Some hearing people asked me if I able to read lipreading. I am not that great at all.

"Deaf" is the word really fitting me. But some hearing people stubborn ask same question about lipreading. Seem not able to find a best word for not hearing even not have great skills to use lipreading same time.
 
Well, think about this...if I was a hearing person.

If a person came up and wanted to speak to me and asked for an interpreter. I would have to call the access office and say, "Hello I have a hearing impaired person who is requesting for an interpreter."

An alternative way is...."Are you deaf or hard of hearing?" then saying on the phone "I would like an interpreter for a (insert either deaf or hard of hearing) person who just came into my office"

Frankly, doctors, lawyers, police officers, and all professionals prefer to call us all hearing impaired because that includes both DEAF and HARD OF HEARING. If you are really offended by hearing them labeling you "hearing impaired." Be fortune that you aren't being labeled as mental impaired. :p
 
Originally posted by SilenceGold
Well, think about this...if I was a hearing person.

If a person came up and wanted to speak to me and asked for an interpreter. I would have to call the access office and say, "Hello I have a hearing impaired person who is requesting for an interpreter."

An alternative way is...."Are you deaf or hard of hearing?" then saying on the phone "I would like an interpreter for a (insert either deaf or hard of hearing) person who just came into my office"

Frankly, doctors, lawyers, police officers, and all professionals prefer to call us all hearing impaired because that includes both DEAF and HARD OF HEARING. If you are really offended by hearing them labeling you "hearing impaired." Be fortune that you aren't being labeled as mental impaired. :p
Click to expand...

Or Deaf and Dumb/Mute....I HATE that one! A cop labelled me that when I was about 7 years old...when I had gotten hit by a car and the cop had to take in my statement. I had used my voice, spoke to him while someone interpreted what the cop asked me, etc...and I answered myself.
After that, I read the paper...found that he labelled me as Deaf and Mute. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
 
Originally posted by WaterRats13
Or Deaf and Dumb/Mute....I HATE that one! A cop labelled me that when I was about 7 years old...when I had gotten hit by a car and the cop had to take in my statement. I had used my voice, spoke to him while someone interpreted what the cop asked me, etc...and I answered myself.
After that, I read the paper...found that he labelled me as Deaf and Mute. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Click to expand...

Please don't take my statement out of context please.
 
Originally posted by SilenceGold
Well, think about this...if I was a hearing person.

If a person came up and wanted to speak to me and asked for an interpreter. I would have to call the access office and say, "Hello I have a hearing impaired person who is requesting for an interpreter."

An alternative way is...."Are you deaf or hard of hearing?" then saying on the phone "I would like an interpreter for a (insert either deaf or hard of hearing) person who just came into my office"

Frankly, doctors, lawyers, police officers, and all professionals prefer to call us all hearing impaired because that includes both DEAF and HARD OF HEARING. If you are really offended by hearing them labeling you "hearing impaired." Be fortune that you aren't being labeled as mental impaired. :p
Click to expand...

You got a good point there. Hmm...(thinking)
 
I notice that most hard of hearing are more like smart-ass and big ego than deaf.

When HoH tell me to stop use my voice because for sometime I make funny voice. It seem bother them. And also, they usually complain about my grammar. I don't like it. I felt that they show no respect to truly deaf. :mad2:
 
Originally posted by illustrator
I notice that most hard of hearing are more like smart-ass and big ego than deaf.

When HoH tell me to stop use my voice because for sometime I make funny voice. It seem bother them. And also, they usually complain about my grammar. I don't like it. I felt that they show no respect to truly deaf. :mad2:
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Yes, I've encountered few hard of hearing people who thought they could speak and read lips better than me. Especially when he/she was with me in a resturant. He/she thought that they should order for me instead of allowing me to try.
 
I use both deaf and HoH interchangabily for me.
I have a mostly moderate low frequncy loss but in some frequncies I have a moderately severe loss (65 dcB) and in other frequncies I have a mild loss.
I am a journalism student and my copybook does NOT have the term "hearing impaired" as an acceptable term. I hate the archaic terms deaf and dumb/mute as well. However the gross majority of the people who use those terms are old. Back when they were young deaf-dumb or deaf- mute were acceptable terms. I've seen deaf people referred to as deaf and mute in articles, (in the Boston Globe which is a NY Times paper) but I can understand the useage of that term in that context....they aren't calling the person deaf-mute....they are saying that they are deaf and cannot speak. Quite a few deaf people can speak.
I think there needs to be a term invented to describe those Deaf who cannot speak. Yes, I know there's Deaf, but many Deaf aren't oral failures and can speak very well....any suggestions?
 
Doesn't matter. My ability to hear is distrupted, therefore it is called "hearing impaired." I had hard time trying to hear something because I am "Hard of Hearing." I can't understand when someone tried to vocally talk with me, which effectively rendered me "deaf."
 
Hard of hearing. Hearing impaired makes it sounds like you're retarded. So I dont like it. Deaf and HoH is good. Hope im not the only one with this :|
 
Originally posted by Wolfboy
Hard of hearing. Hearing impaired makes it sounds like you're retarded. So I dont like it. Deaf and HoH is good. Hope im not the only one with this :|
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I know what you mean. The same thing goes for me. Hearing impaired makes me sound like I'm mentally challenged. However, when filling out a government related application... I must say hearing impaired, not hard-of-hearing.
 
Originally posted by VamPyroX
I know what you mean. The same thing goes for me. Hearing impaired makes me sound like I'm mentally challenged. However, when filling out a government related application... I must say hearing impaired, not hard-of-hearing.
Click to expand...
Yeah. So is the word "dumb" (mute.) I found it in my military medical records when I was an Air Force brat (son of a father whose is in military.)
 
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