I don't know where to start, so if I jump around a bit please don't hold it against me. Also I am sure I will be saying things that offend different people, not because I am trying to but because I am totally ignorant to the deaf/hoh community. I am not trying to offend anyone, so please forgive me and help me out so that I don't do it again.
I am 29 years old, live in the tampa fl area, and have had virtually no exposure to deafness of any degree. For years my wife has bugged me about not hearing her when she is talking to me but I just blew it off as tuning out her voice
. For about the same amount of time she has complained about me listening to the t.v. too loud, again I blew this off as her just being a nagging wife
. Recently I got fed up with the nagging and decided to get a hearing evaluation just so I could prove her wrong. I knew they would ask me all kinds of questions about what I can and can't hear and what problems I have had, etc. So I started paying attention to my sense of hearing and making a mental note of anything that was note worthy. The hearing exam confirmed that I have a mild hearing loss, with ringing (tinnitus??). The audiologist also said that It would progressively get worse and there is no way to tell how bad or how quick it will deteriorate.
I will be getting hearing aids, the choice was left up to me. After a few days of telling myself that I could get by without them I realized that I really did need them because I was finding more and more situations that my hearing loss interfered with....this was only because I started to pay attention rather than blow it off. I am going to wait until nov./dec. since my insurance pays $1500 per calendar year for hearing aids, I can get one in nov/dec and one in jan. My delema is what to get. the audiologist said I could do any of the types from totally in the ear (deep in the canal) to a behind the ear model. She said the bte would have the most features (resound azure) and the best improvement due to 2 microphones to pick up the sound and multiple sound maps for different environments. I have a huge reluctance to get a hearing aid, or wear it around anyone other than family. Why? I know it's dumb, and maybe it's because I'm new to this, but I feel really self concious about having a visible hearing aid.
I am a bit overwhelmed by the whole thing. Don't get me wrong, I realize that I have it better than alot of people with a more profound hearing loss.....but it's still really scary to know that after 29years of life I may loose my hearing at a steady decline over the next several years.
I don't know what to expect or what to do. I have always been intrigued by sign language, not in a carnival freak show sort of way but rather in an awestruck curious to learn sort of way. I see people in public signing and I can't help but stare, trying to see if any of the signs are obvious as to the meaning. I am not trying to be rude or anything I just happen to have a child like amazement/curiosity of things that pique my interest. I try not to judge a book by it's cover but rather by the story inside.
I have read alot of threads on here and I am even more confused than ever. certain terms/concepts seem alien to me. Example, d/Deaf ?????
Deaf of Deafs ???? People refering to the family as hearing but themselves as oral???? I just haven't grasped the vocabulary yet. Also after reading some of the stuff I am afraid of how I will be received. I am the new idiot on the block and socially inept (in reference to the deaf community), I will be making the dumb mistakes that are stereotypical of hearing people. Combine that with some deaf people's pre-disposition to not like a hearing person and I am afraid of being an outcast by both groups. I may be over analyzing things but like I said I am still in shock and overwhelmed like you wouldn't believe...and probably a bit depressed about it too.
I think part of my self conciousness is because I have had (and still do to some degree) the stereotypical hearing communtiy views of deafness/hoh as being a disability....like being in a wheel chair. I am not saying it's right, it stems from ignorance and I know that, I am just trying to explain all of my feelings and thoughts that are running around in my head and I need to let them out somewhere. I can't say anything to my family since I am supposed to be the strong one that holds it together. I want to feel comfortable with this new twist on my life. I don't like that I feel.....for lack of a better term...like a retard because I am damaged goods. ( I told you I would offend someone) I don't mean to tick anyone off, like I said, I just don't know how to put into words what I am feeling and the apprehension that I have.
Judging from everones good attitude on hear I would imaging that I will eventually come to terms with this, and accept that it is what it is.
My wife has a cousin that is profoundly deaf without his hearing aids, like he can't hear anything, since before he could walk. I only found this out recently and I have known him for about 6 years now. Either I saw his aids and just glanced over them without a thought or I never saw them, I con't remember which. He speaks as well as I do and he communicates verbally without any noticeable deficiencies. I'm in awe of the strength that he must have to have gone through the speech therapy, lipreading, etc. that he has done to get to that point. He is a very intelligent kid so I am not seeing this as a huge accompishment for someone of limited intellect, I see this as a huge accomplishment for anyone to have overcome.
I really do want to learn, and I hope to be able to pick up on a whole new world quickly enough that I am not in limbo for an extended period. Please go easy on me and don't pick apart my ignorance too much, I just really have no experience to guide me on the social ettiquite for this other community.
Sorry for the long first post, but I had alot to get out of my head, hopefully I didn't come off like too much of an a$$.
thanks for the help
I am 29 years old, live in the tampa fl area, and have had virtually no exposure to deafness of any degree. For years my wife has bugged me about not hearing her when she is talking to me but I just blew it off as tuning out her voice
. For about the same amount of time she has complained about me listening to the t.v. too loud, again I blew this off as her just being a nagging wife. Recently I got fed up with the nagging and decided to get a hearing evaluation just so I could prove her wrong. I knew they would ask me all kinds of questions about what I can and can't hear and what problems I have had, etc. So I started paying attention to my sense of hearing and making a mental note of anything that was note worthy. The hearing exam confirmed that I have a mild hearing loss, with ringing (tinnitus??). The audiologist also said that It would progressively get worse and there is no way to tell how bad or how quick it will deteriorate.I will be getting hearing aids, the choice was left up to me. After a few days of telling myself that I could get by without them I realized that I really did need them because I was finding more and more situations that my hearing loss interfered with....this was only because I started to pay attention rather than blow it off. I am going to wait until nov./dec. since my insurance pays $1500 per calendar year for hearing aids, I can get one in nov/dec and one in jan. My delema is what to get. the audiologist said I could do any of the types from totally in the ear (deep in the canal) to a behind the ear model. She said the bte would have the most features (resound azure) and the best improvement due to 2 microphones to pick up the sound and multiple sound maps for different environments. I have a huge reluctance to get a hearing aid, or wear it around anyone other than family. Why? I know it's dumb, and maybe it's because I'm new to this, but I feel really self concious about having a visible hearing aid.
I am a bit overwhelmed by the whole thing. Don't get me wrong, I realize that I have it better than alot of people with a more profound hearing loss.....but it's still really scary to know that after 29years of life I may loose my hearing at a steady decline over the next several years.
I don't know what to expect or what to do. I have always been intrigued by sign language, not in a carnival freak show sort of way but rather in an awestruck curious to learn sort of way. I see people in public signing and I can't help but stare, trying to see if any of the signs are obvious as to the meaning. I am not trying to be rude or anything I just happen to have a child like amazement/curiosity of things that pique my interest. I try not to judge a book by it's cover but rather by the story inside.
I have read alot of threads on here and I am even more confused than ever. certain terms/concepts seem alien to me. Example, d/Deaf ?????
Deaf of Deafs ???? People refering to the family as hearing but themselves as oral???? I just haven't grasped the vocabulary yet. Also after reading some of the stuff I am afraid of how I will be received. I am the new idiot on the block and socially inept (in reference to the deaf community), I will be making the dumb mistakes that are stereotypical of hearing people. Combine that with some deaf people's pre-disposition to not like a hearing person and I am afraid of being an outcast by both groups. I may be over analyzing things but like I said I am still in shock and overwhelmed like you wouldn't believe...and probably a bit depressed about it too.I think part of my self conciousness is because I have had (and still do to some degree) the stereotypical hearing communtiy views of deafness/hoh as being a disability....like being in a wheel chair. I am not saying it's right, it stems from ignorance and I know that, I am just trying to explain all of my feelings and thoughts that are running around in my head and I need to let them out somewhere. I can't say anything to my family since I am supposed to be the strong one that holds it together. I want to feel comfortable with this new twist on my life. I don't like that I feel.....for lack of a better term...like a retard because I am damaged goods. ( I told you I would offend someone) I don't mean to tick anyone off, like I said, I just don't know how to put into words what I am feeling and the apprehension that I have.
Judging from everones good attitude on hear I would imaging that I will eventually come to terms with this, and accept that it is what it is.
My wife has a cousin that is profoundly deaf without his hearing aids, like he can't hear anything, since before he could walk. I only found this out recently and I have known him for about 6 years now. Either I saw his aids and just glanced over them without a thought or I never saw them, I con't remember which. He speaks as well as I do and he communicates verbally without any noticeable deficiencies. I'm in awe of the strength that he must have to have gone through the speech therapy, lipreading, etc. that he has done to get to that point. He is a very intelligent kid so I am not seeing this as a huge accompishment for someone of limited intellect, I see this as a huge accomplishment for anyone to have overcome.
I really do want to learn, and I hope to be able to pick up on a whole new world quickly enough that I am not in limbo for an extended period. Please go easy on me and don't pick apart my ignorance too much, I just really have no experience to guide me on the social ettiquite for this other community.
Sorry for the long first post, but I had alot to get out of my head, hopefully I didn't come off like too much of an a$$.
thanks for the help
to AD! Dont worry about coming off as ignorant. At least u admitted that u dont know much about deafness and came here to learn more about it. Here, u will find so many people from all over the world who have experienced deafness whether themselves or loved ones. Many people will help u out with your questions. 
