I'll be honest, I hate the Impaired label. I don't know what is so wrong with everybody just being called deaf! HOH seems to imply to the hearing world that with hearing aids I must be able to carry on a conversation no problem. Hearing impaired seems to be telling me that I must be fixed in some way if possible, when in reality I love my life and the person I am and wouldn't change it for anything.
I guess I don't fully understand what "being deaf" (little D) means. Is it complete absence of sound? I hear some sounds without my aids, more sounds with my aids (but I still need to see ones lips to "hear"). What's wrong with the term deaf? Nothing to me. It cuts through all the bullshit. I have a hard time hearing, please stop covering your damn mouth.
I don't know ASL (yet!!), but I find out often how stupid I am for not learning, just by telling people I'm deaf. So many times the customer at work, cashier at the store, lady wanting to shoot the sh#t while waiting, will break out their hands and start signing! It's amazing. Can't wait to quit working and start learning ASL.
