AngelBait
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2010
- Messages
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Hi everyone!
I used to post here a really long time ago, but my old ID seems to be gone, so I've made a new one. New beginnings are nice anyway, I don't really mind. I'll upload a photo and add some more info about myself soon, I just wanted to post and say hi to get things started.
I live in New Zealand (I see there are a couple of other kiwis here too - Kia Ora!) and am currently at university. I used to work, but I'm actually retraining now - Since I was a photographer before but my vision is deteriorating now, so I've had to rethink my long term career aspirations. I was born hearing but started losing my hearing as a teen, and have been profoundly (bilaterally) deaf since I was a young adult. They originally thought my deafness was due to Cogan's Syndrome but now they have confirmed it's really Usher Syndrome type 3.
Because I was born hearing I was of course mainstreamed, I speak, and since becoming deaf I learned to lip-read/speech-read pretty well. However I don't really fit into the 'hearing world' and don't really want to these days. I sign (NZSL) now, though not fluently and though I often still have to speak and read lips, or read/write notes, signing is my preferred method of communication where possible. I hate it when I don't know enough signs to convey everything I really want to though, or when I don't understand everything someone else signs - I get really frustrated - So I'm always trying to learn more.
I don't really relate to the whole 'late deafened' label though - not because it isn't true, but because the vast majority of LD people I have met are elderly, lost their hearing slowly late in life, and still struggle to be (and feel that they should be) a part of the hearing community. That's not my experience at all. I relate more to the 'big D' Deaf community in a lot of ways, but feel really distanced by having a different childhood experience so not having those long established relationships from school etc, a lack of fluency in my NZSL and just being really shy - Which never helps socially!
I wear HAs for environmental sounds, music and safety for my daughter mostly, I can't understand speech with them. I don't think I'd consider a CI at this time, though as my vision goes who knows if I'll want to reevaluate that or not.
Anyway, more about me...
I have a daughter (just one), who I love dearly.
I love talking to people online, about all sorts of things, I think because it's an easy communication medium for me so I can really have a decent conversation and get to know people without the usual language barriers.
I have a fat ginger cat who is very affectionate, he's great and I'm definitely a cat person.
My daughter signs, but my parents don't. My mum is starting to lose her hearing and for the first time is beginning to understand when I can't understand her and why I've always wanted her to sign - She is just starting to learn a few signs now, which means so much to me!
If there is anything you'd like to know about me, just ask me. I like questions, so I'll try to answer if I can.
Other than that, I'd just like to say "Hi!" and it's good to be back here!
I used to post here a really long time ago, but my old ID seems to be gone, so I've made a new one. New beginnings are nice anyway, I don't really mind. I'll upload a photo and add some more info about myself soon, I just wanted to post and say hi to get things started.
I live in New Zealand (I see there are a couple of other kiwis here too - Kia Ora!) and am currently at university. I used to work, but I'm actually retraining now - Since I was a photographer before but my vision is deteriorating now, so I've had to rethink my long term career aspirations. I was born hearing but started losing my hearing as a teen, and have been profoundly (bilaterally) deaf since I was a young adult. They originally thought my deafness was due to Cogan's Syndrome but now they have confirmed it's really Usher Syndrome type 3.
Because I was born hearing I was of course mainstreamed, I speak, and since becoming deaf I learned to lip-read/speech-read pretty well. However I don't really fit into the 'hearing world' and don't really want to these days. I sign (NZSL) now, though not fluently and though I often still have to speak and read lips, or read/write notes, signing is my preferred method of communication where possible. I hate it when I don't know enough signs to convey everything I really want to though, or when I don't understand everything someone else signs - I get really frustrated - So I'm always trying to learn more.
I don't really relate to the whole 'late deafened' label though - not because it isn't true, but because the vast majority of LD people I have met are elderly, lost their hearing slowly late in life, and still struggle to be (and feel that they should be) a part of the hearing community. That's not my experience at all. I relate more to the 'big D' Deaf community in a lot of ways, but feel really distanced by having a different childhood experience so not having those long established relationships from school etc, a lack of fluency in my NZSL and just being really shy - Which never helps socially!
I wear HAs for environmental sounds, music and safety for my daughter mostly, I can't understand speech with them. I don't think I'd consider a CI at this time, though as my vision goes who knows if I'll want to reevaluate that or not.
Anyway, more about me...
I have a daughter (just one), who I love dearly.
I love talking to people online, about all sorts of things, I think because it's an easy communication medium for me so I can really have a decent conversation and get to know people without the usual language barriers.
I have a fat ginger cat who is very affectionate, he's great and I'm definitely a cat person.
My daughter signs, but my parents don't. My mum is starting to lose her hearing and for the first time is beginning to understand when I can't understand her and why I've always wanted her to sign - She is just starting to learn a few signs now, which means so much to me!
If there is anything you'd like to know about me, just ask me. I like questions, so I'll try to answer if I can.
Other than that, I'd just like to say "Hi!" and it's good to be back here!