More facts that just add to the controversy of how to best educate a deaf child. Some have good experiences and results while others don't. On the topic I had a hearing baby that became deaf before he was two years old. I was happy when he was healthy and I am happier that he is still healthy regardless of his hearing / deaf status.Very true, very true! I was raised in mainstream myself, too. The education was great!
It just confirms what I have always believed in that it's a crap shoot. And even within what might be considered a good program (mainstream or deaf) there will be good and bad teachers. It's also why it's hard to accept when someone tells you this method is better than that method or that a deaf school is better than a mainstream school. There are just too many variables involved for anyone to draw that conclusion.
My parents told me that when they found out that I was deaf, they was crying so hard and was scare that they would never be able to talk with me, but luckily we, including my brother, all learn the sign language together and communicate fine today.
I was explaining to my doctor (before my twins were born) about the whole deaf culture thing related to a deaf mother's acceptance of her child's hearing/deaf status. He didn't really seem to understand. Then a couple of months later he called me at home. There was two patients who had given birth around the same time. One was deaf, and the other was hearing. The deaf mother gave birth to beautiful healthy hearing baby. The hearing mother gave birth to a beautiful healthy deaf baby. Both mothers cried and grieved. The deaf mother said this was the first hearing baby in their family (four generations) - what is she going to do with a hearing baby?! She doesn't know how to talk! She doesn't have music at her home! Etc. The family was in shock since they had expected a deaf baby. The hearing mother was crushed. She had never met a deaf person in her life - what was she going to do with a deaf baby?! It was a very interesting moment...and the doctor asked both of them if it was okay for me to come up and talk with them. They said "yes" and so I agreed to come up and talk with them individually. The deaf baby is doing wonderful - and I got to teach her in my class
Don't be sad. I have been deaf all my life and I always been a happy person. I love to being deaf. It's wonderful silent at night when I sleep. Funny how my husband complained and said to me" Boy I wish I was deaf". I asked him "why?" He said the problem is after overnight some dogs barking.. airplane flying loud noise. He woke up several times and watched me while I was in my peaceful sleep. There's nothing wrong to be deaf person .. the most important a deaf person will have is EYES to see and HEALTH are important .Ears is not a big issues and nothing to worry about.
Yes exactly !!