Is anyone with a hearing impairment considered "deaf"?

shel90 said:
The word, "impaired" needs to be eliminated when describing people...it is just plain degrading and puts the focus the person or person(s) as incapable of doing something. It just puts people in a negative light.
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Fine. But it doesn't bother me. That's just me. It's a matter of perspective here. Avoid the labeling game by saying "people with hearing loss" or "I have a hearing loss" because some people, I imagine, would find the word "deaf" degrading and even humiliating that may or may not describe accurately their hearing loss. Imagine that. When the word "deaf" is used it does does evoke a certain lack of capability seen in that person, real or imagined. And it does present a problem when it comes to myths and stigmas by people not familiar with hearing loss and how people with hearing loss function accordingly whether without HAs, with a HA or CI. It's interesting how people perceive and think when it comes to using certain labels or words.

Ok, folks, learn not to attack the poster.

Carry on.
 
AlleyCat said:
That is true as far as most deaf people like us see it. At least that's the general opinion I have heard all my life. However, I find it interesting that some who are hearing find the word "deaf" more scary and more incapable than "hearing impaired." It's all about everyone's comfort level and beliefs. I usually refer to myself as deaf as that is what I really am, but in certain situations, such as a job interview, etc., I find that the phrase "hearing impaired" actually goes over better. Weird, huh?
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Ha ha. Yep. Just read your post after I posted mine. It's like if you say "I'm deaf" and they'll automatically think you're incapable of using the phone or communicate verbally or whatever. Say the word "hearing impaired" or "hearing loss" and they may probably ask if you can use the phone or whatever. Yes, using certain words or labels do evoke certain expectations. That's the real world reality right there. Sad but true.
 
shel90 said:
The word, "impaired" needs to be eliminated when describing people...it is just plain degrading and puts the focus the person or person(s) as incapable of doing something. It just puts people in a negative light.
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Agreed. It is a left over from the medical model that needs to be taken out of our vocabulary.
 
kokonut said:
Fine. But it doesn't bother me. That's just me. It's a matter of perspective here. Avoid the labeling game by saying "people with hearing loss" or "I have a hearing loss" because some people, I imagine, would find the word "deaf" degrading and even humiliating that may or may not describe accurately their hearing loss. Imagine that. When the word "deaf" is used it does does evoke a certain lack of capability seen in that person, real or imagined. And it does present a problem when it comes to myths and stigmas by people not familiar with hearing loss and how people with hearing loss function accordingly whether without HAs, with a HA or CI. It's interesting how people perceive and think when it comes to using certain labels or words.

Ok, folks, learn not to attack the poster.

Carry on.
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The truth is that people just need to stop focusing on what people r incapable of doing but on what they can do.

What about deaf or hoh? R those degrading to hearing people?
 
shel90 said:
The truth is that people just need to stop focusing on what people r incapable of doing but on what they can do.

What about deaf or hoh? R those degrading to hearing people?
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Not degrading to hearing people but certainly those who have a hearing loss might find it degrading. That was my point. Not about hearing people. Maybe just play it safe and say "People with hearing loss," or "a person with hearing loss" or for individuals, "I have a hearing loss." Eh?
 
kokonut said:
Not degrading to hearing people but certainly those who have a hearing loss might find it degrading. That was my point. Not about hearing people. Maybe just play it safe and say "People with hearing loss," or "a person with hearing loss" or for individuals, "I have a hearing loss." Eh?
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I've always said that any deaf person should call themselves whatever they're comfortable with. But I generally don't find any that call themselves "I have a hearing loss." That just seems weird, somehow.

shel90 said:
The truth is that people just need to stop focusing on what people r incapable of doing but on what they can do.

What about deaf or hoh? R those degrading to hearing people?
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Shel, I totally get your point. I think some hearing people (I'm NOT referring to anybody on this form, I'm speaking generically) do think of what we are incapable of. That's exactly why I was saying what I said in my last post about how I use the word "hearing impaired" in some instances rather than deaf -- even though that's the opposite of what you were saying -- it's all about their perspective and what they think those words mean. Because some see "deaf" as a worse word, even though it's not !!! :)
 
when I talk to my friends or meet new acquaintances, I usually be specifically detailed to my hearing when it comes to talk about it.

I don't just say "I'm deaf, I can't hear", or "I can't hear you", I try to help them understand by being specific to my own "impairments"
IE: "The background noise is too loud for me to hear you clearly", "I can't understand if you speak too fast." - it helps not only me, but help them understand my particular "deafness" I suppose.

The focus should be on making the hearing population understand the diversity of this minority group. Are you in or are you out?

I can understand, not taking the time to explain for the "asswipes" out there, though. It's certainly not worth it.
 
I refere to myself as deafblind but if someone referes me as hearing and sighted impaired or having a hearing and sight loss I wouldn't get all offended about it.

Even though I feel quite possitive about my life as a deafblind person. We are all limited in some ways. At the moment I'm suffering more from Rodent loss. My pet rodents have died and I miss their company wheras I don't miss my sight and hearing at all since I've adapted to that.
 
naisho said:
when I talk to my friends or meet new acquaintances, I usually be specifically detailed to my hearing when it comes to talk about it.

I don't just say "I'm deaf, I can't hear", or "I can't hear you", I try to help them understand by being specific to my own "impairments"
IE: "The background noise is too loud for me to hear you clearly", "I can't understand if you speak too fast." - it helps not only me, but help them understand my particular "deafness" I suppose.

The focus should be on making the hearing population understand the diversity of this minority group. Are you in or are you out?

I can understand, not taking the time to explain for the "asswipes" out there, though. It's certainly not worth it.
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Righto. I do the same whenever I meet people in certain settings such as at meetings or whatever. But I make clear to them that I do have hearing loss. I've done this many times. It's certainly not a weird thing to do to say that one has a hearing loss to those who are not familiar with you or your capability to hear and understand.
 
dreama said:
I refer to myself as deafblind but if someone referes me as hearing and sighted impaired or having a hearing and sight loss I wouldn't get all offended about it.
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Not even "visually impaired"?
 
kokonut said:
Righto. I do the same whenever I meet people in certain settings such as at meetings or whatever. But I make clear to them that I do have hearing loss. I've done this many times. It's certainly not a weird thing to do to say that one has a hearing loss to those who are not familiar with you or your capability to hear and understand.
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I didn't mean to offend you, hope none was taken. For me, I've always just said I was deaf or hearing impaired -- the hearing impaired not being very often, only when I felt it was better than "deaf" as I was saying in my earlier post. I've never thought to say that I have a "hearing loss" which is why it seemed weird to me, that's all. And I will reiterate what I also said, that for whatever you are comfortable with saying, by all means, say it. :)
 
Loghead said:
I've noticed a lot throughout this forum that a lot of people consider themselves deaf, even though I have noticed that many of them just have hearing impairments and are not fully deaf. I am a hearing impaired person with a moderate-severe hearing loss... so does that label me as "deaf"? Does it just depend on how the person prefers to announce it? I'm sorry, I was just curious. :Oops:
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The way I look at it is that if it wasn't for technologies, I would be put in the deaf category. I can not hear without my hearing aids.
 
deaf and hearing ideological war is warming up , this is getting very interesting.
 
Bottesini said:
I think only one hearing (Jillio) is arguing in here.
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Jillio isnt the only one, read closer (not me either).

Bottesini said:
It is a Deaf on deaf war!!! :wave:
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yes, that's true, its sad and unneccessary, and it is a highly complex social problem we have, this isnt unique to deaf people or blind people, it is also apparent to people of variious ethnic backgrounds and other religions. Conflicts and stereotypes has a lot to do with unwittingly conforming the dominant ideals in society.
 
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