Is life harder for the deaf?

charchar said:
Hello all I am a hearing girl from nyc who has been learning asl. I also have been watching a show called Switched at Birth and one of the characters who is deaf name Daphne tells a guy she is dating that just because she is deaf it does not mean the world is harder it just means adjustments have to be made but he believes the world is harder for her. So I wanted to ask you guys what do you guys think about that question.
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Yes, it's terribly hard. :(

Send MONEY!!!!
 
Life can be hard for anybody, but it's what you make it. Being deaf makes communication with the world at larger harder. Life? Not so much, but that's a subjective question, because as I said, life is what you make it.

It reminds me of a quote pic I posted on Facebook today. "Being negative only makes a difficult journey more difficult. You may have been given a cactus but you don't have to sit on it".
 
Calvin said:
Yeah, had a couple of ignorant doctors asked me "Do you drive?" and other time he asked "how can you drive if you can't hear?" I gave them the look and says if I have a DL, then that means I can drive.

Pretty sure there is plenty similar stories with other Deaf people out there.
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OMG! That's sad. None of my doctors asked that question. I am under HMO. Maybe that's why.

I am waiting for his answer so I can ask him another question. Private or HMO DR? Know why? HMO DRs are aware of deaf rights. For example, I am a Kaiser (HMO) member so any dr asks an inappropriate question like "how can you drive when you are deaf?", s/he will be terminated.
 
There is all kinds of ignorant doctors Private or HMO. The doctors I went to were HMO who asked such questions. It has happened to many Deaf people... as for the termination... doubt that will hold up. It has to be much more than that to lose a license to practice medicine.


CrazyPaul said:
OMG! That's sad. None of my doctors asked that question. I am under HMO. Maybe that's why.

I am waiting for his answer so I can ask him another question. Private or HMO DR? Know why? HMO DRs are aware of deaf rights. For example, I am a Kaiser (HMO) member so any dr asks an inappropriate question like "how can you drive when you are deaf?", s/he will be terminated.
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ambrosia said:
Life can be hard for anybody, but it's what you make it. Being deaf makes communication with the world at larger harder. Life? Not so much, but that's a subjective question, because as I said, life is what you make it.

It reminds me of a quote pic I posted on Facebook today. "Being negative only makes a difficult journey more difficult. You may have been given a cactus but you don't have to sit on it".
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I disagree because it is usually that our life is what hearing people make it. For example, a doctor asks me if I can drive since I am deaf, am I the one that makes my life harder? Hell no, the DR makes my life harder by asking this ignorant question. Why isn't s/he aware that Deafies can drive? They have DR, MD, PHD degrees. they are supposed to be smart enough not to ask that question. SMH
 
CrazyPaul said:
OMG! That's sad. None of my doctors asked that question. I am under HMO. Maybe that's why.

I am waiting for his answer so I can ask him another question. Private or HMO DR? Know why? HMO DRs are aware of deaf rights. For example, I am a Kaiser (HMO) member so any dr asks an inappropriate question like "how can you drive when you are deaf?", s/he will be terminated.
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sorry nope. I have had PPO insurance for as long as I can remember. Have never had a problem with any of my doctors for either my vision (they sign my paperwork for the DMV) or my hearing. In fact recently the specialist I went to- their office was more than willing to work with me and aware of my needs as a deaf person. My primary care physician and his office are also wonderful in how they interact with me (they know better not to call me most times and just send me a note through the myChart app). Do have to question the 'well if they ask that kind of stupid question they will be terminated'- would think it would take a LOT more than that to get oneself terminated. Maybe fine or malpractice but not termination. If you can provide a document/quote on that, would be interested to read it.

Like Calvin said - the insurance doesn't matter- it's the PERSON (aka doctor) that is the issue (or non-issue).

I disagree because it is usually that our life is what hearing people make it. For example, a doctor asks me if I can drive since I am deaf, am I the one that makes my life harder? Hell no, the DR makes my life harder by asking this ignorant question. Why isn't s/he aware that Deafies can drive? They have DR, MD, PHD degrees. they are supposed to be smart enough not to ask that question. SMH
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Disagree with you here. They are taught medical, research and whatever else they are specializing in... that's what their degrees are related to. As far as I know there are no courses on 'working with the deaf' (at least not officially or yet- though there should be). More colleges do need to have some sort of 'sensitivity training' for those entering the medical field (dentists included) for all types of disabilities not just deafness. 99% of the time doctors will never have a deaf patient their entire career. So I can't blame them for being ignorant/unaware- especially if they come from another country to the US and may already have preconceived notions about deaf people in general.

I'm sorry you've had issues with your doctors but don't try to whitewash it and make it sound like every doctor is ignorant like this or every deaf person has run into ignorant doctors.
 
DeafDucky said:
sorry nope. I have had PPO insurance for as long as I can remember. Have never had a problem with any of my doctors for either my vision (they sign my paperwork for the DMV) or my hearing. In fact recently the specialist I went to- their office was more than willing to work with me and aware of my needs as a deaf person. My primary care physician and his office are also wonderful in how they interact with me (they know better not to call me most times and just send me a note through the myChart app). Do have to question the 'well if they ask that kind of stupid question they will be terminated'- would think it would take a LOT more than that to get oneself terminated. Maybe fine or malpractice but not termination. If you can provide a document/quote on that, would be interested to read it.

Like Calvin said - the insurance doesn't matter- it's the PERSON (aka doctor) that is the issue (or non-issue).



Disagree with you here. They are taught medical, research and whatever else they are specializing in... that's what their degrees are related to. As far as I know there are no courses on 'working with the deaf' (at least not officially or yet- though there should be). More colleges do need to have some sort of 'sensitivity training' for those entering the medical field (dentists included) for all types of disabilities not just deafness. 99% of the time doctors will never have a deaf patient their entire career. So I can't blame them for being ignorant/unaware- especially if they come from another country to the US and may already have preconceived notions about deaf people in general.

I'm sorry you've had issues with your doctors but don't try to whitewash it and make it sound like every doctor is ignorant like this or every deaf person has run into ignorant doctors.
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What? I never said that I has issues with my DRs.

My quote was "OMG! That's sad. None of my doctors asked that question.".

This time I let you go because of your misunderstanding. Please don't screw up.
 
To the OP's original question, of course there are challenges that would not exist for those with hearing. But my experience (born profoundly deaf) has been that there is a way around most challenges-- it however requires learning patience, being creative and innovative and definitely learning to deal with frustrations along the way. Frustration comes mostly from the opportunities that are often automatically denied a deaf/Deaf person based on a false assumption that being deaf/Deaf equates to being a 'damaged' person (nothing is further from the truth). To me, that was/is the biggest 'challenge', not my actual deafness, but the perception others have of what I am capable of. Fortunately, I was raised in a very supportive family, and had early and continuing access to support and tools that helped me navigate, with very minimal hearing, in a hearing world to a point where I was able to obtain a college degree and subsequently a good job. Mine is a success story, and I know everyone does not have the opportunities and resources I was afforded--but it came with a TREMENDOUS amount of work, many doses of disappointment along the way, and certainly a lot of adaptation along the way.
 
CrazyPaul said:
OMG! That's sad. None of my doctors asked that question. I am under HMO. Maybe that's why. I am waiting for his answer so I can ask him another question. Private or HMO DR? Know why? HMO DRs are aware of deaf rights. For example, I am a Kaiser (HMO) member so any dr asks an inappropriate question like "how can you drive when you are deaf?", s/he will be terminated.
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Asking a dumb question doesn't get you terminated. In this case, it was a dumb question, but the real issue was the refusal to do the physical check up.
 
CrazyPaul said:
I disagree because it is usually that our life is what hearing people make it. For example, a doctor asks me if I can drive since I am deaf, am I the one that makes my life harder? Hell no, the DR makes my life harder by asking this ignorant question. Why isn't s/he aware that Deafies can drive? They have DR, MD, PHD degrees. they are supposed to be smart enough not to ask that question. SMH
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Actually a doctor asking you that doesn't make your life harder. Obviously the perception of hearing people comes into play, but it really boils down to how you handle it. Do you sit there dwelling on it? Being a victim? Blaming your deafness for all your problems? are you sitting on your cactus?

It's also your perspective. Me, if a doc did that I'd say "what a twat" maybe have words with him, but def go to a different doc. Would going to a different doc be a hassle? Probably. Would it make my life "harder"? No. If you think this is making your life harder that is a matter of your own perception and focus, it's you shoving that cactus straight up your ass.
 
CrazyPaul said:
What? I never said that I has issues with my DRs.

My quote was "OMG! That's sad. None of my doctors asked that question.".

This time I let you go because of your misunderstanding. Please don't screw up.
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My apologies- it was late at night.

However- you are implying that only/all HMO doctors are aware or don't ask "dumb questions" . That isn't the case. There are HMO, PPO, POS, Medicare doctors who have no idea what they're doing, saying or ask really dumb questions. There are also doctors under all of these insurance plans that don't.

Also please don't tell me what to do. You were fine in pointing it out until the very last sentence. Everyone is allowed to make mistakes.
 
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DeafDucky said:
My apologies- it was late at night

Also please don't tell me what to do. You were fine in point it out until the very last sentence. Everyone is allowed to make mistakes.
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But, but.... I had to stop calling people idiots because it upsets you.


Which in theory makes me a nicer person, but so many of them really need to be informed. :lol:
 
Bottesini said:
But, but.... I had to stop calling people idiots because it upsets you.


Which in theory makes me a nicer person, but so many of them really need to be informed. :lol:
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LOL

Well...:lol: Old farts can change.. after having to deal with the likes of some people here and elsewhere recently- "idiot" is too kind a word sometimes-so no it doesn't upset me anymore.

You on the other hand I respect a great deal- might not always agree but I like and respect you. :)


(there are other words that I do take exception to but not this one).
 
Bottesini said:
But, but.... I had to stop calling people idiots because it upsets you.


Which in theory makes me a nicer person, but so many of them really need to be informed. :lol:
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Do it discreetly ... such as using id10T I bet they'd never catch on ;)
 
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