I have not learned enough ASL to get by anywhere, but my family (mostly mother) still do not get the fact that I have lost my hearing. They talk to my back and expect me to answer and get real angry when I don't. They also expect me to carry on a conversation while driving after dark. I'm the one driving.
I have seen on other threads where a person will say they refuse to be verbal due to some problems they had and I think it was just in response to that problem, and hasn't lasted for a while.
How can I get my family to realize that I'm not ignoring them, I just can't hear them. They all know I am deaf, but it's like they won't accept it. I'm 3 years without any hearing. This is after 13 years of marriage (b/4 I lost it) and when I was 43.
There are days when I just feel like giving up on being verbal, but then I feel that isn't fair to them since they (and I) don't know enough ASL.
Any suggestions?
