I have learned a lot while reading this whole post over and over. I think I totally understand the concept of "audist" views. I hope I have never come across that way. Like Mrs. B, I too hated my hearing aids and all the crap when dealing with them, pain, earaches, weird sounds, and just general "they aren't working right" issues. I am very happy with my silent world and I am loving ASL more and more as I learn it. I feel that ALL children when diagnosed with any sort of a hearing problem should get sign language learning no matter where they live (ASL, BSL, AUSLAN and whatever else), along with their oral skills. That would have benefited me, Shel and countless others who have lost more and more of their hearing as they got older.
I ask one thing of those who will do this, if any of my posts start sounding "audist-like" please, please let me know.
