So, will the deaf culture be there?

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Talking about the technical aspects of audiology such as whether a child can or can't hear at what dB loss? I don't see the connection. I see it as a personal argument bwtween some members on what it means to hear at what decibal and so on. Maybe we see it differently but I was getting confused by all these numbers. Maybe I am just tired from working 20 hours yesterday and today.
 
shel90 said:
Talking about the technical aspects of audiology such as whether a child can or can't hear at what dB loss? I don't see the connection. I see it as a personal argument bwtween some members on what it means to hear at what decibal and so on. Maybe we see it differently but I was getting confused by all these numbers. Maybe I am just tired from working 20 hours yesterday and today.
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The point is "at what point is hearing well good enough". When does deaf not matter? When is access enough? At what point does someone become "hearing" vs hoh vs deaf? How much hearing makes a person comfortable enough to not need (or want) ASL?
 
faire_jour said:
The point is "at what point is hearing well good enough". When does deaf not matter? When is access enough? At what point does someone become "hearing" vs hoh vs deaf? How much hearing makes a person comfortable enough to not need (or want) ASL?
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I thought the point was, "Will there still be some kind of Deaf Culture in the years ahead? Will there be one 20,30,50 or even 100 years down the road. With so many children being implanted, will it affect the Deaf Culture as we know it?"

Not in those exact words, but the general gist is the same. It just seems that we go through this debate over and over and over again.
 
KristinaB said:
I thought the point was, "Will there still be some kind of Deaf Culture in the years ahead? Will there be one 20,30,50 or even 100 years down the road. With so many children being implanted, will it affect the Deaf Culture as we know it?"

Not in those exact words, but the general gist is the same. It just seems that we go through this debate over and over and over again.
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Right, so will there come a time when hearing devices provide such good hearing that Deaf culture and ASL are no longer needed.
 
Yep Kristina...many of us don't put so much focus on that aspect of deafness. I guess there are some people who do. Maybe that's where the cultural differences clash.
 
Some people choose not to implant even though they know the benefit of it. Why? because they are proud deaf and proud of their language.

It's usually (not always)the deaf who grew up oral who will speak out about the child's well being and tell parents not to assume the child is just fine as long as they have their hearing devices. Or tell them something they don't realize it is hurtful (such as feeling like a burden because they don't respond as well with or without CI) . Like how Shel says "we are people, not ears" . Because these children could grow up and say "I don't want to put up with this, we are people, not ears" and repeat the same pattern. And take up ASL.
 
KristinaB said:
No, I don't think so.
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Out of curiosity, why? (I'm not saying which side I believe, just playing devil's advocate here.) Sign language was developed because the Deaf needed a way to communicate that was not dependant on listening and speaking. If one can understand everything that people say, why would you need to use sign? And Deaf culture developed because of the shared experiences of those who grew up deaf. If someone is born with a hearing loss, but they have access to all of spoken language, all of their life, they wouldn't have the difficulty and experiences that make up the commonality of the Deaf experience...
 
faire_jour said:
Out of curiosity, why? (I'm not saying which side I believe, just playing devil's advocate here.) Sign language was developed because the Deaf needed a way to communicate that was not dependant on listening and speaking. If one can understand everything that people say, why would you need to use sign? And Deaf culture developed because of the shared experiences of those who grew up deaf. If someone is born with a hearing loss, but they have access to all of spoken language, all of their life, they wouldn't have the difficulty and experiences that make up the commonality of the Deaf experience...
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it was also developed because they tired of the crappy treatment of hearing people. Clerc was abused over oral speech.
 
deafgal001 said:
it was also developed because they tired of the crappy treatment of hearing people. Clerc was abused over oral speech.
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But would deaf people be treated differently if they can hear and understand and communicate freely through listening?
 
Because Deaf people want to feel like they are worthy and treated as equals as inferior by society because we have different dB level than they do.
 
I've been thinking and thinking about this, and about my experience at the festival. Hubby and I were just discussing this a little too. He kinda said same as you, FJ. From my perspective, I think part of what's important for me as I think about it is the word "need". "Need" implies that there's a "norm" , the requirement of an "aid" to acquire something that modifies or fixes something else. For me, that's looking at from a pathological point of view. But when I consider the stories, the art, the perspectives of the Culture of which ASL or a sign language is a part, then I see it from a different POV - I see something important in and of itself that I do not want to go away. I see a language and heritage that is important.
 
And that's a shame that society thinks it is ok to treat us like crap all because we don't hear like they do? Society or hearing people are the ones who should be ashamed, not us.
 
faire_jour said:
Out of curiosity, why? (I'm not saying which side I believe, just playing devil's advocate here.) Sign language was developed because the Deaf needed a way to communicate that was not dependant on listening and speaking. If one can understand everything that people say, why would you need to use sign? And Deaf culture developed because of the shared experiences of those who grew up deaf. If someone is born with a hearing loss, but they have access to all of spoken language, all of their life, they wouldn't have the difficulty and experiences that make up the commonality of the Deaf experience...
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There could always come a time that the technology will cease to be effective or work. There could come a time where there is no technological support. However, I do not feel that there will ever be a time when family support will cease. I do know that there is a large number of the deaf and hoh population currently who do not get the family support, but, I am hopeful that in the future there will be more and more support coming from family. There has always been "gesturing" or things like that. Sign language came later and when the public, hearing populace tried to kill ASL, they did not succeed. I feel it will be just like that. CI proponents and technology proponents have been and will continue to try to suppress ASL in favor of oral only. It should be ASL and oral if possible. Not oral only. I do not feel ASL or any other sign language will be totally gone.
 
shel90 said:
And that's a shame that society thinks it is ok to treat us like crap all because we don't hear like they do? Society or hearing people are the ones who should be ashamed, not us.
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No one says it is ok, just that it is a fact. It happens, and it sucks.
 
Exactly Dogmom...it is the pathological view that continues to measure our abilities or quality of lives based on our dB levels. There is more to us than that and it is sad.
 
faire_jour said:
But would deaf people be treated differently if they can hear and understand and communicate freely through listening?
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Keep in mind, there is a small number in the Earth's population that no technology will ever help them to hear. I am one of them. I communicate both verbally and through the little ASL I have learned so far. I cannot "listen". I have to attempt to read lips or have people write me a note.
 
KristinaB said:
Keep in mind, there is a small number in the Earth's population that no technology will ever help them to hear. I am one of them. I communicate both verbally and through the little ASL I have learned so far. I cannot "listen". I have to attempt to read lips or have people write me a note.
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Ah, no technology that currently exsists will help...we have no idea what will happen in the future.
 
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