Technological progress: better hearing than normal hearing

"Somewhere over the rainbow..."

Sad that some hate deafness so much that they would hang onto any pie in the sky that might make them hearing.
Most of the time it's not about "hating deafness" but about "loving to hear"...

besides.... what "pie in the sky"??
 
It is one of the more insidious condition to have. My mother in law passed away last month...on my wife's birthday...after a long illness and deteriorating health condition along with her progressively worsening Alzehimer condition.

Been there with my own mother. She would put food in her mouth and forget to swallow it. I am her first born. The last time I saw her, she did not know who I was. When I got to the car, I remember trying to decide if I would ever return to visit. Mom decided for me by dying 2 days later. That was not my Mom in that body that looked so much like her. It was a child that looked 84.
 
Been there with my own mother. She would put food in her mouth and forget to swallow it. I am her first born. The last time I saw her, she did not know who I was. When I got to the car, I remember trying to decide if I would ever return to visit. Mom decided for me by dying 2 days later. That was not my Mom in that body that looked so much like her. It was a child that looked 84.

In the process my MIL essentially became blind in the last several months, lost a good portion of her hearing (you had to shout), but it was her heart condition that did her in running at 20% to 30% capacity. About 12 years ago she had a 7 bypass heart surgery and did fine with heart pumping at 50% capacity. Increasing bed-ridden condition made it bad to the point that even sitting up caused her to sweat. Doctor said in Feb. she had 6 months to live. She lived 3 months longer after that.
 
Most of the time it's not about "hating deafness" but about "loving to hear"...
besides.... what "pie in the sky"??

Could you detail the differences?

Pie in the sky is a commonly used expression. I'm sure you can figure it out from the context.
 
You got me. You will not die from it - definitely. Perhaps I meant that deafness is not a disease but it has got awkward social implications.

I am diabetic (type 1) too, so maybe I was thinking about that too when writing my previous posts. Diabetes type 1 is lethal immediately if not treated and type 2 after a while. I have to spend the whole day thinking about my blood sugar level and ensuring that it is not too high or too low. It requires a lot concentration and 24/7 attention.

My son also have type 1 diabetes. He was Dxed when he was 6 and is 16 now. :) Sorry for going off topic. It is a daily task for him to keep in check with his BG.
 
I was writing that post when I was completely new here on AD. People often relate difficulty in relative terms and I have never known any deaf or HOH person before (except a relative at a late stage in life). The stories that I have heard here have been a source of knowledge and a source of inspiration to me. I could only relate to my own experience and that implied several years of switching between being unemployed, writing work applications and attending university. That state of uncertainty is not nice to live with, and I find that managing such difficulties to be an 'Olympic' experience. I have a job and I am quite fine. But I am still finding it difficult at times to do 'the right thing' in world where all social rules are made by and for hearing people. And I am still learning from the stories of other deaf and HOH people - stories that I never would hear if the Internet did not exist.

That's a much better way to put it, I think. The way you worded it originally, and the general tone of your opening post, made it seem that basic survival was a challenge for people who couldn't hear, which struck me as an audist and fatalist attitude. As my 5-year old son is Deaf (yes, I consider him big-D), I fully embrace the attitude that deaf people can do anything a hearing person can do except hear. Deafness isn't an affliction. The only limits you face are those that you place on yourself.
 
You're seeing it as a pathology. Deafness isn't bad or good. It just is. It's like being gay. Being gay isn't bad or good. It just IS. You're thinking of being without hearing as something that's pathological. Yet we can adapt to and live without it. It doesn't cause pain or anything like that. Sure we don't have the abilty to hear....but we can process things visually. It's just like the way blind/low vision people can't see, but they can process things aurally. See now?

OK. We can cope with hearing loss, deafness, blindness, etc.

And you are correct that we adapt to it: http://www.alldeaf.com/1964658-post2267.html. Perhaps that you gain better abilities than 'normal' people, e.g. vision for the deaf and hearing for the blind

Thanks for clarifying.
 
He is a scientist. He is trained to logically categorize things. I wouldn't be surprised if this encourages seeing deafness/hoh as a pathology.

HHScientist, I hope that you'll come to see your d/hh as something that doesn't limit you. By that I mean, yes, one doesn't function in the hearing world "perfectly" with deafness. But at this point, it sounds like you are just opening up to the deaf world and the deaf community. I think once you make connections with other deafies, your whole social world is going to open up. And things will look differently.

That's what I am coming to realize as I engage more and more with the deaf community. It's incredible. I really hope that you avail yourself of opportunities to connect with the Irish deaf community. :)

Really, the only thing that makes deafness a 'problem' is the fact that we are compelled to function in the hearing world. That's it.

If everyone was deaf, I can't imagine that deafness would be considered a pathology. The truth is, that deafness is not a limiting factor in and of itself. What is limiting is that we are expected to keep playing by hearing rules.

But there are ways around that, too, depending on the situation.

Even though medicine and science may view deafness as a pathology, it isn't in social terms, particularly in the deaf community.

That's my developing view anyway. :)

You are right, I am a scientist. I am a little bit like Spock in Star Trek.

I am learning about deafness and hearing as a social identity. I feel a bit confused like this :confused:. I hope to gain an attitude like that :whistle:

For now, I will avoid writing about stuff when I don't understand the question.
 
My son also have type 1 diabetes. He was Dxed when he was 6 and is 16 now. :) Sorry for going off topic. It is a daily task for him to keep in check with his BG.

I identify with that and I enjoy seeing someone who raised the issue. It is 'on topic' to me :D

Checking your blood sugar requires a lot of concentration and dedication. I do that too. :wave:
 
:wave: HH scientist, saw your post involve reference to Spock
hubby and I enjoy Star Trek:wave:

he is maybe like you - very analytical, rational....never knew deaf as a culture or social identity. Raised as "hearing impaired".
He has learned some signs from me and we use a few at home and some home signs also; he is very shy to try to do anything but talk in public. He has much "think hearing".
 
You are right, I am a scientist. I am a little bit like Spock in Star Trek.

I am learning about deafness and hearing as a social identity. I feel a bit confused like this :confused:. I hope to gain an attitude like that :whistle:

For now, I will avoid writing about stuff when I don't understand the question.

I understand your point of view. I jump in every once in a while and then realize I totally did not understand the OP or the thread. he he Oh well, life goes on. :laugh2:
 
Most of the time it's not about "hating deafness" but about "loving to hear"...
........
Could you detail the differences?
......
I can... I have... You didn't pay attention.. or didn't get it...
You want me to explain it to you again? No problem...
_____________________________________________________
kierewiet.jpg
 
I can... I have... You didn't pay attention.. or didn't get it...
You want me to explain it to you again? No problem...

Your typical non-answer.

I actually was interested in reading what you thought about the differences.

Oh well.

:shrug:
 
I can... I have... You didn't pay attention.. or didn't get it...
You want me to explain it to you again? No problem...

My guess, since I don't know you....

You LOVE your hearing.
You HATE deafness.

Am I close?
 
I can... I have... You didn't pay attention.. or didn't get it...
You want me to explain it to you again? No problem...
_____________________________________________________
kierewiet.jpg

Nope. You have never distinquished the difference. All one and the same to you.
 
I love my deafness.
I hate my hearing when I put my hearing aids on.

:lol:
 
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