Unexpectedly Deaf

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unexpecteddeaf

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Hi. My name is Danny. I am 44 years old and live in Mobile, AL. I just found out today that medical science cannot reverse the progressive deafness that I am currently experiencing. My world is growing more silent each day but I don't know ASL. I feel increasingly isolated and alone. Has anyone else been in a similar situation? I could use any advice.
 
unexpecteddeaf said:
I could use any advice.
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Learn sign language! :)

I am hearing, I can't imagine what it would be like to go deaf, but I'm sure it would be a scary thing if it's something you've never experienced before! I have a friend who is hard of hearing but is also going irreversibly deaf.

This forum is a great place to meet deaf people and a great resource to learning ASL (which I would highly recommend doing)... I don't care if I ever am deaf, I LOVE ASL just for the fact that it's a beautiful language. I hope all goes well with you and you find what you need.

-The Rab :ily:
 
Another option that you could explore as well as ASL and seeking out the deaf community is to investigate hearing aids or a cochlear implant. Hearing aids won't work well on big losses though, unlike CIs. CIs have the best results on people like you, who once could hear and who have sound memory in their brain.

Sorry to hear about your experience. Most of us here have been born deaf and are comfortable with it or used to it whereas it's much harder for someone who appreciates what they have lost.
 
I also love ASL -- And English and Spanish -- If I were to go deaf tomorrrow it would not bother me. Going blind would be a different matter for I love to read and I love the net.

This will be a new experience but you will do fine.
 
You get that Dx from an ear specialist or a country hickory Doc?
 
unexpecteddeaf said:
Hi. My name is Danny. I am 44 years old and live in Mobile, AL. I just found out today that medical science cannot reverse the progressive deafness that I am currently experiencing. My world is growing more silent each day but I don't know ASL. I feel increasingly isolated and alone. Has anyone else been in a similar situation? I could use any advice.
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same here :hug: I have progressive severe/profound loss and experience isolation like you.. stay here and share :wave:
 
unexpecteddeaf,

Welcome to AD! :wave:

Please tell us more about your Dx and if it was made by a good ENT specialist. I'm sure that many of us are thinking we just want the best for you and that starts out with a correct Dx and well presented options before proceding down an inappropriate path.

My best to you! This is a GREAT forum that is well represented by folks from all walks of life, all types of hearing and just about anything else you can think of. Enjoy, read, reseearch and ask questions.

Dave
 
:welcome: to Alldeaf! Have fun browsing and posting! :)
 
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to AD.. I hope you will enjoy the stay with us and happy posting away! :)
 
:welcome: to AllDeaf!

I'm sorry about your progressive hearing loss. You might want to start with the basics on learning ASL.

Don't be shy! Have a look at the links in my signature.
 
Berry said:
I also love ASL -- And English and Spanish -- If I were to go deaf tomorrrow it would not bother me. Going blind would be a different matter for I love to read and I love the net.

This will be a new experience but you will do fine.
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Berry,

Pardon me for interrupting this thread, but I noticed this comment and wanted to say that I'm totally blind and am able to use the Internet via a screen reader (JAWS or Window-Eyes) and a Braille display. I'm also able to read books in Braille as well as "talking" audio cassette. Between the computer (e-books, online newspapers, blogs, etc.) Braille and talking books, there are thousands of book titles you can choose from. If God forbid you ever lose your sight (I pray that never happens), you can still read and use the computer. I've been a computer user since the Apple IIe days (1983) and am never at a loss for a good book to read. :)
 
Hear Again said:
Berry,

Pardon me for interrupting this thread, but I noticed this comment and wanted to say that I'm totally blind and am able to use the Internet via a screen reader (JAWS or Window-Eyes) and a Braille display. I'm also able to read books in Braille as well as "talking" audio cassette. Between the computer (e-books, online newspapers, blogs, etc.) Braille and talking books, there are thousands of book titles you can choose from. If God forbid you ever lose your sight (I pray that never happens), you can still read and use the computer. I've been a computer user since the Apple IIe days (1983) and am never at a loss for a good book to read. :)
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I've always knew this since I was a member of the now-defunct HotBraille.com, and that I've had visually-impaired family members, and blind coworkers...plus blind classmates from preschool days.

Being blind doesn't mean total vision loss....meaning seeing nothing......it's just like being deaf or HOH, there are various degrees in vision, and various degrees in hearing. :)

There are very few people who are 100% blind (see absolutely nothing), and 100% deaf (hear absolutely nothing). Most of us who are deaf have a tiny bit of hearing....just like those who are blind have a tiny bit of sight...so we go by what we all have left. :)
 
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HotBraille.com
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I used to lurk there.........cool place. Wish it was still around......really filled a void for an online blind/low vision community
 
Nancy said:
I've always knew this since I was a member of the now-defunct HotBraille.com, and that I've had visually-impaired family members, and blind coworkers...plus blind classmates from preschool days.

Being blind doesn't mean total vision loss....meaning seeing nothing......it's just like being deaf or HOH, there are various degrees in vision, and various degrees in hearing. :)

There are very few people who are 100% blind (see absolutely nothing), and 100% deaf (hear absolutely nothing). Most of us who are deaf have a tiny bit of hearing....just like those who are blind have a tiny bit of sight...so we go by what we all have left. :)
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Nancy,

Very good point about residual vision. :) Only 3% of the blind population is totally blind. The rest have some degree of useable vision from being able to read standard print to light perception.
 
deafdyke said:
I used to lurk there.........cool place. Wish it was still around......really filled a void for an online blind/low vision community
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DD,

The next best thing to HotBraille.com is Live Journal. LJ has several communities specifically for the blind and visually impaired. Other than LJ, I can't think of any online forums that are specifically targeted for the blind and visually impaired (with the exception of e-mail lists/forums).
 
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