I think Kokomut is gtetting the response he anticipated :laugh:
I have a mixed response for this thread....being moderately-severe to severely deaf....I have grown to realise that as there are many advantages to being HOH as in finding skills that are very useful which at first was just a matter of survival, such as: reading lips, reading facial expressions and body language - you become an expert at fooling people that you can understand them when they are speaking a foreign language. If you know written English well you can educate yourself far beyond what a classroom can teach you; and you can find a deep meaningful expression in writing. The downside however is that it is hard to know in which world you belong because you are able to hear some sounds, hearing people think you can hear them fully, and then some say that you can't be Deaf, because you are not completely in a world of silence. I may be able to hear some sounds but I am faced with challenges and frustrations which I feel someone who primarily uses sign language is not faced with. It is because it is like being in a no-man's land, you are neither hearing or Deaf in varing opinions. I think it is a matter of choice. I prefer sign language and not having to use my voice if possible. Deafness defines me. I prefer Deaf. Being in the other category makes me tired and exhausted. Being in a totally hearing family (I am the only one deaf) and living surrounded by a hearing environment, it is hard to convince them I prefer to be Deaf. They try to be supportive but cannot fully understand it. As in the poem - I am alone on my own island. Thank goodness for AllDeaf.
