Few annoyances from being deaf.

Published on October 7, 2004 By XX In Misc

This article is about how people, or more accurately, Hearing people reaction to a deaf person. Some is just funny, annoying or just plain puzzling.

Help Seeker: Person that looks around and try to find a hearing friend/family/whatever when I ask them something or try to order something. Yo! I'm one that's ordering! Sometimes I go with friend or family member who happen to be deaf, they try to speak to me when they find out that my family/friend is deaf. They usually try to look around after I sign that I can't hear.

This type is ANNOYING AS HECK! Those is WORSE kind: Banker than try to get someone, ANYONE that can sign and speak. Hello, privacy??

"I know sign" person: This is sometimes funny, but sometimes annoying, especially when I am busy. That person type always comes to me to tell me that he or she *gasp* knows little sign! ( or very good, but still annoying...) Why don't I go to someone that can speak and tell them I can *gasp* can speak too! ( actually I don't, but I know quite a few that can )

Anti-writer: I really hate those people. Typical job: taking order taker, cashier or job that deals with people. They usually try to speak to me as usual at beginner, but that is end of usual dialog. Those type people, with discovery of my deafness, don't get pen and paper like usual people. They usually try again. I sign write ( act like you're writing on the palm and you got it down pretty much. ) They simply try to exaggerate the speech motion, like I am slow and idiotic. I was rinsed with deaf family and I can lip read as well as hearing people can, which is NO ability at all! It usually takes me 4 or 5 times signing "writing" before it dawns on them that I can't lip read.

Deafness=Blindness: Those is very rare nowadays. Always very funny and very revealing on person's feelings. There is no exact action they does to define them, but I'll try to explain it in general terms. For example, the people on next table, pointing to us and laughing and talking. Now, I can't lip-read but I would have to be BLIND to miss the point of conversion.

Deafness=Dumb: I especially hate those. They are people that think deafness is always somehow cause dumbness too. Those may start with D but that's about it. It may be from old era that deaf people usually is sent to mental places. Sure, there is dumb deaf people, but there is also dumb hearing people too.

Bad kind of helpful people: How can help be bad thing you say? When it's related to normal living events such as paying bills, anything to do with cashier at bank, etc. Those people should know better that I want to keep some parts of my life private, especially at bank, when my private information is readable. Generally, I don't need help unless it's to talk with a blind person, I'm seriously hurt, or otherwise ask for it. If it's a task that normal hearing person can do, I can do it generally. "Hey how about talking?" Writing, buddy... Writing is very common way to talk between a deaf person and a hearing person. Otherwise it's via interpreter.

Misconception: Those is generally rare. Usually very funny, because they are usually open-minded. Few months ago, when one guy found out I was driving, he said "But deaf people can't drive cars!" I explained to him that deaf people can drive, just slightly more carefully with often check back mirror. He learned something new and was friendly.

Lazy people: *includes Anti-writer people* Those people don't think deaf people deserves little bit of changes that take little bit of extra work, such as writing, etc. I had one worker at store just shrug and walk away after I tried to get her to get pen and paper few times. Of course, I complained to manager. I even had help desk person try to wave me away. I just stood there till I got the service. Again, manager heard THAT complain from me. (Yes, deaf people DO use "heard" )

Out of order order-taker: I hate those people. It's simple. People expect to be serviced in order. Some service people just don't get it that deafness don't change that at all. Other kind is cashier that takes next person's orders while I'm writing down my order. Usually, I explain it to that person that that is very rude, and I will complain to manager if he/she does it again.

Those is all kinds that I can remember. Hope you enjoyed this blog and learned something.

Comments

Ravenblack

on Oct 08, 2004

I've enjoyed reading this blog and have learned a lot from it. I don't think I have ever encountered any deaf people personally, (I've seen them around but have never talked to one) amd now I know how to communicate with them.

on Oct 08, 2004

I'm glad it was enjoyable read to you. The point of this was to teach something about life of a deaf person.

dharmagrl

on Oct 08, 2004

Well, as a signing n00b I was guilty of being a "i know sign" person. It was all so exciting, and I wanted to practice on as many people as I could! Luckily, the school I went to was at a deaf community center so the folks that went there were used to us n00bs and tolerated our attempts at speaking their language.

You said that your deafness was a 'born, not broken' thing - and I know you can't smell. What disorder do you have? (hope that wasn't too forward, I'm genuinely interested!)

Janders

on Oct 08, 2004

I am guilty of accasionally being the "Iknow sign" person at work, but it is only when I am trying to assist a deaf guest. I don't go out of my way to find someone deaf to tell them I know how to sign a few things.

Not to plug...... but xx if you have time I wrote an article on cochlear implants if you want to give me your opinion....

on Oct 09, 2004

Not a problem at all. I left a reply to your blog.

dharmagrl, My deafness is caused by defective genes. More information at http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/waard.asp

Mine is Type 1. I has very blue eyes, and everyone other than my brother's wife and their one son also has bright blue eyes. I has largish white lock on front. I uploaded a picture to this skinner picture and data site but I can't find it.

My sister has a small white hair on front too but my mom and me has pretty lot. My mom's now cover all of front but rest of her hair is getting white so it'll disappear eventually.

on Oct 09, 2004

Oh yeah had to add this: Once a while same defective gene also cause digestion problems. My brother's deaf son had that, and doctors had to remove quite a bit of intestines. I can't remember small or big one.

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