• Articles
    • American Sign Language (ASL)
    • Hearing Parents with Deaf Children
    • General Public
    • Funny/Deaf Culture
    • Hard of Hearing/New to Hearing Loss
    • My Deaf Perspective
    • Resources
    • Uncategorized
  • About
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • FaceBook
Sound for Light
  • Articles
    • American Sign Language (ASL)
    • Hearing Parents with Deaf Children
    • General Public
    • Funny/Deaf Culture
    • Hard of Hearing/New to Hearing Loss
    • My Deaf Perspective
    • Resources
    • Uncategorized
  • About
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • 0 Cart
    No products in the cart
Sound for Light

How Do You Wear Your “Deaf”?

By JenLeoraPosted on April 4, 2014November 4, 20222min read

Share

0

It never fails.  The moment you look away from a group of hearing folk is when they start asking you questions. Of course, when you turn back, they are all waiting for an answer.  Do you:

  • A.  Scream and point to an area beyond the group indicating a large insect/rodent is on the loose.
  • B.  Pretend not to understand English
  • C.  Explain your Deafness and ask them to repeat.
  • D.  Wing it.  “Starbucks” is a decent multi-use response.

Depending on how the mood strikes you, chances are you went with C.

Being Deaf in a hearing world, we do this over and over.  Explain our Deafness.  It’s inevitable, really.  Like anything else, after awhile it becomes easier to do, and there’s a way to do it in your own unique fashion.

We use labels to describe, but how we carry ourselves with Deafness seems to be an art itself.  Just like our clothes, it can say a lot about us: our personality, mood, level of confidence, taste – our style, basically.

So, it begs the question: How do you wear your “Deaf”?

My observations are summarized in these 5 main styles:

Undercover Prefers to skip the explanation altogether and conceal deafness, using hair or hats to hide hearing devices, if worn.  May be difficult to pull off depending on hearing level. Says, “What?” a lot.

Bluffer Might have attempted option D above.  Depending on level of bluffing skill, this guy could also seem medicated.

Arty Type Heavy into colored ear molds and sparkly add-ons.  Children are usually somewhere nearby having just asked where they got said ear molds and add-ons.  Convenient since Arty Types are the ones usually hosting the Signed Story Hour.

Flying Fig A real come-as-you-are type. No concealing or raging about it.  This guy’s doing his life and is happy enough to be Deaf.  He’s too busy crafting new ways to pull off his shenanigans.

Loud and Proud A Passionate Advocate and Super Hero.  Revolutionizing Deafness for the Greater Good.  Usually has an attorney.

The reality is, of course most of us are not just one of these, but there are pieces of each in all of us depending on the day.  When it comes down to it, I want to communicate effectively through positive interactions.  The means we use to achieve that are diverse and is what gives us our unique style in how we go about it.  People take their cues from us.  Let them see what’s great about our community.

So wear your Deaf with Pride.

Wear it with Passion.

Wear it with Confidence.

Wear it with an Open Heart.

Wear it with Love.

This article first appeared on The Limping Chicken.

If you enjoyed reading this article, please subscribe to the blog by signing up in the sidebar.  Or follow me on Facebook or Twitter! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Do You Wear Your “Deaf”?

previously

How to Get a Deaf Person’s Attention
How Do You Wear Your “Deaf”?

up next

Deaf in the Drive-Thru
You Might Also Like
Hearing Loss Holiday Hell – How to Avoid it
Hearing Loss Holiday Hell – How to Avoid it
Posted on November 24, 2021November 20, 2022
10 Deaf Fitness Pitfalls
10 Deaf Fitness Pitfalls
Posted on August 31, 2014November 4, 2022
Deaf at the Dentist
Deaf at the Dentist
Posted on October 20, 2017November 26, 2022
The 10 Most Dangerous Places for a Hearing Aid
The 10 Most Dangerous Places for a Hearing Aid
Posted on March 27, 2014November 5, 2022
10 Signs You’re in a Deaf House
10 Signs You’re in a Deaf House
Posted on March 24, 2014November 22, 2022

What do you think? Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

No Comments Yet.

Subscribe Via Email:

Featured Post

10 Signs You’re in a Deaf House

10 Signs You’re in a Deaf House

VIEW the POST
Copyright © 2023 Sound for Light. All Rights Reserved. Site designed with 🤟🏻 by Eyeth Studios