March 30, 2010

The Word "Hearing Impaired"

Ok, I know we are not supposed to say "hearing impaired." But, I want to hear from everyone their thoughts on this.

When was the word hearing impaired considered not the politically correct thing to say? Did this happen during the 90s? Does anyone remember when this started? I would love to hear from someone who remembers this. Just curious. I think I was too young to remember or care when the term hearing impaired was being questioned.

Is there anyone out there who still uses the term hearing impaired and are deaf or have deafness themselves?

But we have to admit, our hearing is impaired. I don't think it implies that we are impaired ourselves. Just our hearing. 

Personally, I don't like the term hearing impaired. It sounds archaic and weird. I also don't like the term hard of hearing, even though I feel compelled to use it a lot.

(e

24 comments:

  1. I had no idea I wasn't supposed to be saying that. I typically say that instead of "deaf" because people tend to think I can't speak then (people can be weird about it).
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  2. The word "impaired" is a sticking point. So is the word "hearing" when that word has no meaning in the Deaf community except as a label for those who depend on their ears.

    We need better words since the ones we have are loaded with negative connotations, but for some reason people prefer to keep them rather than get creative.
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  3. I think no matter what you use, People will see it as a negative word, because they view deaf itself as negative. Use deaf and wear it with pride.
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  4. It seems like the emphasis is on what you can't do instead of what you can. I'm not ashamed that I can't hear well, but I compensate really well and therefore prefer the word deaf or hard-of-hearing, though hard-of-hearing isn't the best description since most people see that as just a 'minor' hearing loss rather than major. No matter what labels people use, it doesn't matter as long as they mean well.
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  5. I use the term hearing-impaired to describe myself (but not others who have hearing loss, since it's obviously a term not all people are comfortable with). I never understood what was so offensive about it, but Dianrez's comment made it much clearer to me, I hadn't ever thought of it that way. However, since I'm usually talking about hearing loss in the medical sense (rather than the Deaf culture sense), it serves its purpose for me. I agree with Megan, people can get a little bit weird about the word deaf. I usually start off by telling people I'm hearing-impaired (or have a profound hearing loss), but once they know me I'm comfortable enough to use the term deaf when referring to myself.
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  6. I agree with Dianrez. I cringe at the term "impaired". It reinforces the typical hearing person's viewpoint that d/Deaf people are just broken versions of what should be "normal". It's also why I personally cringe at the phrase "hearing loss". Many culturally Deaf people are not at a "loss.

    However, I talked to a person who graduated from a state school for the visually impaired. His reasons for why he prefers the term "visually impaired" are actually similar to the reasons why I hate the term "hearing impaired". He felt that the term illustrates the fact that people who are visually impaired are not necessarily "blind", i.e. they normally have some degree of sight. I HATE using the term "hearing impaired", but I will respect the visually impaired and give them that label (though I'm still practicing to say it without cringing).

    I had been curious about why people use the terms "hearing loss" and "hearing impaired". This blog has given me the opportunity to finally ask: Why? I want to understand all viewpoints.
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  7. What makes them think my ears are broken? We only have the challenging abilities. We do not need any pity from naive people!
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  8. It's a term developed by hearing people and has no 'deaf' origin. It was a knee-jerk response to being politically correct in the face of rising deaf awareness. The system needed a term to describe non-cultural deaf, HI is a collective term for them and has nothing to do with deaf as I understand it. It is just misused that way. I'm still getting a pain in the butt from the deaf approach of isms lol.... give me HI any time :)
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  9. Interesting comments! Thank you. Keep them coming.

    I find myself using different labels at different times. For example, when dealing with strangers in public I simply tell them that I don't hear very well. Sometimes just pointing to my hearing aid is enough. When describing others I will say deaf or a person with some degree of deafness. When I am at the airport or anywhere, where my hearing is useless, I am deaf. Therefore, I let others know that I am deaf.

    (e
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  10. The standard model since the '60's has been that the members of a minority get to choose our own name for ourselves. For me, the major objection to HI is that (as MM said) the term was "developed by hearing people and has no 'deaf' origin". Other minorities get to choose their own identifying terms - we should, too.

    As to what to tell strangers, none of the labels seems to work very well. 'Deaf' often gets odd reactions. I am told that AAVE makes little distinction between the 'f' sound and the 'th' sound. That fits some of the reactions I get (You’re Death – have you come for me?). I have switched to telling strangers "I need to see you to understand you". This seems to get me what I need more often and with less fuss.

    David
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  11. I'm acquired deaf, I am what it says on the tin, but am constantly frustrated by Deaf and Hearing like who attach a label or labels quite unconnected to my area or sector. You get those people who as soon as they read deaf, offer sign language ask me questions on culture, and the other side, if I say that isn't my sector they say I must be hearing or Hard of Hearing then, so I say, wrong again !

    My deafness was acquired, what other 'label' IS there ? I gather Americans use the term 'deafened' I don't buy that either, because it suggests my deafness was caused as a result of injury or accident or something. I acquired it, end of ! I don't think terms or labels have added an iota frankly, it is mostly for those people who need to say "Look I am here !"and need a label to suit, or perhaps some knee jerk reaction to 'born deaf' 'D' people, who are cornering all deaf images via culture or something. So much simpler just to say Deaf people are those that cannot hear, and the others are those that can with assistance. We are 'The Assisted' lol...

    Everyone is after another ID.....
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  12. @ (e: I can see that aspect too. I must use different labels around different people. I refer to myself as culturally Deaf around hearing people. This is so I can illustrate the fact that I grew up in a Deaf family. However, I am far from culturally Deaf in Deafworld. In fact, it is debatable that I am even a part of the community... some Deaf prefer that I am not classified as part of the community. The label I wear in Deafworld is "coda". I see how it would be necessary to be flexible with the labels.

    @ David: Interesting point. AAVE does tend to pronounce words differently than ASE. However, I don't think the mispronounciation of the word "deaf" is due to AAVE. I actually find this mispronounciation more common among white people who are clueless about AAVE.

    "Minority" groups should be able to define themselves. I agree with that concept.
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  13. Check these 3 websites out this may help you understand better

    http://www.nad.org/issues/american-sign-language/community-and-culture-faq

    http://www.lifewithahearingloss.com/hard-of-hearing-hearing-impaired-or-deaf/

    http://www.eamo.org/SNA/deaf%20PC%20terminology.pdf


    Smile
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  14. Someone sent me an email regarding this topic:

    "This is for your information. The word, hearing-impaired is no longer used in
    New York State. As a member of New York State Advocacy for Children with
    Disabilities, I proposed the bill to eliminate the word, hearing-impaired and to add the words, deaf and hard of hearing in any prints such as textbooks, etc. Since this bill was passed, the words, deaf and hard of hearing are printed in any reading materials."

    Interesting stuff!

    (e
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  15. I must be a rebel of some sort. ;) Coming from a deaf family very involved in deaf culture, I see nothing wrong with the word hearing impaired. I tend to tell people I'm hard of hearing so that they know I can speak and hear. Not mute. But for some situations, hearing impaired fits in better. You will not find me criticizing anyone if they use that term.
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  16. MM-- You have an interesting take on this. In the US, late-deafened means you were born hearing then became deaf. Usually it applies to people who became deaf post-lingually. I should point out that this term was coined by the Association of late-deafened adults (ALDA) It doesn't use the term to deny membership. ANYONE deaf/Deaf or HH individual can be a member whether oral or not. Here I'm going to quote from ALDA on what it means to be late-deafened.

    According to the Association of Late Deafened Adults:
    “Late–deafened usually means deafness that happened post–lingually, any time after the development of speech and language. Often it means after the age of adolescence (13 and above). Usually a late–deafened adult (LDA) has identified with hearing society through schooling, social connections, etc. They are usually unable to understand speech without visual aids such as speech–reading, sign language, and/or Computer Aided Real–time Transcription (CART). They also may have lost their hearing suddenly or gradually as a result of inherited causes, accident, illness, medication, surgery, noise or other factors. LDAs also can share in the common experience of having been raised in the hearing world and having become deaf rather than having been born deaf.”

    It doesn't matter how you became deaf or what caused it. However, we are definitely talking about medical deafness, not cultural, though many of our members walk on both sides.

    Many members were born HH or deaf, and I think the reason they like ALDA is because they identify with hearing culture more than Deaf culture. We're seeing more and more young members who grew up with CIs.
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  17. I use "hard of hearing" to describe my son, but I've sometimes used "hearing impaired" without really thinking about it.
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  18. I was born completely deaf in my right ear and I rely on hearing aids, speech-reading and studying people's body language/gesturing.
    I mostly call myself "half-deaf". I sometimes use "hard of hearing", "deaf" or "partially deaf" as well. Depends on how I feel at the time or whom I am speaking to.

    I personally don't like using the terms "hearing impaired" or "hearing disability" etc as I see them as negative and they place an emphasis on what we can't do rather than what we can.
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  19. I don't really like to use hearing impaired but I don't mind if someone says I am hearing impaired since my hearing IS impaired. I prefer that people call me deaf
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  20. I class myself as hoh. But I've found I use deaf more, because I get he response I need i.e. looking at me while they speak.
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  21. Interesting - I'm the mother of 2 boys with moderate-severe hearing losses in Australia...its quicker to say "deaf", although my husband doesn't like me using that term :-) Deaf also seems here to have the implication of completely deaf, no hearing at all.

    I use "hearing impaired" all the time, as do most of the professionals we deal with (teachers of the deaf, audiologists, etc.). For me "Hard of Hearing" doesn't quite have the same directness as "hearing impaired", so i tend to use HI to get the message across quickly.

    Interesting thoughts, i'm still fairly new to the deaf community (my oldest son just turned 4), so i have no firm opinions, i'm still learning...i can only relate what i do.

    Really interesting blog, (e!
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  22. I'm severely deaf&wear two digital hearing aids & when people ask me about my hearing aids, I tell them 'I'm deaf'. the problem is tho, in the deaf community, I'm not classed as 'deaf' or part of their world because I can stil hear with hearing aids&have good speech but in the hearing world, if I say I'm hearing impaired, the hearing world think because I'm 'just hearing impaired' they think I can hear perfectly with hearing aids etc when that is totally NOT the case and it can turn into a nightmare when trying to explain to a normal hearing person why my hearing is not perfect with hearing aids etc! so it s a bit easier to just say I'm deaf. I'm neither part of the deaf or hearing world because I'm not totally deaf&im not perfect hearing. it's a pain in the butt at times but that's one of the joys of being deaf. it has it's good points(taking my hearing aids out when my husband is asking me to help with washing!)& bad points(not being able to hear my child properly) but because I lost a lot of my hearing when I was 2yrs old, I don't really remember what it was like to hear perfectly etc. I am grateful tho for what hearing I have!0:-)
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  23. The World is too Sensitive..... Your Hearing is Imapaired it is only natural to state the fact of your disability/impairment... It seams that in order to save face or ego some groups are in denial
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  24. I think good word that is used to say hearing impaired is hearing problem. We must respect to the feeling of those who are suffering from the problem. We have to use the best word or connotation for this term.
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