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

Ask the Children

I have asked my students about their hearing aids and cochlear implants or other devices they use to help them hear better. Every single one of them (from 2nd grade to 7th grade) did not know much about their devices. Some of them could name them. But, if I ask, "How do they work?" "What do they do?" "Why do you wear a hearing aid or cochlear implant?", most of them would not know how to answer.

As a result, I am working with all of them to learn more about the technology they use. I would like them to be able to tell other people about their devices as well as their own hearing loss. It is part of advocating for yourself. A very important skill.

I believe that the more you know about yourself the better you can help yourself and others.

If you have a child or student with a hearing loss, ask them about their hearing aids or cochlear implants. See what they know and understand. You would be surprised.

When I asked one of my 4th grade students about how his cochlear implant works, he told me, "Huh, I never thought about it." When he found out more about his cochlear implant and how it actually works he seemed intrigued. I think he is starting to understand why he processes speech differently from others.

(e

School Cafeteria Noise

What I absolutely despise about the school cafeteria is the noise: The cacophony of screamingly loud chatter, the clank of lunch trays, and the screech of chairs. As a person with deafness, the noise makes it impossible for me to have a conversation. The noise is so great. . .Read More

*See my guest blog on Fed Up With Lunch: The School Lunch Project 

(e

Should I Be Worried?

A tiny piece of plastic broke off my hearing aid. Should I be worried? Is it time for a new hearing aid?

(e

Are You a Sneaky Deaf?

This is a hilarious video clip from Sue Sylvester of the TV show GLEE.
She is talking about 'sneaky gays'. She rants about how she can't tell who is gay anymore, and it confuses her. She says, "Now you could be sitting next to a sneaky gay right now and you'd never even know it." She advises sneaky gays to "swish it up!" meaning go all out and claim your homosexuality so that she won't be so confused anymore about who is or who is not gay.

"Cause' if I can't tell if you're gay, how will I know who to judge?"  Hilarious.

For those of you who don't know about this actress, Jane Lynch, she plays coach Sue Sylvester on GLEE and she recently came out. I absolutely LOVE her. She cracks me up.

The captioning sucks. Sorry.


(via LadyGatza)

So, are you a sneaky deaf? Do you go around hiding your hearing aids or cochlear implants, pretending to hear what everyone is saying by nodding your head and smiling? Are people constantly confused about your behavior, wondering if you don't like to listen or if you are a little slow when it comes to having conversations?  Then you may be a sneaky deaf.

Anyone can be sitting next to a sneaky deaf and may never even know it. And that just don't sit right with me.
You should be able to see a deaf person a mile away. 

Don't pretend that you are hearing. Stop it. It's confusing and exhausting. You are not doing anyone favors. "Swish it up a bit!" Tiny in-the-ear hearing aid covered by your long hair? "Swish it up!" I want to see enormous BTE hearing aids with colorful ear molds. Wear your hair up. Put stickers on those suckers. Try rhinestones. Hell, go for flashing lights if you can (and let me know how I can do the same). Tell everyone that you are deaf, hard of hearing, hearing challenged, whatever. Just speak up! Then maybe people won't be so confused by your actions and make negative assumptions about you.

(e

Weird Dream: Keith Wann Forbade Me To Wear My Hearing Aid

I think I have been spending too much time writing my blog and reading other blogs about deafness related issues.

I had a lot of strange dreams last night about not being able to wear my hearing aid while attending an event hosted by Keith Wann. He made me take it out for some reason. He said something about how it was interfering with his radio.

I remember having to deal with captioning issues. One neat part of my dream was when I could use a device to caption in real life what people were saying in a crowd. I used a device that created speaking bubbles above their heads. However, it captioned what I really heard, not what they were really saying. So instead of the speaking bubbles containing clear understandable sentences, they would look something like, 

"DfRehghgdvh it was chjgfd. You know hjdgsdgy jdhagdy bhgddi? Sometimes, I do not sfghy!"

It was a nightmare.

(e

Book Recommendation for Bullies

For those who resort to name calling and bullying to try to influence people to be more like you, whether you are a hardcore oralist, a sign language nut, a Deaf Culture fanatic, or if you are out on a mission for every child with deafness to use the Auditory-Verbal method, this book is for you:

How to Win Friends & Influence People

 

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Book Recommendation for HOH People: Missed Connections

I am reading a very good book called Missed Connections: Hard of Hearing in a Hearing World. It contains several personal accounts told by members of a support group for people with deafness. I highly recommend this book, especially to those who consider themselves hard of hearing. 

Here is an excerpt from the book that talks about the difficulties of not fitting in both the hearing and deaf worlds (pages 23-24):

In high school, Karen rarely participated in clubs or went to large gatherings. "Mostly, I think I was alone," she told me when I talked to her in her parents' living room. "I mean, I was very alone. I didn't talk much in class. I didn't raise my hand in class. Most of my friendships were one-on-one. . . .I never went to any of the parties or social functions. . . ."

[On switching to a residential school for the deaf]

"I had a hard time learning signs," Karen began. "Well, not so much a hard time, it was just---it was for them to accept me. It took me almost to the end of that year to be accepted by Deaf students. . . .I took my hearing aids off one day in class and the teacher said, 'Karen, you put those hearing aids back on!' (Laugh.) I said, 'Well, I was seeing how it was to be like the other kids for a change."

I find myself nodding in agreement. It is nice to know that I am not alone. For a long time, I thought I was the only one who seemed to have trouble fitting in anywhere, especially during high school. I never thought it had anything to do with my deafness. I thought I was just a weirdo who did not know how to socialize normally. But, I feel the same way when I am with a group of signing deaf people. For the most part, I am able to follow along and participate in the discussions, but I never feel like I truly belong. I suppose the only time I truly feel like I belong (outside my good friends and family) is when I am with other people like me; in between.

(e

People With Typical Hearing Can Learn a Thing or Two From People with Deafness

I was talking with someone I know and as usual I had to remind her that she should not cover her mouth with her hand or look away as she speaks to me. She apologized and then she stopped what she was doing and told me that she learned a lot from me since she met me. According to her, I made her realize how she normally talks to people (which is looking away as she is always busy doing something). She thinks it is nicer to stop and look at someone when talking to them.

I think with the texting and other distractions, we tend to forget how to communicate and speak with someone in a polite and friendly way. We forget the importance of face to face contact.  So, I suppose I am constantly making people stop what they are doing and have a face to face conversation, like how it should be.

(e

*Getting off topic here, I have decided to stop calling people with typical hearing, "hearing people." I like the idea of "people first" as in people with typical hearing. 

Self Advocating For Your Hearing Needs Is a Useful Tool Proven By Yesterday's Events

Yesterday, my car would not start. As I tried to turn the key in the ignition, the alarm blared loudly. "HONK! HONK! HONK!" Somehow I set off the alarm system and it completely locked up.

So, luckily I have access to an excellent roadside service company. I called them and they said that it may take them more than an hour to get to me because I was in a rural area. And  luckily, it was a pretty day, no rain, and I was within walking distance to a school I work at. 

I got my purse and locked the car. I walked over to the school. It was awful because I had to walk along a busy road in tall un-mowed grass and mud. So much for my new shoes.

At the school, I ran into one of the custodial persons there. We have become really good friends over the school year. When he found out that my car would not start he immediately offered to help after getting permission to leave work early.

Later, he tried to jump my car and it still would not start. That confirmed that it was the stupid anti-theft deterrent system keeping it from starting. I lost my remote control alarm thing a long time ago. I think if I had that it would have solved the problem.

He stayed for a long time trying to figure out how to help get my car going. He even called his son to come with tools to help.

Finally, after an hour and a half, the roadside service company called to say someone will be coming in ten minutes. My friend left and I waited for help.

Thirty minutes went by and help finally showed up. Much to my demise, my help had no teeth and looked down and mumbled when he talked. Plus he was wearing a blue tooth head set, and it was hard to know if he was talking to me or the person on the phone.

I immediately explained to him that I have a hearing loss and am completely deaf in my left ear. I told him that he needs to look at me when talking and I made a little joke about how I will be driving him crazy by asking him to repeat himself several times. He instantly stopped looking at the ground and mumbling. He started talking slowly and gesturing. I could actually understand most of what he was saying! He actually listened!

Wow, this self advocacy stuff works!

Anyway, he somehow got the car to start and told me, enunciating every word,

"What-ever y-o-o-o-u d-o-o-o. DON'T turn OFF the car. Dr-i-ve it all the w-a-a-a-y h-o-me and then ta-a-ake it t-o-o-o the dealership t-o-o-o-morrow."

"Ok!" I said. As he drove away I let out a huge sigh of relief and drove out of the parking lot on my way home. Finally!

Wait, not so fast. I screamed as I realized that I needed to get gas. I forgot that I was supposed to do this right after work. 

Great.

As I drove slowly yelling at nothing, my car would honk three loud consecutive honks. It did it every two minutes. People were looking at me. I got the finger a few times.

So I drove to the nearest gas station that happened to be next to a car parts, repair, and maintenance shop. I thought that this would be a good place for my car to be if it were not to start. I filled up my tank and went in my car hoping that it will start. Of course it did not. The horn blared at me angrily. I took out the horn or the device that makes the horn sound, and then went to the car parts, repair, and maintenance store.

Two and a half hours and two different men helping later, my car finally started again.

Again, I advocated for myself and said that I have trouble hearing. I am so glad I told one of the guys this because he tried to talk to me as he was under the front hood of my car while I sat in the driver's seat waiting for instructions. He needed to tell me when to start or turn on my car. I couldn't see him and therefore could not hear him clearly. We came up with some hand signals to help me understand what he was trying to say. It helped tremendously. After trying several different things, he was finally able to figure out how to override the security system.

So, the point of this story is that usually when you tell people about your deafness or hearing loss they will be more than accommodating. And if they are jerks then you know to ask for help somewhere else. I suspect that these people are very helpful by nature, but if I had not said anything about my hearing loss, imagine how much harder it would have been. Even though some of them could see that I wear a hearing aid, it is not enough. I have to tell them about my hearing loss and then work with them to come up with ways we can communicate effectively.

Self advocating is a useful tool, my friend.

(e

Beep, Beep, Beep.

At some schools, their intercom will make three low tone beeps before someone makes an announcement.

"Beep, beep, beep. Goooooood morning! Mah wah wah the call bwah how you can mwah wah blah blah . . . ."

It freaks me out because the beeps sound exactly like how my hearing aid beeps when my battery is low. I can never tell where sounds are coming from, so at first, I am not sure if it is me or if they will be making an announcement.

(e

Leprechaun Hearing Aid Wishes You a Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Created by (e and one of her students using Paint program. I am surprised that Paint has ASL font! (sorry it's so tiny).


(e

Interpreters Make Hearing People Laugh With Their Funny Faces

As most of us know, hearing people are not as expressive in their body language and facial expressions as deaf people are when they sign. So of course I find lots of videos on YouTube where hearing people are laughing and making fun of interpreters' facial expressions and body movements. I don't think they mean to be ugly. It is something they are not used to.

By the way, why don't we have interpreters (down in the bottom right corner) on T.V. here in America? I remember we used to in the 1980s on some shows. I don't see this anywhere on T.V. now. It would be nice to have this.

Here is a video posted by Katie1234x. You can hear a woman laugh hysterically in the background. It is not funny at all. It is really boring to watch. But it is so interesting that this woman found this to be hilarious.
There are some videos where the interpreters are really into it while interpreting a music video. I can understand why those kinds of interpretations can seem funny.



(e

My First and Last Acting Gig in a Deaf Student Film

Someone just reminded me that I acted in a student film while living in New York. I completely forgot about it. Wow, that was ages ago.

It was made by a deaf student (one of my classmates) and most of the actors were deaf and hard of hearing and the dialogue was predominately in ASL.

I don't know if she ever finished or released it. But, I hope, for the love of God, that I will never see the part I played. I am a horrible actress and absolutely hate being on camera. I would rather be behind the scenes. Somehow the director convinced me to be in the film. I played a "crazy" person in an insane asylum.

Why couldn't I be the person who sits in the background reading a newspaper? I have always wanted to be the over-acting extra in the background.

My hair was made to look stringy and greasy. My skin pale and dry looking. I think I wore pajamas.

When I was commanded to act "crazy" and yell into the camera several times, I think the director came to the realization that she made a mistake.

It was humiliating. I felt like I was being hazed for a sorority. She kept telling me to do it again and again and again. I don't think I ever got it right. Finally after what seemed like hours, she said that I did great, but I think she was just being nice.

Maybe they cut my part out. I certainly hope so!!! I would die if I see the film anywhere online and there I am.

It gives me the creeps thinking about it.

Overall, the experience of being a part of a film made by deaf people using ASL was interesting. I have been on several student films before (not acting) and they were nothing like this film. The actors were very good. They were very expressive and the use of ASL really added to the film. People were able to "talk" on the set because they were signing. The director could give directions via signs never making a sound. I developed a real appreciation for ASL being on the set of this movie.

(e

Poor Cousin Peg

 

 (via walleye711)

Woman:  What's she doing here?!

Man:  You told me to pick up Cousin Peg!
Woman:  No! I said to pick up a dozen eggs!
Man:  A dozen eggs?!

End of commercial,  Woman: Peg lives in Ohio! 

(e

Hilarious Hearing Aid Commercial

Wouldn't you love to have sonic hearing?



(Via pcasey69)

(e

What Is the Point of This?

When I am planning my lessons I always ask myself, "What is the point of this?" "Why am I teaching this?"
It helps to ask this. I want it to be meaningful for my students.

Today, one of my middle school students was working on a science project that involved her making a poster about grass plains. She did not seem interested in it and groaned as she copied a few graphs showing the amount of precipitation certain grass plains in different parts of the world get.

When she was at a stopping point, I asked her, "What is the point of this? Why are you doing a project on grass plains?"

She looked at me blankly and shrugged.

"Well why does your teacher want you to learn this? There must be a reason," I asked.

"Because I picked this to do a project on and we are supposed to do it."

Of course I am not surprised by this. She's a kid and she is being asked about her boring school work. But, it really bothered me that she could not come up with one good reason why it is useful to learn about grass plains. Perhaps her teacher has a really good reason and she may have explained why they must learn this. Whatever the reason, the entire project became meaningless. It was a waste of poster board, paper, markers, glue, and time.

I told her maybe it was so she can learn more about the world, how there are different types of lands. Now she knows that much of the mid-west in America has a lot of grassy plain areas. And if she wanted to move to a grassy plain area in America, she would know where to move. And she will have an idea of how often it rains there and what kinds of animals live in the area.

It is important as a teacher and a parent to ask your students/children the question "Why?"
Ask them about their school work and see how much they really understand it.
It is important for students to ask, "What is the point of this? Why am I learning this? How is this relevant?" Teachers need to be asking, "How is this relevant to my students? Why are they learning this? What is the point?"

I ask them the same question when they are learning about how we hear sounds, how their deafness impacts them, or how their hearing aid or cochlear implant works.

If they start asking, "Why is it important to know this?" maybe it will help us learn how to make it more meaningful for them. 

I don't want my students to go through life just taking what is given to them without questioning it.

So, what was the point of her doing a project on grass plains?

I may never find out.

(e

Tell Me What You Don't Like About Yourself

My favorite T.V. show would have to be Nip/Tuck. It's my ultimate guilty pleasure. This show focuses on two plastic surgeons and the super ridiculous drama that surrounds them. Their trademark line is, "Tell me what you don't like about yourself." They say this to their new patients seeking plastic surgery.

I don't watch much T.V. and when I do, it is usually to watch Nip/Tuck. 

One of the reasons I like Nip/Tuck, other than its insane drama, I like how they include several people with various disabilities and interesting lives. The running theme of the show is how we, as a society, are constantly seeking perfection and usually the way we seek it is to try to change how we look. Most of the people on the show strive to look younger, cooler, and more hip. While they may look beautiful on the outside, it doesn't help stop their souls from rotting. So they change from being "ugly" and miserable to "beautiful" and miserable.

So, I ask you, "What don't you like about yourself?"

If it is your hearing loss, would you, if you had the chance, gain or restore 100% hearing from a simple surgical procedure? That is if you knew there would be no complications and no hardware or special gear to wear on your ears. 

I would assume the answer would be, "Yes! Sign me up!"

Would I do it if I had the chance?

I don't know.

The first thing that comes to mind is, "Yes! Sign me up! But, if others who had the procedure are still OK after five years, then I'll do it!"

I am one of those people who waits until other people do it to see if it is safe.

The idea of getting normal hearing is strange to me. I really don't know how I would react once it is the day of surgery.

Also, it seems scary to me that it may change who I am as a person. I know it is something that people with typical hearing, who grew up with it, to understand. One thing that would not change, would be that I would still use CC when watching T.V. I just know I would. :)

But, then again, it would be great to be able to hear from my left ear. I would be able to talk on the phone using my left ear, which I have never been able to do. It would be nice to see what it would be like. I am sure the noise would take some getting used to. I imagine how awful it would be to be able to hear clearly how loud some people chew their food.

But, then again, I would miss being able to choose when I don't want to hear. I like sleeping on my good ear to block out the noise. And I like my blue and white ear mold.

So my answer is still "I don't know."

(e

LOVE

I was looking at videos I've made and came across this one. This was from a few years ago. I have forgotten about this. It makes me want to draw now. It has been a while since I have drawn or made any paintings.



(e

Can You Hear This? What About This?

I feel my students' pain when they talk about their classmates asking them annoying questions about their hearing aids, cochlear implants, hearing loss, or FM system. One of my students told me that his classmates kept playing with his FM sound field box.

An FM sound field box that he uses looks something like this:

Except, his is much bigger. He has to leave it on his desk or wherever he is in the classroom. The teacher wears a microphone which transmits her voice to the FM box and out of the speaker. This way he hears the teacher's voice more directly from wherever she decides to stand in the classroom.

So, anyway, he is annoyed with some of his classmates who play with the FM box and ask him to turn it up and ask him questions like, "Can you hear this?" "What did she just say?" "Can you make it louder?"

Ugh, I know what he's talking about. I remember how some of my classmates and friends would ask me stupid questions such as, "Can you hear this?" as they whisper in my good ear. Then they try my deaf ear. Then they will stand behind me. "Can you hear this?" "What about this?" "What did I just say?" They tried different voices and made then loud and soft.
I was a fun experiment to them.

But, kids are naturally curious. I don't think they mean to be annoying.

The teacher and I had a talk with them. And for now, they have stopped, much to my student's relief.

(e



*photo from Centrum Sound Systems

Rare 1928 Helen Keller Clip (Captioned)

"I am not dumb now."



(via DCMPNAD)

(e

The Pink Foam Stuff

My favorite part of getting a new ear mold is when they squirt that foamy pink stuff into my ear.

I love the sweet medicine smell, the coolness, and how it gradually expands in my ear and becomes stiff. For a moment, I become profoundly deaf in my right ear. On top of being profoundly deaf in my left ear, every little noise is blocked out and becomes muffled. It is both offsetting and calming. It is similar to swimming underwater.

I like it when they gently pull it out, revealing a smooth pink mold. It reminds me of a newly born pink mouse. It's kind of cute.

When I was a kid, I absolutely loved this part. 

I hope they never change it!

(e

*Here is an interesting post from a blog by a student of audiology. It shows pictures of the pink foam stuff they use to make ear impressions.

Here is a video of the whole process:

                     (via earincdotcom)

Should We View Deafness With a Medical Model Viewpoint or a Cultural Model Viewpoint? Or Both?

I read a post on Deaf Read called Illinois Folks Speak Out for Hearing Aid Coverage. It is very informative and I suggest you take a look at the videos. These videos are of people talking about how hearing aids are a medical need, not cosmetic. Therefore, they should be covered by insurance.
I am all for it, of course.

It got me thinking about discussions people have of medical model vs.cultural model of deafness. The medical model focuses on how deafness is a disability and needs to be corrected and the cultural model focuses on deafness being a difference not a disability.

For me, I look at deafness with more of a medical model viewpoint. I view deafness as a disability for the most part (depending on the situation). I think about what degree of hearing loss someone has and also ways we can help the person function in the real world. I don't think it is just about "fixing" the hearing loss. It is also about ways of dealing with it so you can go out and communicate with people effectively, get a job, get around fine, etc. This could mean to learn sign language, learn how to lip read, get hearing aids, cochlear implants; whatever floats your boat.

Most hearing people have a medical model viewpoint, and this will probably always be the only way they will view deafness. They may look for "quick fixes" such as using cochlear implants. But, of course it is a lot more complicated than that. We can't just fix it. I think most people with the medical model perspective tend to be obsessed with the idea of fixing hearing loss. They would like to put a band aid on it and call it a day. But it is more than that. It is about learning to accept your hearing loss and finding ways to deal with it.

Many articles I found written by deaf people tend to favor the cultural model which they make obvious in their writing. I have a little bit of this viewpoint. I don't only think that deafness is a disability. There are times where my "disability" becomes an "ability." I think that I am lucky that I can choose not to hear at certain times (like when I need to sleep and it is noisy; I just sleep on my good ear and I am greeted by much needed quiet). I certainly don't think I am disabled at times like this.

I think it is important to consider both models. I keep both viewpoints in mind, but I still have more of a medical model viewpoint.

I can understand why many deaf people, particularly signing deaf people or anyone involved with Deaf culture would favor the cultural model. Because then the focus is off of their deafness, (why they are deaf, and how they can fix their hearing), onto themselves as people (what they can do, who are they, not just a person with deafness, deafness is not a disability, etc.).

However, after watching the videos from Hearing Aid 2008's blog, I realize how important it is to consider and accept the medical model of deafness.

Why is it important? Because if we are trying to get hearing aids covered by insurance what good is it to tell everyone that you do not have a disability? 

Deafness is not a disability? Really? What if I am in a classroom of small children and I have to mediate various spoken discussions they are having?  This would be a total nightmare for me. In this situation, I have a disability, especially if I do not wear hearing aids. I think a teacher with typical hearing would do a better job.

If you are deaf or have a hearing loss it makes sense to say that you have a disability. You are disabled if you are in situations where you need your hearing aid or when you rely on an interpreter. If you cannot function 100% on your own in certain situations because of your hearing loss, then yes it should be considered a disability.

If we focused more on the cultural model of deafness and expect others to not view deafness as a disability, then why should insurance companies take us seriously and consider hearing aids to be a medical need that should be covered by insurance?

Hearing aids are a medical necessity and they should be covered by insurance. Without my hearing aids I would struggle a great deal and would have to make a lot of changes in my life. 

Which model do you agree with more? Are hearing aids medical necessities that should be covered by insurance?

(e

Paisley and Gold Butterfly Stickers + Hearing Aid = Kind of Ugly

I chose light blue paisley stickers and gold butterfly stickers this time. I think it looks kind of ugly.

If you are wondering where I am getting my stickers, I get them from the drugstore's nail/beauty aisle. They are designer nail art stickers. They work great and are easy to take off. There are hundreds of different designs to choose from. I used the same type of stickers for Valentine's Day.

(e

Opinionated Deaf People Turned Workshop Into A Madhouse

Reading some posts online about angry deaf people and people leaving culturally strong deaf communities for personal reasons reminded me of a situation I had a few months ago.

I attended a workshop with some co-workers. The workshop was about how to prepare for the deaf education certification test (for educators and professionals who want to work in the education system with deaf and hard of hearing individuals). Many signing d/Deaf people attended the workshop. It went pretty well in the beginning, as we learned about the test format and how to best prepare for it.

Suddenly it turned into a pro-Deaf rally. People were bringing up completely irrelevant and touchy subjects for no reason. Some stood up on a table and signed furiously in the air. There were some shouts and a lot of cheering. The presenter looked frightened, and the idiot let them take over.

It was no longer a workshop, it became a madhouse.

A lot of people ranted and raved. Random questions and statements were thrown around: "Why can't this deaf person be allowed to drive the truck for this certain company?" "We must protest this institution, this store, this library, etc., etc." "This test is biased!" "Deaf people have no rights!" "I am hungry, where should we eat after this?"

Some complained about how the test only focuses on mainstreaming, speech, and aural rehabilitation. This is so not true, I took the test recently and it covered everything, from ASL to cued speech. That's the reality of deaf education, everyone is different, we are not all learning ASL or raised the same as everyone.

They were so wrapped up in their ideals that they could not stop to realize that this is not the time and place for this.

At times the presenter left the room. The other people who were hearing or deaf but did not sign, looked uncomfortable and irritated. A woman near me said, "I thought this was about how to take this test."

It was a total waste of time. I was pissed that I spent a beautiful Saturday listening to a bunch of irrational whining babies.

(e

My New Blue and White Ear Mold

I decided to get a new ear mold. 
I have been considering getting a blue or pink one for a while. 

Why? 

Just for fun. I've seen my students and other people with ear molds in different colors and I liked the way they look. 

 

Also, I was tired of looking at the yellow wax stain on my clear ear mold.

I chose blue and white. I think it looks quite nice; like a pretty blue sky with fluffy white clouds. I like how it brings more attention to my hearing aid, so that most people will know that I may have a hard time  hearing.

What do you think?  Do you love it? Or do you hate it so much that it makes you want to poke your eyes out?

Would you consider getting a bright colored ear mold? 
Why or why not?  

*Also, for those who may be worried about decorating your hearing aid with stickers, you can see in the pictures how easily they come off.

I included some pictures of me wearing it, so you get an idea of what it looks like. Sorry, I was having a bad hair day; I did not feel like getting pretty for the camera.

(e

What Do Wind Chimes Sound Like?

A lot of amazing things happened this week and I did not have much time to write about some of the experiences, until now. Here is one of them:

I was hanging up some sign language charts on the walls in a classroom and noticed a small wind chime hanging nearby. One of the students, a hearing child, made it move. Being that I have a severe-profound hearing loss in the high frequency areas, I could hardly hear it.

I asked the student, "What does it sound like?"

He paused for a moment and then said, "Sounds like angels laughing. You know if we can hear them laugh, I think they would sound like this."

This came from a second grader.

I almost fainted from the sheer profoundness of his statement.

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*Photo from Flcker

Another ASL Interpreted Music Video "Crazy"

One of my readers, J.J., told me about b storm, a performer who interprets popular music. He is awesome. I like how he moves to the beat of the music, as in the video below of Gnarles Barkley's "Crazy." Check out his Marilyn Manson video too.

Enjoy,

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Yes, I Know. Thank You.

I often see a little of myself as a kid with a hearing loss in some of my d/hh students. Some of them do exactly what I used to do when I was their age. It's so strange to see the past repeat itself. For example, one of my students often say, "Whoop" or "Oop" instead of "Whoops" or "Oops." I used to do the very same thing until someone corrected me.

With one of my students, whenever she is complimented she usually says, "Yes," "Yup, I know," or "Uh, huh, I know." The other day her classmate said to her, "Ooh! I like your drawing!" My student responded, "Yup, I know."

I have told her quite a few times that it is nicer to smile and say, "Thank you." We have been over this several times over the past two weeks.

This morning I told her, "Wow! You look so pretty today!" She smiled and opened her mouth, then paused a moment. She was thinking, which was good.

Finally she said, "Yes, I know. Thank you!"

LOL. I love my students. :)

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