HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

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Repost: Death By Hearing Aid (Not For Kids)

The spirit of Halloween prompted me to re-post Gruesome Death Involving a Hearing Aid from 2009.

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I remember this scene from Freddy's Dead - The Final Nightmare (1991). It scared me as a kid. Now looking at it, it's hilarious. But it still makes me cringe. It shows a guy, Carlos, being tormented by Freddy Kruger. Freddy uses Carlos' hearing aid to kill him in a horrible way. Poor Carlos.

Who came up with this idea?

Oddly enough, when I saw it as a kid, I thought it was cool that they included a hard of hearing person who wears a hearing aid. I was like, "Someone like me!" Sadly, this was the only hard of hearing person I remembered seeing on T.V. or in the movies at the time.

WARNING: This clip is pretty gory. It may be offensive to some. Not recommended for kids.




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My Goodness, This is One Weird and Scary Commercial!

Check out this weird and creepy commercial about a laughing doll! Yikes. If you cannot hear the doll laughing, consider yourself lucky. Visually, it is creepy enough.

If I could have a Halloween party, I would play this commercial in a continuous loop on a large screen in a small room and dare people to sit there in the dark and see how long they can stand it. Wouldn't that be fun?

I know, I'm sick.

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What Are You Dressing Up as on Halloween? Any Deaf or Hard of Hearing Themed Costumes?

If you celebrate Halloween, and love dressing up for it, what do you think you will dress up as for Halloween? Will some of your costumes be deaf or hard of hearing related?

Like the last three years, I will most likely wait until the last minute and will be too lazy to dress up or wear a costume. I think if I were to do a deaf or hard of hearing related costume, I would figure out how to creatively incorporate the "Deaf Child" or "Deaf Child Area" signs. I like the "Deaf Child At Play" sign.

From Child At Play Signs.

I am not sure how I would incorporate it, without hurting anyone's feelings or being too controversial. Any ideas?

But, knowing me, I will probably not dress up and I will walk around the neighborhood and visit different bars and venues where people congregate, many of them dressed up in various costumes. Then I will kick myself wishing I gave myself more time and put in more effort in dressing up.

If any of you will dress up for Halloween as something that is related to being deaf or hard of hearing, please let us know! And if anyone decides to wear a costume incorporating the Deaf Child sign, share your pictures!

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Halloween Related Posts

Here are some spooky and Halloween related posts I wrote in the past:

• Cute Bat Stickers + Hearing Aid = Happy Halloween
• Creepy Jack-O-Lantern Picture
• Cell Phone Use in 1928? More Likely a Hearing Aid
• My Hearing Loss Sometimes Scares the Crap Out of Me!
• I Feel Like a Creepy Stalker Sometimes

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Free Educational Resources from American Academy of Audiology

I found some great educational materials on the American Academy of Audiology's website to use with my students who are learning more about hearing related things. There are links to all of their worksheets and posters on their site, Turn it to the Left!, where they are campaigning to raise awareness about the dangers of exposure to loud sounds and to raise funds for research in noise-induced hearing loss.

To download and print their free resources, click on Educational Resources tab on the Turn it to the Left! website.

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Medical Alert System for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People?

A reader would like to know if there is a medical alert system for deaf or hard of hearing people to use at home. Because of his medical condition, in case he gets injured, he is afraid that he will be unable to call for help through traditional means if he is alone at home. He does not use or know sign language. He would like to use a system that would help him communicate with the operator or person contacted through the medical alert system.

If there is such a system for someone like him, please let me know. If you have any questions, I can ask the reader and get back to you with his answers. Or he may just leave a comment or response here.

If there is no sort of medical alert system for someone like him, I suppose he can tell the operator or person contacted his issue and let him and her know that he is deaf and will be unable to hear what is being said. At least someone would know the problem and then send someone over as soon as they can.

Thank you in advance. Would appreciate your help. And please do not leave "I've fallen and I can't get up" jokes.


Below is a commercial demonstrating how a typical medical alert system works:






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Re-Post: Pros and Cons of Being 'Hard of Hearing'

Today I had a conversation with someone about what it is like for me to have this hearing loss. I told her about the frustrations that can come with being hard of hearing, but I also spoke about the positive aspects. While it is good to talk about the realities of things (usually negative) I think it is important to look at the bright side as well.

This discussion reminded of this post I wrote in 2009 called The Pros and Cons of Being 'Hard of Hearing' which includes a list of what the pros and cons of being hard of hearing are for me.

I copied and pasted it below. Feel free to add to the list!

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The Pros and Cons of being 'Hard of Hearing'


Having a hearing loss or being hard-of-hearing means to have little hearing function in one or both ears. Simply it means to not hear very well. While everyone who has a hearing loss will not share the same exact experiences, they will no doubt share much of the pros and cons of being hard of hearing.

Yes, there are pros. :)


CONS

1. Repeatedly making others mad or irritable when asking them to repeat themselves ("Eh? What? Huh?").

2. Appearing rude or snobby (I am not ignoring you! I simply didn't hear you.).

3. It can be frustrating to be in the middle. I will never be Hearing and sometimes I am not "deaf enough".

4. Missing most of what is being said in a movie, that is if most of it is dialougue and if it is not captioned. It is tiring and frustrating to strain to hear what is being said (most actors look away while talking or there are many noisy and visual distractions, making it hard to follow what is being said).

5. Being the last one in on a joke or funny discussion within a large group of people in a noisy place (like a crowded restaurant, cafeteria, or bar). Usually when I ask about what was so funny, no one is willing to repeat it, because the moment has passed.

6. When my hearing aid suddenly goes out or stop working during an important meeting.

7. When my neck and shoulders are sore and tense after a long day of meetings and classes (from constantly straining to listen).

8. Repeating idiotic things or what I thought the other person said ("What? A robotic salami?").

9. When someone or something is unexpectedly coming at me to my left side (profoudly deaf side).

10. When people try to have a conversation with me while in another room or when I am sitting in the backseat of a car while they are in the front.

PROS

1. I have become pretty good at lip reading.

2. My hearing loss inspired me to learn sign language.

3. I can block out noise when I want to by simply turning off my hearing aid and keeping it on (it acts as a really good ear plug).

4. I can block out sounds when I sleep by sleeping on my good ear.

5. It made me who I am today.

6. I've developed an interesting accent.

7. I don't have to worry about losing my hearing when I get older and I don't have to get used to wearing hearing aids like most people will when they are older.

8. It gives me something to write about for my blog.

9. I respect and can understand others who have hearing losses.

10. I have the best of both worlds: the hearing and the deaf.


What other pros and cons are there to being hard of hearing? What are your thoughts? I would like to hear from everyone (hearing, hard of hearing, deaf, or Deaf).
Please leave a comment!

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5 Important Things I Learned in Preschool

• It is not a good idea to grab a bumblee-bee sitting on a flower.

• Just because I overheard an adult say it on television, doesn't make it right for me to repeat it to my teacher. She did not seem to appreciate me asking her, "How's it hanging?"

• It's not nice to start singing loudly during nap time, because some of the other kids are really trying to nap. I was also rudely interrupting my teacher's break as she relished her gossip magazines.

• If you want to be popular, start a fun game that involves imitating a teacher or a bus driver.

• No one likes a tattle-tale and people who eat their boogers.

What more did I need to know?

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MTV's Quiet Campus Premieres Today

MTV's Quiet Campus, a look at Gallaudet University as cameras follow four different deaf and hard of hearing students, will premiere today, October 24th at 12:00 p.m. ET on mtvU.



For a sneak peek, click on this link: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mtvu-explores-lives-deaf-college-250752

Should be interesting. 

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Deaf and Hard of Hearing People in Movies and Television Shows

Lately, there seems to be a lot of deaf and hard of hearing people being showcased on American television shows.

It is refreshing to see deaf and hard of hearing people, especially signing deaf individuals, being portrayed as everyday people who happen to be deaf rather than as special and sweet, mute, naive, objects of pity, desperate to fit in and hear, sex maniacs, or as living in a "world of silence." Although, I don't doubt that there are plenty of pathetic, sweet, and naive deaf and hard of hearing people out there. Some of them are promiscuous and some would like to hear or be a part of general society, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I am just tired of seeing movies or television shows portraying deaf people as anything other than ordinary folks. I don't want to be thinking to myself, as I watch some show or movie with a deaf character in it, "I know, I know. You're deaf. Enough already!"

Below are two persons from recent 2011 television shows. I think both shows do a good job depicting deaf signing people in more positive and interesting ways.

Leon Lim on Work of Art 2

This is Leon Lim, a contestant on Bravo's Work of Art Season 2. He is from Malaysia whose artwork was selected for TIME Magazine's Person of the Year Edition. I personally like his public art installation piece, The Last Chairs (pictures below):

Photo from Leon Lim's website.

Photo from Leon Lim's website.

Thus far, I like how the fact that Leon is deaf is not focused on too much in Work of Art. He is seen signing when interviewed or when interacting with others, but you will hardly see the interpreter. While he does talk about growing up deaf and such it seems as if the show is more about Leon as an artist, which is how it should be. I do think it is interesting how there is one contestant who spoke for Leon a few times, trying to help with what I assume she thought were communication issues. I thought to myself, "Okay, girl, Leon can take care of himself. If he has a problem, I am sure he will say something." 

Sean Berdy on Switched at Birth

I like Sean Berdy's character, Emmett, on Switched at Birth. He is cool, confident, and smart. For the most part, there is not too much focus on his inability to hear, instead the wonderfully ridiculous teenage drama takes over.

Photo from Sean Berdy's website.

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A Student Explains to His Class How He Hears

According to his classroom teacher, one of my students, a fifth grader, openly talks to his teachers and peers about his hearing loss. His teacher thought it was interesting when he explained why he was unable to hear some sounds, such as a bird chirping outside, while he can hear other sounds. She said that he used terms such as "high frequency" "pitches" and "degrees". He spoke to them about a variety of hearing related things such as hearing aids, sign language, speech, communication issues, and how we hear with our brains. She is impressed with how articulate he is. He is considering doing a project about hearing loss and is currently busy picking out a specific topic he would like to focus on.

Wow! It sounds as if he has been listening to me talking to him about his hearing loss, what it is and what it means. I can't believe he has been doing his own research about various deaf and hard of hearing issues.

But, I am also happy that he explores other interests, such as football and collecting rocks. I would be concerned if he obsessively focused on talking about and researching hearing loss. He knows that there is more to him than his hearing.

By the way, this is the same student who told his parents that he wants to be an advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing when he grows up. 

Interesting kid.

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Playing the Deaf Card, Eh?

I was reading Oodles of Charm's post occupy occupy occupy and came across something interesting that I think is worth discussing. The post is about the Occupy Wall Street rally from the perspective of the writer, a deaf or hard of hearing young lady.

By the way, I am not going to really discuss here how I feel about the Occupy rallies and protests. The only thing I can say is that I think some people attending these things are there for legitimate reasons while the rest are there because they want to socialize and stand on their soapboxes.

In this post, the writer described playing the deaf card to avoid talking to a seemingly belligerent man who argued with her friend.

For the next twenty minutes he berates and bullies Alexis on her views about the economic crises, socialism, taxes, smirking vaingloriously if her answers didn’t come fast enough. I don’t hear most of it (maybe she’ll blog out the details) but at one point he does address me. I am not having it and play my favorite card. 

“I’m deaf, ” I say. He squints his eyes as if I am dismissing him. But when I point to my hearing aid he asks Alexis “Is she serious?” I wish I can seen the look on her face, but all I see is the back of her head nod. He then says to me “I’m sorry, did you hear what I said? I mean, did you see what I said?” We had a good chuckle over that one. Later, I snap a photo of him standing in the crowd with a confused expression. 

ljm80's response (censored, see uncensored version under original post):

Too bad that you chose to play the deaf card rather than take the time to explain to the “a--hole” why you were there and why you think it is important. Not only did you completely dismiss him, you denied yourself the opportunity to attempt to have an intelligent or meaningful discussion with the man and to explain to him why he was being an “a--hole” and why you feel that what the occupiers are doing is important. Instead, the man will walk away thinking, “Oh, this deaf person does not know what is going on, because the only response this person could come up with is, “Oh, I’m deaf.” 

I absolutely hate it when people play the deaf card. Playing the deaf card is totally dismissive and unecessary.

My response:

I think most people have at some point played the deaf card, whether they like to admit it or not. I have here and there. Whatever the reasons, we know it is not right. I think it would have been better in your situation to have said, “I don’t want to discuss this with you.” instead of saying, “I’m deaf.” However, like you said, you are not proud of it and you are working on these issues. We can never know how we will react in certain situations.

The only times I can remember playing the deaf card was when I wanted to avoid people aggressively begging for money. I would not feel comfortable playing this card with the intention of making someone feel bad or to pity me. I know some people who have. I cringe to think about someone depicting themselves as helpless and naive because of their deafness. I hate to think that there are people out there intentionally portraying us as pathetic victims of our deafness.

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Unprofessional & Unqualified Interpreters, Better Than No Interpreters?

I came across this article about a high school student who filed a complaint with the Iowa Department of Education because she felt she was provided poorly trained interpreters with inadequate skills.

Here is part of the article:

“It’s interesting to me that there’s never a question if a teacher has to be highly qualified,” Prickett said. “And yet the person conveying every word to the child would not have to be highly qualified?”

Moratz — a straight-A student — is deaf in her right ear and wears a hearing aid in her left, where she has partial hearing. Her first three years of high school were spent with interpreters who were using temporary interpreters’ licenses and had not passed the national test.

 The results were devastating, she said. At times, her interpreter would translate inaccurately or skip words because she couldn’t keep up.

 Other times, some of her interpreters would engage in conversations with others, making it difficult for Moratz to pick up key conversations and educational instruction.

Moratz wrote a 16-page report for her advanced composition class in May, calling for stricter sign-language tests and a required four-year degree.


The family’s complaint was dismissed because Iowa law allows districts to hire people with temporary interpreter licenses, which are granted to employees who have not passed the test. Such licenses can be used for up to four years. Catherine Moratz, Meghan’s mother, said that’s too long.

“She would come home from school and be so upset, but there was nothing we could do because the law said a temporary license was essentially the same as a license by exam,” Catherine Moratz said.

“Last year I would sometimes come home and just cry,” Moratz said. “It was so frustrating.”

But Lisa Van Sant, Jayden’s mother, questions whether having no interpreter is better than using an interpreter who can’t pass the test.

How frustrating.

What are your thoughts? Discuss!

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Disney Sing Along Songs

Remember Disney's Sing-a-Long-Songs? The bouncing ball? I loved them as a kid.

I found a YouTube site, ACMESingALongSongs, where they include several different sing-a-long videos. Some are the original sing-a-long videos from the 1980s and 1990s while some were newly added.

Below is their recently uploaded video, just in time for Halloween, Grim Grinning Ghosts. This song is the theme song for the Haunted Mansion attraction at Disney amusement parks. I think the video is kind of creepy. The woman's head in the glass globe freaked me out.




http://www.youtube.com/user/ACMESingALongSongs

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Oh, No! Hearing Aid Battery Died! What Should We Do?!! Ack!!

I had a student whose hearing aid went out unexpectedly while at school first thing in the morning. The battery died. Her first period teacher emailed me in a panic asking me what she should do. She wondered if I should call her parents. She insinuated that the student was freaking out.

I responded with an email (names excluded for privacy reasons):

Thanks for letting me know.

She should have extra hearing aid batteries on her. We have talked about this before. If not, then continue the day doing what you plan to do just like you would when she has her hearing aid (use closed captioned films, write important information on board, face student, don't cover your mouth when speaking, etc.). She is in high school now, I expect her to advocate for her hearing needs and let you know how you can best support her in the classroom. Do not allow her to use her situation as an excuse for not doing work or participating in class.

While it must be annoying and frustrating for her to be without her hearing aid, I am certain that she will get through the day fine. If for some reason she needs to talk to me, she can call me anytime.

I will be at the school sometime tomorrow. I will talk to her and remind her why it is important that she keeps extra batteries on her while at school.

I will email the other teachers and let them know. I'll call her mother, so that she is aware of the situation.

Thank you.

I saw this student the next day. As expected, she survived the entire school day without her hearing aid. She actually was surprised that she did okay. She proudly showed me that she was carrying two extra packs of hearing aid batteries in her back pack.   :)

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The Muppets' Bohemian Rhapsody, Closed Captioned

Enjoy!

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When Mainstreaming Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students Work

I have written about some of the problems and issues I come across in mainstreaming deaf and hard of hearing students in public schools, at least where I currently work. Of course how it works for some deaf and hard of hearing students depends on several different factors.

I think it is fair to discuss how mainstreaming can work extremely well for many of my students. Some of them fit right in and the issues they come across are easily solvable, thanks to teachers, staff members, and classmates willing to help, listen, and learn.

I have one deaf student who first came to us last year and attended one of the high schools. She previously went to a school for the deaf. Several things happened that led to her being mainstreamed.

Unfortunately, when she first came to us, she had poor language skills. Her signing did not make any sense. She was unable to communicate effectively with her interpreter and with others. She would try to vocalize her needs and thoughts, but only a train of vowels would come out. She preferred to talk and was reluctant to sign.

However, thanks to her patient teachers, awesome interpreter, and wonderful classmates, little by little she started to communicate more using signs.

Starting from the beginning, everyone attempted to learn sign language so that they can communicate with her. Even some of the custodians at her school learned and used some basic signs with her. Later on in the school year, her sign language started to make sense. She started signing more. She stopped trying to soley communicate verbally. Her interpreter takes the time to explain everything to her in sign language, to model and demonstrate, to encourage her to express herself in sign language, and to interact with others. Now when I see this student, she smiles and asks me questions in sign language. I am able to have a conversation with her now. Her signing is not perfect, but she is getting there. She has come a long way thanks to her teachers, classmates, and interpreter at this school.

I am thrilled with how well she is doing.

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There is a Time and Place For Everything

I am sure many of you have heard the phrase, "There's a time and place for everything, but now is not one of those." I wish more people would stop and say this to themselves before leaving ridiculous and mean comments that have almost nothing to do with certain blog posts, videos, and forums. For example, is it really necessary to leave such comments in response to the video about Sarah Chulman? Is it really necessary to discuss whether or not the video is fake? Is this really the time to voice your opinions on cochlear implant and hearing devices? Is it important that we talk about how she apparently does not talk like a deaf person? Do you really think anyone is going to care what you think?

I thought the video was great and it was interesting to watch her reactions to hearing in a new way. It must have been a very exciting and overwhelming moment for her. I was glad that a lot of people got to see this video because it is proof that yes, some people with a significant hearing loss can talk. But, I also think way too much attention is being paid to this. Let's move on please.

It would be best to let go or give it a rest if every comment or response you leave in forums and blog posts is about an issue or two that you are upset about. For example, if you have something against signing deaf people and you read a post about how someone saw a person use sign language with their child, it would not be the right time to leave comments about how you think deaf cultured people need to stop pushing sign language on everyone. Even though the post included sign language in it, this comment would be irrelevant. If you are offended by cochlear implants and saw a video about a little girl reading a story about an elephant out loud, you may leave a comment about how cochlear implants are being forced on children by evil greedy doctors. Why? Because it is obvious, by looking, that the little girl happens to be implanted.

Like everyone else, I am bothered by many things, such as television shows censoring only the closed-captions but not the audio portion. However, you will not find me leaving comments about this issue on a blog post or forum that has nothing to do with censorship or closed-captioned television shows. At least I hope I would not be so thoughtless. For example, it would be waste of time for me to leave a comment griping about how some television shows censor only the closed-captioned portion on a blog post discussing how they enjoy watching Bravo's Project Runway while eating strawberry ice cream. If you find me doing this, please slap me. Obsessively leaving several comments about this issue in blog postings and forums I visit is not going to do anything but annoy people.

Please, for your health, don't let some issues take over your life. It is not worth it.

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Interview With a Consultant on Deafness For Movie 'Mr. Holland's Opus'

I was looking at information online about typical Hollywood movies of super devoted teachers willing to sacrifice their personal lives for their students. One of the movies I came across was Mr. Holland's Opus. I almost forgot about this movie. I searched for more information and found a website that included an interview with Carl Kirchner, a consultant on deafness for this movie. I thought it was very interesting and I would like to share it here.

For those of you who have not seen Mr. Holland's Opus, it is a very emotional drama about a musician who begrudgingly accepts a job teaching music in a high school to help pay the bills. During his free time he worked on his real passion, writing and composing music. But then he got sucked into teaching, decided that he loves it, and that he is really good at it. Eventually, he becomes completely devoted to teaching to the point of neglecting his wife and his deaf son.

At least that's how I remember it. I thought the movie was eh, okay. Perhaps I will write more about what I thought of the movie in a later blog post.

Here is an excerpt of the interview from Hands and Voices:

An interview with Carl J. Kirchner, executive director of TRIPOD, an innovative public school program for the deaf and hard of hearing in Southern California . Carl was the consultant on deafness for the movie, "Mr. Holland's Opus".


Interviewer: The parade scene was powerful to me. It really brought back the feelings I had when I suspected a hearing loss in my children. Tell me about it.


Carl: The parade scene was accurate. Brandi, the baby used, was profound, the fire engine noise was real, not dubbed in. Right before the shoot, everyone around was saying, "Shh....don't wake the baby!" I was laughing my head off, saying, "The fire engine isn't going to wake her, just be sure not to bump the stroller!"


I: Why was the oral method the only option presented at the child's diagnosis?


C: In the 1960's, oralism (no gestures or signs) was in vogue. Sign language was considered a bastard language. It wasn't until the 1970's that sign language was recognized as a language with its own linguistics, etc.


I: Is the portrayal of the main character, Mr. Holland, as not being involved in his son's life, a common role for fathers of hearing impaired children?


C: Well, his reaction was obviously what the movie was about. But is was interesting to see how the actors, Richard Dreyfuss and Glenn Headly, approached their roles. Richard chose to only learn enough sign to do his job. Glenn, on the other hand, came to the shoot saying, "I want to learn this language. Please teach me." And she spent hours practicing and refining her skill.


Please read the rest of the interview here:

http://www.handsandvoices.org/articles/misc/opus.html

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Repost: Educational Interpreters

Did You Work With or Have Educational Interpreters?

If you worked with or had an interpreter in an educational setting, I would like to hear from you. I would especially like to hear from those who had interpreters while they were mainstreamed in a public school.

What are some things you liked about having or working with educational interpreters?

What are some things you did not like?

Do you feel that they helped you? Why or why not?

Do you feel that you would have been fine without the support of educational interpreters? Why or why not?

What are some things you would have liked to have seen more of from the educational interpreters you worked with or had?

I would appreciate your answers. I only want to hear from those who worked with or had educational interpreters. I would also like to hear from those who are currently working with interpreters in a school setting, whether you are a student, teacher, or school staff member.

Thank you!

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If applicable, please leave comments for For Those Who Worked With Itinerant Teachers.

I Had a Dream About a Monkey Sign Language Interpreter

Photo from Markle1

This dream I had was too funny and bizarre that I wanted to share it here.

I was sitting in a small class trying to follow what a teacher was saying as he paced back and forth talking at a fast speed, his arms waving around as he got excited. There were probably four other people in the class, but I could not make out who they were. I was getting frustrated because I could not understand what the teacher was saying. I wanted to do well on the test. Then the teacher turned around and I saw the strangest thing. On his shoulder facing me, a tiny yellow monkey stood. It started moving its hands around. It looked like it was fingerspelling. I started laughing. I couldn't believe it, a monkey sign language interpreter! Ha! But, I could not understand any of its signs. I wondered out loud what kind of sign language the monkey was using. The teacher turned around----

And I woke up.

Weird, huh?

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Related Post: Weird Dream: Keith Wann Forbade Me to Wear My Hearing Aid