FAQ
FAQ
Frequently
Asked
Questions
So I hate the word 'need' in this context. Many Deaf and hard of hearing people can speak in English and many can't speak in English. However, learning to speak ASL hurts no one and doesn't limit a child's ability to learn English. Even with ASL, there are ways to ensure the audible language in your home is accessible - Check out Cued Speech/ Cued American English. The biggest issue is ensuring the brain has easy access to complete, not partial, access to language. Many children in the language learning part of their lives (even with a mild hearing loss) end up missing too much information - Language Development
Hearing does NOT equal Understanding. So often people don't realize how much a child (or adult) is actually missing or having to guess to fill in the blanks. Imagine a time you heard someone speaking, but didn't understand what was said. Look at how often you say, "huh", "what?" , "say that again?" or you missed the announcement at a store. That's every conversastion at every time - especially when background noise is added. Don't assume the ability to hear is the same as the ability to understand. This goes for kids with a minimal to moderate hearing loss as well as kids with auditory processing concerns. Sometimes kids with hearing loss also have additional auditory processing concerns, but it's very difficult to get this diagnosed due when a hearing loss is also present. So often the ability to speak in English or another auditory language hinges on the brain's ability to process the sound it does hear.
This question might be right up there with can Deaf people drive. Probably the number one question that frustrates Deaf an Hard of Hearing individuals everywhere. You see lip reading is a very specific skill that MANY (if not most) Deaf and Hard of Hearing people CANNOT do. I mean I can't lip read. Can you?
Truthfully, the ability to lipread depend on MANY factors, but not limited to the fact that only about 30% of the English language is clearly seen on the lips IF everything is ideal (perfect lighting, clear enunciation, known vocabulary, no accent, no mustashe, not wearing a mask,etc...). Even the best lip-readers have to do a LOT of guessing and relying on context. Just look at the word "gum' vs "cup' they look identical. Lipreading is NOT a fully reliable way to access language. In fact, for kids learning language it's not a good tool at all. How can you lip read and learn the language at the same time?!
Deaf vs. deaf typically refers to a cultural (Deaf) vs medical (deaf) perspecitive. Culturally the Deaf community typically speaks ASL, may or may not speak in English, and see Deafness as a community/cultural identiy. Whereas deaf typcially is looking at the hearing level and is focusing on 'fixing' the deficit. As a whole, the terms Deaf or hard of hearing are widely accepted. While some individuals prefer hearing impaired, as a whole, it is largely frowned upon to use that phrasing.
There is a growing movement to be inclusive with the term Deaf. So I, like many others, use the term Deaf to include all Deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled (Deaf+), DeafAutistic, and late-deafened children.
While it is natural to go through a grieving process upon learning your child has a hearing difference (hearing loss). It's going to be ok, and we don't need to pity, or be sorry for someone just because they are Deaf (hard of hearing). It's like being sorry because we're human. It's not needed.
Some Deaf speak in English, Spanish, French (or other audible languages), Some Deaf speak American Sign Language, British Sign Language, Auslan (or other visual languages), yet some speak both or a combination of languages. Some speak audible languages through Cued Speech. Some Deaf people are multilingual, some are multimodal (visual + auditory languages or visual + literate in another language), some are monolingual. Yet, I know another group of people just like that and they can hear. Deaf and hearing people aren't so different, the biggest key is EARLY complete access to language.