The Effects Of Hearing On Children With Disabilities

Have you ever wondered the differences between deaf and hearing cultures? Last week I had a chance to watch "See What I Mean" and this video gave me a humorous and enlightening look at the differences between them. In this movie "See What I Mean", issues such as attitudes toward time, taking time to say goodbye, complain about the use of phones and pagers, sharing information, giving and receiving criticism, and comments on personal appearance are explored and humorously discussed from the point of view of both cultures.

Disability has been a difficult topic of society for years. Many people find discomfort in the presence of the disabled and many feel pity for those who are disabled. Back in the 1800s, the disabled were perceived as unable to contribute to society, often forced to undergo sterilization, and forced into institutions and asylums (“A Brief History”). In fact, this treatment of the disabled and mentally ill has been persistent until somewhat recently, when the Civil Rights movement took place, and those with disabilities decided to take a stand for their rights. Although people with disabilities continue to face difficulties in finding jobs, legitimizing their opinion, having the right to vote, and choosing whether or not they receive or refuse

In “Through Deaf Eyes” you will find a range of perspective on the question what is deafness? This film is a balanced presentation of deaf experience. I believe that the film does a good job of revealing the struggles and triumphs of deaf people in society throughout history. The documentary covers a span of close to 200 years of deaf life in the United States. You will see experiences among deaf people in education, family life, work, and social activities.

This documentary does an excellent job of advocating for the acknowledgment of people who are deaf within society. This is shown through not only the brilliantly written and performed poems of the students but also in the basic, everyday struggles each of them face, such as the desire to fit in or be valued by those around them. Deafness is not a specific to any gender, race, culture, or religion. The struggles many people who are deaf go through are relatable to all and

The deaf community does not see their hearing impairment as a disability but as a culture which includes a history of discrimination, racial prejudice, and segregation. According to PBS home video “Through Deaf Eyes,” there are thirty-five million Americans that are hard of hearing (Hott, Garey & et al., 2007) . Out of the thirty-five million an estimated 300,000 people are completely deaf. There are over ninety percent of deaf people who have hearing parents. Also, most deaf parents have hearing children. With this being the exemplification, deaf people communicate on a more intimate and significant level with hearing people all their lives. “Deaf people can be found in every ethnic group, every region, and every economic class.” The

Article one Deaf Culture Tip Sheet written by Professor Linda Siple (2003) provides a detailed description on the Deaf culture and highlights some suggestions for effectively communicating with people who are deaf. The author first explains the different terminology within the Deaf culture that are used to label

This movie gives an account of the history, modern life, and personal experiences of the deaf and those in the Deaf community, along with their families. Viewers are shown interviews, mini-movies, pictures, and video to illustrate the information presented in this film. Through Deaf Eyes delves deep into deaf history and life, gives viewers interesting insights into the experiences of the deaf through mini-movies, and has permanently altered my understanding of these experiences.

In the novel “Deaf Again” by Mark Drolsbaugh, the reader is taken on a journey through the life of the author himself, from birth all the way to present day. Drolsbaugh, a once hearing child but now Deaf adult, takes readers through the struggles and situations he faced as a child born into the Deaf culture, yet still forced to try and suppress his deafness when his ability to hear started to decline. The author shares his experiences of becoming “deaf again”, and how he had to learn for himself what being Deaf really meant in regards to not just in his own life but the people in it. Drolsbaugh’s novel explores many of the issues and debates surrounding Deaf culture, while still giving his personal views and understandings on what it really means to be Deaf.

The book Shouting Won 't Help by Katherine Boulton is a memoir and guide about being hearing impaired. Her journey about having a bilateral hearing loss: profound deaf in one ear and severely impaired in the other ear. It is a part memoir and a part scientific study about her experience. The book is organized using the author 's personal experience while also explore series of questions about the different types of causes of deafness - environmental and medical factors, the social stigma attached to it, the professional challenges faced with hearing loss and the technologies that help. At the end of every chapter, the author includes a titled chapter “Voices” about other people 's stories about their hardship and experience.

Despite the perceived limitations of being Deaf or hearing impaired and various forms of oppression and social injustice, Deaf Americans identify themselves as members of a cultural community and linguistic group – which highly values literacy. Through the use of American Sign Language (ASL), Deaf and hearing impaired individuals and groups are given a unique way to express themselves personally – and with that, a totally different way to communicate through hands, faces and bodies without the use of sound. “Deaf culture focuses on the stimulation of the eyes and the enhanced visual

90% of all deaf children are born to hearing parents who never thought much about the deaf community (Bat-Chava). That is why in mainstream society, the quality of being deaf is seen as a disability rather than something to be praised. The common view of deafness is that it is simply a person who cannot hear and “is deficient in some way because

When we speak about deaf individuals, why is it important that we have specific programs for deaf individuals? Why are regular services inadequate? The obvious answer is that these services can often times be tedious and overly stressful to someone with a disability due to a poor ability to communicate or feel “understood”. However, though the deaf community resides and interacts with the same population in the United States, there are serious misconceptions about deaf individuals as well as

The deaf community does not see their hearing impairment as a disability but as a culture which includes a history of discrimination, racial prejudice, and segregation. According to an online transcript,“Through Deaf Eyes” (Weta and Florentine films/Hott productions Inc., 2007) there are thirty-five million Americans that are hard of hearing. Out of the thirty-five million an estimated 300,000 people are completely deaf. There are ninety percent of deaf people who have hearing parents (Halpern, C., 1996). Also, most deaf parents have hearing children. With this being the exemplification, deaf people communicate on a more intimate and significant level with hearing people all their lives. “Deaf people can be found in every ethnic group,

The Deaf population in the United States is composed both of individuals Deaf since early childhood and individuals who lost their hearing later in life. The "Deaf Community", a heterogeneous mix of people from all walks of life, represents every socio-economic and racial category. However, this group of people consider themselves "a community" because they are bound by a common culture, history, heritage and, most importantly, a common language. This language, which forms the foundation of the Deaf Community, is known as American Sign Language (ASL). ASL is a beautiful and expressive visual language that holds the Deaf Community together. (Lake)

Mark Drolsbaugh spent the better part of his childhood trapped in between two worlds, neither of which he felt at ease. Transitioning from hearing to deaf and everything it involves, Mr. Drolsbaugh has certainly seen it all. Deaf Again focuses predominantly on the story of a deaf boy, attempting to conform to the lifestyle that was comfortable for everyone else surrounding him; to a shameless, culturally Deaf man sharing his experiences and viewpoints with the nation. Drolsbaugh discusses heavy topics such as education, acceptance, awareness, and self- perseverance. He goes on to give his opinions and ideas on cochlear implants, how to raise a deaf child, and fusing the two communities (Deaf and hearing).