Lately more and more people recognize the fact that I am Deaf by the way I talk. The first time someone said told me that they could tell that I was deaf by my speech was when I was in group therapy the beginning of this year. I was surprised and hurt at first. So used to everyone praising me for how well I could speak I was, that it felt almost like an insult for someone to hint at the fact that my speech was laced with a deaf accent. But I quickly grew to accept that. I've been so much more open with my Deafness, telling people right off the bat that I am hard-of-hearing (gets less of a violent reaction compared to Deaf) and I need them to repeat what they just said. I know that there is a world out there that fits me so well, a Deaf community that I am a part of, that accepts me. It makes it so much easier for me to survive and function in the hearing world.
Does anyone else have a similar experience? Please do share!
I've also been increasingly more interested in interpreting songs into ASL and possibly recording myself and posting it on video. If it does work out, I will be sure to share with you! I now have three years of signing behind me and I'm proud of how far I've come along (though I do have a ways to go!).
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Are these people familiar with deaf people? Must so, if they know what a deaf accent sound like. Otherwise, they would be asking "your accent is very different, where are you from?" (I had several people commented my accent and ask me what country i am from. I tell them that I was born and raised around here and the reason I have this accent because I was born profoundly deaf and used hearing aids all my life)
ReplyDeleteI think you are going to get more comments like that than ever because of the battle of how young a person should be implanted vs. Deaf don't need implant at all-they're-still-be-deaf (and prove they still sound like the older generation of deaf before ci came into the picture or older generation deaf speak as well as ci users)
Back then, it was "wow, you speak well for a deaf" to "i know you are deaf by the way you sound" and now ci users get told they speak well for a deaf". technology change things. i dont blame deaf for being strong on ASL, it a living language that evolves and timeless...unlike my speech and hearing as it can't be improve as that old analog hearing aids and the language the came with it is part of me forever. I have CI but it doesnt really change a thing except a few tweaks especially the loudness.
They were familiar indeed with the deaf accent. You make a really interesting point there about the change of the way one comments on a deaf person's accent, caused by technology. Thanks for pointing that out!
ReplyDeleteBlessed be.
I was recently at a program for teens with hearing loss and this topic came up. I have never been personally told that I have an accent (except Texan), but nearly everyone else there had some sort of experience similar to yours. Like anonymous said, they typically asked "Where are you from?" rather thank thinking that they were deaf and often start guessing German, Slavic, French, and more. One of the counselors said that he smiles and responds, "It's North American, Hearing Impaired." I thought it was a light-hearted, simple response to a (typically well-meaning) person.
ReplyDeleteI will be keeping that response in mind for next time - I love it!
ReplyDelete