In honor of Deaf Awareness Month that takes place annually in September, I thought it would be helpful to define what deaf means. Please understand that this is my opinion; there is a lot of confusion about what deaf means.
The Definition of Deaf
As a person born with a profound hearing loss, I’ve been asked more times than I can count if I am deaf. If referring to the definition of deaf in an online dictionary: lacking the power of hearing or having impaired hearing, then, yes, I am deaf because I have impaired hearing.
BUT THAT IRKS ME TO NO END! What deaf means to me is having so little hearing that sign language is often the communication choice.* So let’s look at the types of hearing loss and where I believe what deaf means. These are extracted from a chapter in my book.
Types of Hearing Loss
Mild Hearing Loss
Mild hearing loss is a loss of approximately 25-40 decibels. People with mild hearing loss can hear stronger vowel sounds (a, e, i, o, u) but may miss some softer consonant sounds (f, s, sh, th). It can sound like everyone mumbles. Consequently, they may ask people to speak louder or repeat themselves. They may find it difficult to understand soft-spoken people and young children – especially if in a noisy environment like a restaurant. People with mild hearing loss may feel like their ears are plugged or have wax in their ears.
Moderate Hearing Loss
Moderate hearing loss is a loss of approximately 41-55 decibels. People with moderate hearing loss have trouble hearing both consonant and vowel sounds. For example, the word “schlep” is tough for me to hear and even to say. Speech comprehension becomes a challenge without hearing aids – especially if a conversation is farther than 3-5 feet away. A considerable percentage of a conversation may be missed if the voices are faint or if the speaker is not in full view of the other person. (Speaking from another room to a person with a moderate hearing loss is pointless.) This range of loss causes people to turn up the radio or TV so loud that it bothers others.
Moderately Severe Hearing Loss
Moderately severe hearing loss is a loss of approximately 56-70 decibels. People with moderately severe hearing loss cannot understand normal speech without some amplification. Without hearing aids, speech sounds like chunks of sound. For example, when my husband sneezes from another room (a chunk of sound), I often poke my head in and ask, “What was that, honey?” Even with hearing aids, speech may still be challenging to understand. Increasing the volume does not always make it clearer. Meetings and group discussions are especially challenging.
Severe Hearing Loss
Severe hearing loss is a loss of approximately 70-90 decibels. People with severe hearing loss cannot hear voices unless delivered close to the ear (from about one foot away). They cannot hear normal conversation unless it is amplified. Still, they can hear extremely loud sounds like a crying baby or barking dog.
Profound Hearing Loss
Profound hearing loss is a loss of more than 90 decibels. People with profound hearing loss may have difficulty comprehending speech even with excellent hearing aids. They may hear loud sounds, but more as vibrations than the actual tones. (I experience this when an audiologist emits a tone from the audiometer that I do not HEAR, but I can FEEL. Sign language is often the communication choice for those with profound hearing loss.*
My hearing loss
Before receiving a cochlear implant in my left ear, my left ear was severe, and the right ear had moderately severe hearing loss. Because the cochlear implant helps me with environmental sounds, but not necessarily speech, I’m not sure where my left ear range is today.
Deaf Awareness Month celebrates the Deaf Culture
There are several explanations as to what Deaf Awareness Month celebrates. I like this one:
September is Deaf Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the rich cultural history of the Deaf community, and continue the work of advocating for the rights of Deaf people everywhere.
Communication Service for the Deaf
I believe Deaf Awareness Month is to celebrate the deaf culture – defined by Wikipedia as:
Deaf culture is the set of social beliefs, behaviors, art, literary traditions, history, values, and shared institutions of communities that are influenced by deafness and which use sign languages as the main means of communication.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaf_culture
There you have it. “…use sign languages as the main means of communication” Why? Because they are DEAF.
In conclusion – its about celebrating diversity
One-third of our population has a physical disability of some sort. We are not weird, strange, or something to be fearful of. We are simply different. We are a minority like the green apple is a minority among the red apples. And just as delicious as another human being who has lived and had a story to share. As a person with a physical disability, I can tell you that being treated differently, or worse, ignored, just because I have a handicap is painful and frustrating. Not only do I lose out on not getting to know you, but you also lose out by not getting to know me.
This, I believe, is the intent and purpose of the special months, whether national or international. That is, to get to know and celebrate the gifts the deaf, blind, or whatever limiting physical or mental characteristics of a culture, bring to our world.
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*The means of communication with this degree of loss is contingent on several factors. Sign language may be an option, but it is more likely they will get hearing aids, maybe a Cochlear Implant, and lip-reading with many people. It depends on when the hearing loss occurred. A 20-year old who develops a profound loss will likely wear hearing aids and lip-read more easily than a child born with a profound hearing loss. Additionally, the parent’s choice to pursue education affects communication, special education, or regular classroom education.
