World Deaf Day

This Sunday is World Deaf Day.  It’s a day to raise awareness about those with hearing loss.  There have also been some very accomplished people who were not a part of the hearing world. 

You and I as we age are most likely going to experience some hearing loss.  This is a natural course of life.  There are those people however who have been born deaf so they’ve never experienced hearing sounds.

For those of us with hearing it can be hard to understand what life is like for a non-hearing person.  We perhaps don’t know the best way to communicate with them other than sign language which is not something taught to us in school.

According to one deaf person there are some suggestions on how you can best communicate:

1.  Be patient.  It can be hard at first but you can also write what you are saying down or use your phone to help.
2. Get their attention first.  Wave or tap the person’s shoulder before you talk.
3. Ask questions, don’t assume.  Don’t be afraid to ask the deaf person questions about his or her self.
4. Speak clearly.  The deaf person may be trying to lip read.  Speak normally and don’t force it.
5. Don’t give up.  If at first communication is hard, try and try again.

Your life is not over if you are deaf.  Sign language is a huge help in communicating although not everyone in the list below had access to it.  Some deaf people have had great accomplishments.

Beethoven, deaf at age 46 composed beautiful music and Thomas Edison was deaf in one ear and had significant hearing loss in the other but that did not stop his inventions. 

Additionally, Helen Keller was deaf and blind but she earned a BA degree and became a disability rights activist.   Marlee Matlin is the only deaf person to win an Oscar for a film and she has written three books and been an advocate for deaf rights.

Private Home Health Care wants to be aware of the issues that our deaf friends have to deal with during their day.  We will take some time this Sunday to raise our awareness.