Deaf/Hard of Hearing

Posted on: Thu, Dec 27 2007 1:17 PM

Posted by: painterzwife Posts: 4

 Karen. I have a question for you as a parent. Do you find that your children take advantage of your hearing loss? I have three children and my husband is Deaf. All three know when I am out of the room and when Dad is in charge. They take advantage of that and it drives me nuts! Do you have an suggestions for us?

 Thanks!

Painterzwife.
 

Posted on: Thu, Dec 27 2007 1:49 PM

Posted by: Pattiecharm Posts: 4

I have a mild hearing loss in both ears, In elementry I went to a school that had a deaf/hard of hearing program. Also the kids there were understanding to the special needs kids wich made school easyer. Growing older was harder, I had to tell people to speak up so that I can hear them, I still struggle  with  it today. All schools  should have the programs  for the deaf and  the hard of hearing, we like to learn  to. Look at Helen Keller, she  did not  let herself be held back, she  did something with her life. 

Posted on: Thu, Dec 27 2007 2:18 PM

Posted by: Deaf Mom Posts: 705

Ah, kids will be kids and they'll take advantage of Dad's inability to hear what they're saying when Mom's not around.  What you can do is sit down with the kids and let them know that it's not acceptable.  If they misbehave in a manner where they take advantage of Dad-- there's gotta be a consequence to that action or a privelege taken away.  

With both me and my husband being deaf, our kids get away with some stuff that we can't catch.  Some days, I just have to say a prayer that I'm raising them with a good head on their shoulders and they'll do the right thing!

Posted on: Thu, Dec 27 2007 4:48 PM

Posted by: painterzwife Posts: 4

Ahhh,  the Deaf nod. It is done with Deaf in a hearing atmosphere and hearing with the Deaf. I have been caught doing that by a few Deaf. I have also caught a few Deaf. It is funny when we catch it. we usually laugh. I have learned to just ask. Most Deaf are very understanding of us slow signing hearing people.

Posted on: Thu, Dec 27 2007 5:19 PM

Posted by: painterzwife Posts: 4

 Thanks for the advice. This is kind of a new thing as my little ones are only 5 and 2, but I hear them in the other room when I step out. I am not sure what my husband catches and doesn't. Dad's aren't always as tunned in to the kids as moms are. He has recently started saying they seem to be doing this. I will pass on your advice to him and hopefully we can come up with something that will help them understand this is not acceptable. I have seen it with many of our Deaf friends. Their kids say things that if the parents knew what they were saying, would reprimand them, but because they can't hear it they have no idea.

The behavior isn't bad at this point, thank goodness, but I would not want it to get worse. :)  

Posted on: Mon, Jan 7 2008 10:47 PM

Posted by: deaf_kid17 Posts: 1

 I have been hearing impaired since I was 18 months old. Doctors do not know how I became so. And I also have fluctuating hearing, which is apparently pretty rare. I have had two seizures, one in which I lost hearing, and another which did not affect me.

I go to a public school and I have been surrounded by hearing people all my life. I barely know alot of sign language, just enough to get by. I have a job in a retail store as a cashier. I do most of my communication from lipreading, which I am very skilled at.

I am now 17, and getting ready to graduate high school. Any advice for college?

I plan to be a teacher of the deaf. Because I feel I can be a good role model to them and show them that we can make it out in the "real" hearing world too. We're just as good as anyone else. 

Posted on: Tue, Jan 8 2008 4:53 AM

Posted by: Deaf Mom Posts: 705

HI Deafkid17, welcome to Disaboom!  College was a fun time for me-- I hope you have a blast as well.  For info on becoming a teacher in deaf education, go to www.deafed.net.  There's a list of colleges with deaf education majors there.

Since you say you've been surrounded by hearing people all of your life, you will want to explore the deaf community and get to know deaf and hard of hearing people.  Check out your local clubs and events and immerse yourself in meeting new deaf and hard of hearing people and kids near you.

Watch www.deafhhcareer.com in the upcoming weeks-- I will be featuring some deaf and hard of hearing teachers on the site.

Posted on: Tue, Jan 8 2008 11:29 AM

Posted by: Debbie Posts: 3,878

hi deafkid...cool kid too! good luck in college. i hope that you meet some new friends here.