Can Hearing people have "Deafhood"?

I discuss the idea of whether it is possible for Hearing people to have "Deafhood", despite being hearing. I had held this vlog off for a long time, since 2008, since I did not think the time was right to discuss the idea, in view of the negative perceptions of Deafhood going around the vlogosphere at that time. However, in light of ASLNikki's recent vlog on "Hearing vs. Hearing Minded", it reminded me of this vlog, and it might now be a good time to raise this topic.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• HearingDeafhood

[stutterguy3]

What about a person that can hear but is speech impaired? What if a speech impaired person is more comfortable and confident signing and relating to Deaf than living in the hearing world? What if that speech impaired person dislikes being labeled hearing and prefers to be included in Deafhood where he/she will feel normal? Where are these strange birds to belong? What are we to make of them? Should they be accepted into Deafhood...or are they just too hearing? Just wondering...

[DrDonGCSUS]

@stutterguy3 Good question, SG. I guess it would depend on whether that person still considers themselves as more of a "hearing" person, but just happens to prefer to interact with Deaf due to their speech issues. Also, whether that person supports Deaf values, and if so, how strongly those values were held.

[aslnikki]

Hmm. Hearing people with Deafhod, can? I cant answer this question because I have not taken the workshop nor read the book yet. For one to experience Deafhood, does he/she have to be biologically deaf? If so, can we divert a little away from Paddy? Anyway, I can say Hearing people can have the "Deaf heart" and "Deaf mind".

[DrDonGCSUS]

@aslnikki "Deaf Heart" and "Deaf mind" equates with "Deafhood", in my opinion.

[stutterguy3]

@DrDonGCSUS Here's the BIG question? Can or will a person with a severe speech problem TRULY be accepted FULLY into Deafhood? If a person with a severe speech problem does not feel comfortable or confident in the hearing/speaking world...but feels comfortable and confident in the Deaf world...can that person know they will be welcomed into Deafhood with all the rights and privileges?

[stutterguy3]

@DrDonGCSUS The Deaf community is a potential home for people with a severe speech problem. There is a freedom and a joy when the speech problem is no longer an issue. All of a sudden the fear of maybe having to speak, the fear of being involved socially, the hopelessness of never having a normal life begins to fade away. When a person with a severe speech problem learns sign language and begins to live in the Deaf community, that person begins to feel NORMAL!

[stutterguy3]

@DrDonGCSUS Just like the Deaf, people with severe speech problems want to live and function in an environment where their speech problem is the not the main issue. They don't want to live in an environment where they are always afraid they might have to speak, feeling left out socially, etc. People with a severe speech problem are often very lonely and frustrated because the conversations are often only one way. They can hear what other people say, but don't have the ability to share!

[stutterguy3]

@DrDonGCSUS There are over 15 million people who stutter around the world, and many more with other kinds of speech problems. Many of us who have severe speech problems have spent years and years in speech therapy because our parents and teachers want to prepare us for the speaking world. In 1981, after years of feeling left out in the hearing/speaking world I discovered the Deaf community, learned sign language, married a Deaf woman, and now feel more comfortable and confident as a person!

[podsaich]

oh simple put.... i asked someon about different things on youtube and she lead me to here... and she asked about hearing can be deafhood if so then i can be motherhood and so on... so hearing can't be part of deafhood so just this ASLhood or CODAhood.... or something....

[ButterfliesFireflies]

@pdurr (cont) Then we discussed about the situation later the day and I told him why do hearing people insult other hearing people by calling each other deaf or dumb? Is deaf/dumb a really bad thing? He doesn't know why either. But calling hearing people "deaf" as an insult sure does show how much they see in deaf people. (cont)

[skyxavier]

@ButterfliesFireflies No, they can't BUT my son (hearing) really wants to attend-that says a lot.

[pdurr]

@pdurr cont

My husband and kids are Jewish. I attend shul with them, we light sabbath candles, I participate in other Jewish events with them but I would not call myself a Jew. I don't feel I am entitled to but folks do see me as part of the Jewish community via my marriage and children.

I am Italian but I'm sure folks from italy would totally dispute that.

we wont find answers if we dont pose questions so i appreciate ur vlogging this

peace

patti