Introduction
Please start by watching this video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp4usWroDew
Being hearing impaired, or deaf, is defined as follows: partially or wholly lacking or deprived of thesense of hearing; unable to hear. The hearing impared and deaf community hold a special place in my heart, because my aunt is deaf. I grew up around deaf culture- learning some sign language and adapting how I communicated with her and her friends. I realized once I got to college though that most people hadn't been exposed to these experiences. About 421,000 United States citizens are deaf, and living in the hearing impared culture is very different than for those of us that can hear. There are many struggles and setbacks that the deaf face, though in most aspects they are able to do everything that those who can hear can do. They can drive, live alone, and hold a steady job. They sometimes have to do things differently, which makes their culture unique. Most people I know outside of my family are unaware of the deaf community and culture, so I wanted to give my classmates a chance to see what it is like.
Task
Objectives:
-Understand what causes deafness
-Learn what adaptations the deaf have to make to live "normally"
-Comprehend how the deaf communicate, and how we can communicate best with them
Process
The following links explain how a person can become deaf. There are multiple factors that can affect a person's hearing loss. It can happen from an accident, gradually with age, or like my aunt, people can be born with no hearing. There are many factors that can contribute to why a person goes deaf or is born with it, which are listed in the links below:
http://www.babyhearing.org/hearingamplification/causes/nongenetic.asp
http://www.deafchildworldwide.info/childhood_deafness/causes_of.html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/157517-how-do-people-go-deaf-what-are…
Below are links that show how hearing impared/deaf people adapt their lives to do every day tasks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIewSVRrUqI (My aunt has one of the devices featured in her home)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts-vJNsAQwE
http://www.tcnj.edu/~technj/2003/dodds.htm
The following links show how the deaf communicate, and how non deaf people can communcate with them best. They communicate mainly through sign language, and many speak as well, though it can be hard to understand if they have a speech impediment. In the case of my aunt, she is about 85% deaf. This means that she is able to hear, but just barely. To communicate and have conversations with her, my family signs, gestures with our hands, and enunciates every word slowly and carefully. Many people that do not have experience talking to a deaf person think that the louder you talk the more they will be able to understand, but that is not true. The deaf and hearing impaired are very good at reading lips, so enunciation is key.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYhAAMDQl-Q
Evaluation
Objectives:
-What causes deafness?
-What adaptations do the deaf make?
-How do the deaf communicate? How can we communcate best with them?
Conclusion
Understanding the deaf community is key, especially at a school like Whitewater, which is ranked as one of the best schools for people with disabilities. Though many people have not had the chance to get to know someone that is deaf personally, understanding their situation can help for when you do encounter someone that is hearing impaired. Though they cannot hear, the deaf community still communicates and functions like everybody else does. I have been fortunate enough to attend a deaf church and volunteer at a school for deaf kids, as well as talk with my aunt. Most peple don't get these experiences in their lifetime, and I have been lucky enough to really immerse myself into the deaf culture. Even people who are not personally affected can still benefit from understanding their culture, which was outlined in my webquest.