Letter to the Editor: Deaf not dumb

People often mistake the deaf for being dumb or being plain stupid.

This is because their handicap is not easily recognised like the blind. They look completely normal but when they speak, one can tell the difference depending on how badly deaf the person is, so often mistaken as dumb.

I know because I am partially deaf myself and find it hard to hear what a person is saying. Often the person speaking does not speak clearly enough and has their hand over their mouth, which makes it difficult to lip-read. Sometimes the person is over-mouthing their speech so that the deaf can understand. In other words they look like a goldfish trying to talk, which can be very embarrassing for the person lip-reading.

I wear two hearing-aids which help a lot but I rely a great deal on lip-reading. Wearing hearing-aids really helps a lot but does not solve all hearing problems completely but without them I would be completely lost.

Often when in a group of friends, the deaf tend to easily get the wrong end of the stick in conversation, as recently someone asked me if I knew what a dairy factory was. I said “Yeah they shear wool off sheep!” I thought the person said SHEARING-FACTORY! and wondered why everyone burst out laughing. I too laughed at myself because it was so funny, but that sometimes happens if you are hard of hearing and are trying to listen to another person speaking.

Remember — deaf not dumb

Sarah Cameron,
Fifth Form