Comments on: The Immense Value of Hearing http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2007-03-01/the-immense-value-of-hearing/ Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:34:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Nat Davis http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2007-03-01/the-immense-value-of-hearing/#comment-80261 Nat Davis Fri, 09 Mar 2007 21:18:06 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2007-03-01/the-immense-value-of-hearing/#comment-80261 Katherine, Have you ever considered that they perhaps are just not mindful of our needs? I dont think it is malice on their part not to keep us cued up on what's being said, I think they simply have no idea whatsoever what it is like for us. When they see us looking their assumption is we understand the conversation. Nothing could be further from the truth, ha. Katherine,

Have you ever considered that they perhaps are just not mindful of our needs? I dont think it is malice on their part not to keep us cued up on what’s being said, I think they simply have no idea whatsoever what it is like for us. When they see us looking their assumption is we understand the conversation. Nothing could be further from the truth, ha.

]]> By: Katherine http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2007-03-01/the-immense-value-of-hearing/#comment-80098 Katherine Thu, 08 Mar 2007 02:52:39 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2007-03-01/the-immense-value-of-hearing/#comment-80098 This reminds me of how often deaf folks despise how they're told by family members, friends, strangers or whoever this, "It's nothing important." This comment is often imposed upon deaf people due to their avoidance of the burden to fill them in on everything. I don't blame some deaf people for being resentful about it. Deaf people should be the decider in what they want to know regardless of what is viewed as unimportant by hearing people. Hearing people have control when it comes to filtering in or out and it's something that is not afforded to some deaf people. This reminds me of how often deaf folks despise how they’re told by family members, friends, strangers or whoever this, “It’s nothing important.” This comment is often imposed upon deaf people due to their avoidance of the burden to fill them in on everything.

I don’t blame some deaf people for being resentful about it. Deaf people should be the decider in what they want to know regardless of what is viewed as unimportant by hearing people. Hearing people have control when it comes to filtering in or out and it’s something that is not afforded to some deaf people.

]]> By: punkybrewster http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2007-03-01/the-immense-value-of-hearing/#comment-79710 punkybrewster Fri, 02 Mar 2007 22:28:50 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2007-03-01/the-immense-value-of-hearing/#comment-79710 haha I do the same thing, usually over tip the bartender the first few weeks of going to that bar works well as the bill at the end of the nice is rather nice and low, because he knows he'll get the nice tip and if he/she keeps the bill high the tip is low. gotta love that=D haha I do the same thing, usually over tip the bartender the first few weeks of going to that bar works well as the bill at the end of the nice is rather nice and low, because he knows he’ll get the nice tip and if he/she keeps the bill high the tip is low. gotta love that=D

]]> By: DCBoots http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2007-03-01/the-immense-value-of-hearing/#comment-79709 DCBoots Fri, 02 Mar 2007 22:26:06 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2007-03-01/the-immense-value-of-hearing/#comment-79709 Oh yeah, I've had that experience. The funny thing is usually in a very loud bar, suddenly the hearing people are on our level and cannot communicate well with the bartender. In fact, I usually communicate better than them. I've also noticed that the bartender tends to remember you more when you have some unique trait, in our case, deafness. I've found this to be really handy at busy bars, and it doesn't hurt to be a reasonable tipper too. Oh yeah, I’ve had that experience. The funny thing is usually in a very loud bar, suddenly the hearing people are on our level and cannot communicate well with the bartender. In fact, I usually communicate better than them.

I’ve also noticed that the bartender tends to remember you more when you have some unique trait, in our case, deafness. I’ve found this to be really handy at busy bars, and it doesn’t hurt to be a reasonable tipper too.

]]> By: punkybrewster http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2007-03-01/the-immense-value-of-hearing/#comment-79708 punkybrewster Fri, 02 Mar 2007 22:26:04 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2007-03-01/the-immense-value-of-hearing/#comment-79708 companies... AB = Advanced Bionics and Cochlear (freedom.) well just like Reebok and Nike, same thing just a different product that offers little different things. Honestly, there really isn't anyone who can say there's a big difference unless someone put an AB in the right and a Cochlear in the left, but that would be immensely expensive, not just the surgery and equipment, but for the mapping sessions the changes and the products blah blah. companies… AB = Advanced Bionics and Cochlear (freedom.) well just like Reebok and Nike, same thing just a different product that offers little different things.

Honestly, there really isn’t anyone who can say there’s a big difference unless someone put an AB in the right and a Cochlear in the left, but that would be immensely expensive, not just the surgery and equipment, but for the mapping sessions the changes and the products blah blah.

]]> By: Rose http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2007-03-01/the-immense-value-of-hearing/#comment-79703 Rose Fri, 02 Mar 2007 22:21:52 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2007-03-01/the-immense-value-of-hearing/#comment-79703 What's the difference between Cochlear implants AB or Cochlear?? What’s the difference between Cochlear implants AB or Cochlear??

]]> By: punkybrewster http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2007-03-01/the-immense-value-of-hearing/#comment-79702 punkybrewster Fri, 02 Mar 2007 22:04:10 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2007-03-01/the-immense-value-of-hearing/#comment-79702 heh.. ever meet one of those hearing people that think they are doing you a favor by trying to order for you in a bar or talk to people? heh, when you tell them it's not necessary they get all upset? I laugh at it but, understand why he did it. yeah, I'm sure you and I can relate a lot more . =) but I have no regrets. =) heh.. ever meet one of those hearing people that think they are doing you a favor by trying to order for you in a bar or talk to people? heh, when you tell them it’s not necessary they get all upset? I laugh at it but, understand why he did it. yeah, I’m sure you and I can relate a lot more . =) but I have no regrets. =)

]]> By: DCBoots http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2007-03-01/the-immense-value-of-hearing/#comment-79701 DCBoots Fri, 02 Mar 2007 21:15:57 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2007-03-01/the-immense-value-of-hearing/#comment-79701 I don't have CI myself, nor do I know sign language yet I was born deaf. I entirely empathize with your situation, and I am glad there is another out there who feels the same way I do in never quite being accepted by deaf and hearing society. It is sad that you experienced a deaf person coming up to criticize you for having CI. So much for freedom of choice. I like the saying, "different strokes for different people" and believe it especcially applies here. I have never experienced criticism for considering CIs but once, as a kid at a mainstream school I was playing with my hearing friends in the rain and had taken off my hearing aids to prevent their getting wet. An older deaf girl watched me and took the opportunity to criticize me for taking the hearing aids off, despite the logic of preventing any damage to them. I had never met her before, and was never given the chance to explain myself. The experience, while less dramatic than the ones you've experienced, left a deep impression on me and the result has been I'm reluctant to speak with deaf strangers. Anyway, I applaud you for relating your experiences, thanks for doing that. I feel better about my own situation. I don’t have CI myself, nor do I know sign language yet I was born deaf. I entirely empathize with your situation, and I am glad there is another out there who feels the same way I do in never quite being accepted by deaf and hearing society.

It is sad that you experienced a deaf person coming up to criticize you for having CI. So much for freedom of choice. I like the saying, “different strokes for different people” and believe it especcially applies here. I have never experienced criticism for considering CIs but once, as a kid at a mainstream school I was playing with my hearing friends in the rain and had taken off my hearing aids to prevent their getting wet. An older deaf girl watched me and took the opportunity to criticize me for taking the hearing aids off, despite the logic of preventing any damage to them. I had never met her before, and was never given the chance to explain myself. The experience, while less dramatic than the ones you’ve experienced, left a deep impression on me and the result has been I’m reluctant to speak with deaf strangers.

Anyway, I applaud you for relating your experiences, thanks for doing that. I feel better about my own situation.

]]> By: punkybrewster http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2007-03-01/the-immense-value-of-hearing/#comment-79681 punkybrewster Fri, 02 Mar 2007 19:07:22 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2007-03-01/the-immense-value-of-hearing/#comment-79681 oh yes, I almost forgot: I Love to meet other recipients of Cochlear implants AB or Cochlear... I love trading insights. =) Those meetings are few and far in between. oh yes, I almost forgot:

I Love to meet other recipients of Cochlear implants AB or Cochlear… I love trading insights. =) Those meetings are few and far in between.

]]> By: punkybrewster http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2007-03-01/the-immense-value-of-hearing/#comment-79672 punkybrewster Fri, 02 Mar 2007 18:46:39 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/allison-kaftan/2007-03-01/the-immense-value-of-hearing/#comment-79672 I think that the technology that we are able to use today in order to help us hear is absolutely fantastic. ever since I started working with my CI: I honestly love that I can hear the water in the kitchen boiling to inform me that it's time to put in the pasta. I love that when I forget to turn the water off upstairs that I can hear the high pitch sound, saves me money when i don't leave it on all night. I love the fact that if i'm taking a nap on my living room couch I know someone is walking towards me by hearing the swish swish swich of the pants rubbing each other OR the keys going jingle jingle in their pants. I love that I can use a cell phone again, I love that I can somewhat make sense of the radio. I love the sound of people talking in the union station (to an extent, it can become overwhelming.) i Love that i do not need to look at everyone all the time to be able to communicate, allows for multitasking. I especially love the sound of opera, blues, and jazz. I love the fact that being able to hear allows more doors to open for me. I do not like: the sound of the metro brakes when it stops, the sound of ravens or crows in the wee hours of the morning, I do not like the sound of rap or extremely loud music like grunge or slam music. I also do not like it when a deaf-o comes up to me and criticize my choices and asks me if i plan to do the same thing to my children if they were deaf and criticize me for my decision. I am really glad that Ms. Kaftan decided to post this entry, but I'm not so sure about her comment or the "deaf butt" comments. It's extremely hard to find a place in society when neither side accepts you for who and what you are, but either way I have the best of both worlds, I'm not deaf nor am I hearing, but I enjoy the beauties both. "We are borg, resistance is futile, you will be assimilated." =) edit: for all those naysayers out there.. (ESP RLM and Erik) I am NOT a sellout, This is my life and how I function in the world, this life provides more opportunities for me, your world lacks too many things that I need in order to survive and be happy. If you don't like it, (finger) sit and spin. I think that the technology that we are able to use today in order to help us hear is absolutely fantastic.

ever since I started working with my CI:

I honestly love that I can hear the water in the kitchen boiling to inform me that it’s time to put in the pasta. I love that when I forget to turn the water off upstairs that I can hear the high pitch sound, saves me money when i don’t leave it on all night. I love the fact that if i’m taking a nap on my living room couch I know someone is walking towards me by hearing the swish swish swich of the pants rubbing each other OR the keys going jingle jingle in their pants. I love that I can use a cell phone again, I love that I can somewhat make sense of the radio. I love the sound of people talking in the union station (to an extent, it can become overwhelming.) i Love that i do not need to look at everyone all the time to be able to communicate, allows for multitasking. I especially love the sound of opera, blues, and jazz. I love the fact that being able to hear allows more doors to open for me.

I do not like: the sound of the metro brakes when it stops, the sound of ravens or crows in the wee hours of the morning, I do not like the sound of rap or extremely loud music like grunge or slam music. I also do not like it when a deaf-o comes up to me and criticize my choices and asks me if i plan to do the same thing to my children if they were deaf and criticize me for my decision.

I am really glad that Ms. Kaftan decided to post this entry, but I’m not so sure about her comment or the “deaf butt” comments. It’s extremely hard to find a place in society when neither side accepts you for who and what you are, but either way I have the best of both worlds, I’m not deaf nor am I hearing, but I enjoy the beauties both.

“We are borg, resistance is futile, you will be assimilated.” =)

edit: for all those naysayers out there.. (ESP RLM and Erik) I am NOT a sellout, This is my life and how I function in the world, this life provides more opportunities for me, your world lacks too many things that I need in order to survive and be happy. If you don’t like it, (finger) sit and spin.

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