Hearing-loss. That’s the label I’m going to use for this post. I am going to shy away from the usual suspects (Deaf, deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, oral, ASL, etc) because this obsession occurs across the entire spectrum of the deaf community. What is this obsession about? Those who can speak and those who can’t. Or don’t. Or won’t.

Measuring the ability of a person with hearing loss to speak is akin to the brown paper bag test. Black folks, I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. For those not in the know, the test was to see if your skin color was lighter than a regular brown paper bag. If it was, then you were more acceptable to white society. If it wasn’t, go to the back of the bus, thank you very much.

In the eyes of the hearing society, those who can speak and articulate well vocally are more acceptable than those who bark, yowl (as a popular deaf blogger would say) or squeal. The following is a recent exchange taken verbatim from the Rants and Raves section of the Washington DC Craigslist’s website:

I hooked up with a deaf chick I was talking with (actually writing with) at a bar this afternoon and took her back to my place after a few drinks. It is funny banging a deaf chick because of the noises they make when they are vocal. I was laughing so hard I had to do her doggie style so she would not get offended.

I talked to my roommate a while after she left and he said ‘holy [*&#%] man… were you slaughtering a pig in there or what?’

I love those GU girls Ha-ha.

Then one person’s response to the above:

I know this isn’t right, but your post made me bust out laughing!! Just hilarious!!! Your roommate is off the chain…lol…he knows he’s dead wrong for that! :) Gosh darn, hope my kids don’t turn out w/ no limbs and no eye sockets! :{

Guess what? How about I rip the eyes out of the respondent’s sockets! That would make him/her squeal like a pig. Needless to say, I was incensed when I saw that dialogue making fun of the unsuspecting victim’s voice. I was reminded of a movie I watched some years ago. It was called “In the Company of Men.” I’m not going to summarize what the movie is about (that’s what Netflix is for!) but I do remember how the hearing guy made fun of the deaf woman’s voice with his friend. I’m paraphrasing here from memory: “She talks like a dolphin…with clicks and squeals.” Shame.

By now, you’re probably wondering what is my deal. Yes, I have the ability to speak and yowl with the best of them. My favorite class during the early years of my education was speech therapy. I would wait with bated breath until the clock struck on the hour that indicated it was time for speech practice.

I would run— not walk— to the classroom that was equipped with various instruments, including a lovely see-through prototype of the inside of the mouth. The prototype had a flesh-like tongue completed with life-like tastebuds, designed to show me how to properly position my tongue for certain (and pesky) consonants and vowels. The hours I spent in speech training were the best.

**cough cough**

Ok, so I was not crazy about speech therapy at all. Kleenex was in business because of me constantly throwing down the tissues on the floor in defiance. “No, I will not enunciate that s!” However, I must give the sessions the utmost credit for the speaking ability I have today. I’ve gotten compliments— “I thought you were from another country! Your speech is that good!” to insults— “You sound like you’re talking through thick cotton balls.” Regardless, I continue to yowl because I can.

Judging solely on the ability to vocalize, do people with hearing loss who can speak are better or more intelligent than those who do not speak? In my opinion, nope. Nada. Zippo. I’ve corrected hearing people who assume because I can talk that I’m somehow “better.” If I had a brilliant Einstein-like scientist next to me that chooses not to talk for whatever reasons, I’m seemingly smarter? That’s not how the world turns.

It’s typical for the hearing society to stereotype by speaking ability, and we are constantly fighting against that perspective. However, I’m puzzled as to why we, the people with hearing loss, continue to equate the ability to talk with intelligence and capability. That’s like comparing apples and oranges. Just plain bananas. Why do we rip each other up over the ability to speak? Should that really count so much in the deaf community? Don’t think it doesn’t go on now. Just skim through DeafDC.com and you’ll see this monster rear its ugly head. A very recent example comes from the Davila Chosen as Gallaudet Interim President blog written by Chris and Allison Kaftan.

A commentor that goes by the username “C” said, “You cannot have a president who cannot speak vocally. Davila has to communicate with the hearing Congress, oral deaf students, and the like.” Great. So according to C, I have a better chance to serenade Congress to fork over federal dollars to Gallaudet. Sure, sign me up! The fact that I know diddly-squat about school administration and the like is of little consequence.

Allison Kaftan sarcastically retorted to C’s comment: “Well, congratulations. Everybody who can’t speak perfectly, sit down and die. You’re worthless and not human.”

Guess I’ll have to sit down and die. Wonder what will be inscribed on my headstone…

“Here lies Vikki…still squealing for attention”

Ah, better not tempt fate. **Knocking on wood**

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