If you know me personally you know I have a hearing disability. If you only know me through internet I’m as regular as anyone else. This is the reason I like the internet so much and have make it my career choice. I use MSN 90% of the times and the phone 10%, I follow all news on the internet and the papers, never on TV. I never watch anything on TV without subtitles. When watching new shows on the computer sans subtitles I have a good headphone and the help of the equalizer and even so it’s not 100%.
I always had this hearing disability although in the past it was less. I never knew how life is without this hearing disability. I have managed well, passing all my classes without extra help and I was a good student. Starting college in Netherlands it was harder because of the foreign language and that there is no personal attention. But I managed pretty well without any special help or whatsoever.
Now after 5 years in college with half year to go for subjects and another half internship I’m faced with ignorant remarks and actions toward my hearing disability. Incidentally these last weeks I started getting more aware of how intolerant this world is toward people with disabilities. I depend on my hearing aids and lip-reading and even so it’s not 100%. It costs a lot of energy to be able to follow conversation when in a room full of people. One on one goes best for me especially if that person understands that I need to see his/her face to follow.
Last week I went for a hearing test for a new hearing aids, currently I have a three year old one that is analogue. I finally made some research and learned about all those digital high tech hearing aids available. So I went strait to the audiologist with my receipt for new digital hearing aids. Hopefully those will be of more help then the ones I currently have. They don’t solve the problem but they help to be able to hear better. I was talking with the audiologist and she told me that there is a lot of intolerance against people with a hearing disability even now in modern times when we should know better.
This is something that can be tiring for both parties. But if no one tries people with disabilities will be left out of the social environment. Even people close to me still don’t get it that I don’t hear 100% and that I can’t follow everything. They blame it on me not paying attention or I get remarks like ‘you have hearing aids don’t you?’ Well when you break your leg and have to walk with crutches doesn’t mean you can walk good or run don’t you?
Whenever I meet new people I tell them about my hearing problems, that they need to speak clearly and that I should be able to read their lips. Talking with the radio on or a loud TV in the background makes it really hard to follow. That’s why I like going out to quiet/relaxed places where you can dine/drink and communicate good without disturbing factors.
Hopefully the world will start to understand that because someone has a disability it doesn’t mean that person is not normal or dumb or anything.
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