Chp 49-59

Chp 49
Born deaf (congenitally deaf) and become deaf (adventitiously deaf) this talks about early and late deafened people. More males than females are born deaf, that is something i never knew but there are more late deafened women than there are men. I had no idea that it could be caused by a build up of wax, that is crazy! And it talks about others ways it could happen.

Chp 50
I would have never even thought deafness could ever be "karma". This talks about beliefs on what to do with "disabled" kids which i think is wrong. It talks about how they were outcasts and how this man helped and the National Institute was the first school for the deaf. It talked about different cultures dealing with the deaf, good and bad. I would never think my child being deaf or blind was a punishment from god how it says some people do in this chapter.

Chp 51
When thinking of deaf, I always just thought of deaf and hard of hearing. but it includes a lot more, born deaf, become deaf, hard of hearing, tinnitus, meniere and some others. There's more than seven different types of deaf.

Chp 52
This talks about hard of hearing and deaf, where "people who identify themselves as hard of hearing are audiologically deaf" which is a mild degree of hearing loss. I can definitely see how it is hard for them to cope with hearing loss. If you lose your hearing after eight, you are hard of hearing no matter how deaf you are.

Chp 53
I would definitely think that hard of hearing people are part of the deaf community. I find it strange that hard of hearing and deaf are snobby toward each other and some toward anyone not like them. Granted, some hearing people still discriminate toward the deaf. I feel if you can talk to someone, then do so, regardkess if it is verbal or sign.

Chp 54
This talks about how usually the older you are, the more likely it will be harder to adjust to the change of not hearing. It would be hard not hearing some things that we take for granted. It can break up friendships and families, and you would never think of that happening.

Chp 55
Deaf people like to communicate with their own. I like to hear that the U.S. has a very sophisticated and creative and public deaf culture. But some hearing people can be part of the deaf community like parents and children.

Chp 56
I think it is acceptable to have hearing people write about deaf culture. Because as it says in this chapter, you need an inside and outside view on things to get the best story.

Chp 57
Students of the deaf school became successful. An oral movement came about in the 1860's trying to teach speaking to the deaf. By 1919 80% of school went oral and students became segregated and students were not allowed to sign, which I think is wrong.

Chp 58
Yes you could see it as a disability, but deaf people or hard of hearing people see it as a community because they share common concerns and needs. I guess I could see it as a disability before, but now that I know some language and history and culture, I do not think that. I see it as a community because they are not disabled, they just can't hear.

Chp 59
It is and isn't like a ghetto. It is because it is hard for them to come together and communicate with hearing because there is limited hearing people who can communicate with them. but it is not like a ghetto because nowadays we see ghetto as dirty and poor, or broken down.