What is Deaf and Hard of Hearing?

Deaf and Hard of Hearing are terms of hearing loss. The hearing loss impacts all ages, gender, race, and nationalities across the globe.

It is a disability that has a unique impact on the community. Deaf and Hard of Hearing applies a different set of cultural rules and traditons. We communicate in many ways such as American Sign Language (also known as sign language or manual language), oral/spoken language, gestures/body language, or by paper and pen.

As people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Americans, we are bilingual rather than monolingual. We have American Sign Language as one of our primary languages and read and write in English (or trilingual, including Spanish or a native language).

Do not make fun of our differences. If there is something different about yourself and you don't want to be teased or mocked about it, put yourself in our place before you decide to mock or tease us, especially when it comes to our using Sign Language.

We appreciate music, conversations, employ technology, go to school and have jobs. We also have family and friends. Our most problematic barrier is the availability of jobs and clear and direct communication.

To communicate in jobs, schools, doctor's appointments and for information exchange that goes beyond paper and pen, we use interpreters. Interpeters are hearing or deaf people who translate and facilitate communication between the deaf person and the hearing person by signing the spoken word and speaking the signed word.

To learn Sign language, it takes more than 7 years of proficiency and fluently to sign American Sign Language. It functions as a language because it has dilects and regional signs that are different from other regions. The structure and form of American Sign Language is as complex as the English language. You learn best from interacting with deaf and hard of hearing people; however, do not limit yourself to one group and allow for experiencing a various and diverse community.

Top Ten Common Hearing Loss (from Deafness.About.com):

What are the top 10 causes of hearing loss in children? I turned to the Regional and National Summary Report of Data from the [academic year] Annual Survey of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children and Youth done by the Gallaudet University Gallaudet Research Institute. This study looks at the characteristics of thousands of deaf and hard of hearing students nationally. I looked at the (December 2005) study.

1) Prematurity
The study divided the causes of hearing loss into pre-natal/pregnancy-related and post-natal causes. The most common pre-natal/pregnancy-related cause was prematurity.

2) Other Pregnancy Complications
The next most common pregnancy-related cause was other pregnancy complications.

3) Cytomegalovirus
The third most common pregnancy-related cause was Cytomegalovirus (CMV). CMV is very similar to rubella in how it can affect a fetus.

4) Otitis Media
The most common post-natal cause was otitis media. Ear infections are a frustrating dilemma for both parents and doctors, who must decide whether or not to prescribe antibiotics.

5) Meningitis
The next most common post-natal cause was meningitis. The drugs needed to prevent meningitis from killing children can cause hearing loss.

6) Genetic or Syndromic Causes
Approximately 22 percent of the hearing loss was due to genetic or syndromic factors. The genetic causes were subdivided into specific causes, and the most common of these was Down Syndrome.

7) CHARGE Syndrome
The next most common genetic cause was CHARGE syndrome. CHARGE is a craniofacial disorder.

8) Waardenburg Syndrome
That was followed by Waardenburg Syndrome. Waardenburg can create unique physical features.

9) Treacher Collins Syndrome
The last most common genetic cause was Treacher Collins Syndrome. Like CHARGE, Treacher Collins is another craniofacial disorder.

10) Unknown Causes
The remainder was of unknown cause, approximately 53 percent. I once read somewhere that unknown cause of deafness may be due to genetic causes such as Connexin 26.

Located near Chicago, covering Lake, Porter and surrounding counties in Indiana. Pretty much anyone you meet will use American Sign Language and a different set of cultural rules.

Northwest Indiana is a place where to meet and know deaf and hard of hearing people. We have three deaf clubs: Northwest Indiana Deaf Club, Inc., (NWIDC), established in 1947 and incorporated in 1950, Camelot Deaf Club, Inc. (CDC), established in 1991 and incorporated in 2002 and Black Oak Hearing Impaired Lions Club, established in 1986.

NWIDC is an all around club, having business meetings, athletics, issue positions and monthly social events. The Social Events happen on the first Saturday of the month. From July-September, there will be no social events, due to holidays and athletic tournaments. For more information or to get e-news, please contact NWIDC at dnwinews@sbcglobal.net

CDC is a bowling oriented club. CDC hosted the Great Lakes Deaf Bowling Tournament in 2005, a regional bowling tournament from across the Midwest involving over 450 bowlers. The club has an annual bowling classic the first weekend of December and occaisionally hosts the Hoosier Bowling Classic which happens on Thanksgiving weekend. For more information, please contact CDC at camelotdeaf@hotmail.com.

We have an up and coming club, which has reinvented their new organization by changing their goals and participation in the deaf community, Black Oak Hearing Impaired Lions Club in Southwest Gary. For more information, please contact the Black Oak at BlackOakLions@aol.com.

See you around!!!!

Previously a group called Kids of Deaf Adults (KODA) was in place; however, now a group takes its place called Signing Kids of Northwest Indiana. This group involves hearing and deaf parents of hearing and/or deaf children. Check us out at www.nwisigningkids.blogspot.com.

In the past, we have hosted softball tournaments, a softball team for leagues and some educational participation. We have also taken part into hosting the Indiana Association of the Deaf Conference every 10 years for a long time. The last time we hosted the confrence was in 2003, we hope to host it again in 2013, maybe. Calumet Area Missions hosted the National Christian Convention of the Deaf in 2001 in Tinley Park, Illinois.

What is the Difference between Deaf and Hard of Hearing?

Deaf and Hard of Hearing are related to the disability of hearing loss. The levels of hearing losses vary from a slight hearing loss to profound hearing loss and from short term to long term hearing loss.

A large percent of the population are either Deaf or Hard of Hearing. There is a certain level of hearing loss that can define which "label" one is. Most people who do not have much hearing loss are considered Hard of Hearing while those who have lost the most of their hearing are considered moderate to profoundly Deaf.

Those who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing have a wide range of assistive devices that can help them hear....if they want to. Hearing Aids is the most frequently used and preferred (because you can shut out noise easily by taking out the aids) device and cochlear implants (which are permanently implanted behind and inside your skull - connected to cochlea). Regardless of the use of hearing aids or cochlear implant, it takes a life time training to be able to speak clearly and fluently, not only that but to continue the training after your adolscent years.

Many people consider people who are Deaf, who speak fluently and clearly to be Hard of Hearing. This is a false statement because the ability to speak in itself is a communication skill, not a requirement of life. Many Deaf people who do not speak, are able to communicate effectively with no problems. Nor is it that all Deaf people cannot speak, again that is not true. The vocal cords are not directly linked with the ears. Hard of Hearing is related to the ability to hear (how much hearing left and etc), not with the ability to speak.

Many people would label themselves Hard of Hearing to avoid being labeled "Deaf" as if it is a negative term. Hearing Impairment is a negative term because it implies that the hearing can be "fixed".

"What matter is deafness of the ear when the mind hears."

~Victor Hugo (Les Miserables)

Harris Communications:

www.harriscomm.com