Why is loss (lack) of hearing considered to be more socially debilitating than loss of sight?

Question

I am only partially deaf and sigh when I attempt to respond to any situation because the most common response I get is Oh! you got it wrong.

Answer 1

Because sociality is based on communication...i.e. mostly talking and hearing. If you stick with the 'net you'll be okay though : P. And heh, at least you're not blind.

Answer 2

WHo ever told you that or the author of the article you read that from needs to be strung up and humiliated in front of the town square. This used to be a common method for dealing with the spread of STUPID on the planet I'm from. They do things different here which is probably why Scummy people are aloud to over reproduce and smart people that have integrity in their hearts are so sad.
I actually have a slight deafness in my right ear from a ear infection as a kid I'm told. I would think loss of eye sight would be a lot more socially debilitating. I think being deaf is something you could use to your advantage if you wanted and knew how.

Answer 3

This is from the standpoint of someone who is a reader and loves music, so please don't take it wrong, but books can be made into Braille, so I'd still be able to read. So far (from what I understand) a non-hearing person can't actually listen to music. They can hear the rhythm and beat, but not the subtleties.

Also, when a person is blind there tend to be more cues to a non-blind person that there is a difference (stick, seeing dog) than there are with a non-hearing person. Hair usually covers any hearing aids. I think there is the assumption that because a person looks "normal" (sorry, I can't thank of a nicer way to put that) then they are being difficult when they just don't get the subtleties of voice communication.

I must say, most of the non-hearing people I've met have been great and quite understanding of my inabilities to communicate with them properly. They even took time out to teach me a little bit of ASL, which thrilled me to no end. Unfortunately, the ASL classes for hearing people around here fill up too quickly for me to take them.

Answer 4

A couple of reasons. First of all, society is based on communication, and most people use speech for communication. Second of all, blindness can be seen physically more easily that Deafness. Blind people tend to wear sunglasses, and carry a cane or have a guide dog, but generally you can't tell if someone has a hearing loss or not until you interact with them.

Next time someone responds to you in a patronizing manner, just tell them to get over it.

Answer 5

It was explained to me many years ago by a person from the Deaf Society. It to do with a blind person although handicapped by sight can hear everything that is said whereas a deaf person can see something is being said but doesn't know what. This occasionally leads them, especially if they are not interacting with the person concerned, to believe they or their disability is the subject of the conversation.

Answer 6

Yes it is down to communication. Sometimes hearing people become embarrassed if they have to keep repeating themselves,because what they had to say,will have lost some of its`impact after constant repeating. The other response is to become irritable and say crossly "Oh, it dosen`t matter". It dose matter to the deaf person, who is so often at a disadvantage, because they cannot hear all of the conversation.

Answer 7

Because they can't rip you off with the change. I have worked with at least one fully deaf person and a couple of partially deaf people who never experienced that from us.

Answer 8

Thats such an interesting reaction from people isn't it? Like its your problem and you are the one making it difficult for other people!!

Guess thats whats so good about the social model of disability, teaching us all that its society that creates 'problems' around disability, rather than the other way round!

....Having just read what others, who have experienced hearing impairment themselves have written, I want to add this - isn't so much of this (hey - like the muslim women who choose to cover their faces issue!) about our own social 'norms'? What makes US feel comfortable? i.e. the 'having to repeat yourself' angle makes so many of us feel embarrassed - if we SHOUT - everyone will look at us (how very un-British and impolite!)

God forbid people look at us and have the perception that we are not competent or used to dealing with a certain kind of situation - or that we need to appear to be a bit vulnerable in order to meet another person 'half way' in their communication requirements ever now and then...

Answer 9

I think it is because most people regard people with a loss of sight with far more sympathy than those who cannot hear. Infact, I have known people with impaired or total lack of hearing who have been ridiculed for their disability. Terrible.

Answer 10

People as a species comunicate mostly thru sound. Only a small precentage understands sign lang. Therfore it makes comunication more dificult than just the loss of sight.