What does ableism look like in regards to hearing loss?
Let’s talk about ableism and hearing loss. We face ableist situations and/or remarks weekly. Just so we’re clear, we’ll define ableism before we show how it applies to people with hearing loss.
Definition of ableism via Access Living: “Ableism is the discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior. At its heart, ableism is rooted in the assumption that disabled people require ‘fixing’ and defines people by their disability.”
We constantly battle superficial knowledge about hearing loss. A few examples are - Hearing aids and cochlear implants fix the loss 100%. All people with hearing loss know NZ Sign Language (NZSL); “We can give you an NZSL interpreter but not CART/live captioning.” The truth is, 97% of us with hearing loss don’t know NZSL. Our access to spoken language is captions. Knowledge of hearing loss communication needs are so minimal we might encounter ableism several times a week, possibly even daily.
That often?
Yes, that often. Here are a few comments you may have heard lately…
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Turn up your hearing aids!
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Are your ears on?
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Are you deaf or what?
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Pay attention!
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You have selective hearing.
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You need to put more effort into listening.
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Why are you taking so long to answer me?
These types of questions and statements make us feel inadequate. “My hearing aids are in, and I still couldn’t understand you.” Then thinking, “There must be something wrong with me.”
The statements listed above come from people who have unrealistic expectations and no knowledge of hearing loss needs. They expect hearing miracles.
More examples of ableism…
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Being asked to go to a movie (special showing) that isn’t captioned. But…we should go because we can hear some words and follow the action.
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How about people trying to talk around us to the hearing person because it seems easier? We’ve heard stories from others who said their significant other would say, “Don’t talk to her, she can’t hear. Talk to me.”
Another pet peeve: people who hold their hand to their ear and say either “Huh” or “What” several times after telling them we have hearing loss. This also happens to people who work in the hearing loss field, by the way. Have you seen the social media comments under audiologist sponsored posts?
What about wanting to watch a video and it doesn’t have captions? There’s a podcast but it doesn’t have a transcript. Going to the movies and the caption device isn’t functioning. Going to a play with a friend to see a play and the FM system receiver isn’t working. Another favourite: “You should learn NZSL,” when we don’t have anyone willing to learn with us. How will that even help us communicate with them when they themselves do not know NZSL? Or how about, “Go get a hearing aid,” when we can’t afford one. The message seems to be: “Fix your hearing loss so we don’t have to change our ways.”
This world favours the hearing.
We are very capable people given a few adjustments. But when things like this happen, we feel less than. We become a stereotype. When we don’t know NZSL and we can’t hear, where are we? No man’s land. A vague space between the worlds. We don’t seem to fit in anywhere.
It’s not that hard to accommodate hearing loss. Most of what we need to participate is a little understanding, better knowledge of assistive listening and/or captions. After that we’re all in!
Don’t Accept It
Stop Ableist Comments & Educate Now
If you’re knowledgeable about hearing loss and hearing device limits, you can correct misconceptions. Changing a few small communication habits will go a long way, this definitely includes hearing people. They can change a few small habits as well.
We don’t need to be fixed (but we need to learn to manage it) and we don’t need to learn NZSL. We need to be understood. People need to know hearing loss is no joke. It’s freaking hard… until we have that understanding. When people work with us, it all gets easier. Participation is easier. For them and for us.
Hearing NZ would like to thank Hearing Loss LIVE! www.hearinglosslive.com for the content of this brochure. Please visit their website for tips and information on hearing loss.