Society has always treated people with disabilities differently than those who are “normal”. Members of society with hearing loss or deafness are no different. Members of the deaf and hard of hearing community face discrimination in many aspects of life. They are constantly refused jobs, made fun of, and misunderstood because they are different than the rest of society. The deaf and hard of hearing community experience hardships and prejudice on a daily basis because of society’s intolerance and ignorance of deaf and hard of hearing culture. The discrimination of deaf and hard of hearing people begins at a young age. Deaf and hard of hearing children, while potentially popular, may have trouble making friends (Anita 490). They also have less
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As to be expected, the DHH students who choose to speak rather than sign or use an interpreter display more frequent social interactions (Anita 491). In contrast, many students or other members of the D/deaf community choose to utilize an interpreter at social events and school (Anita 493). These students demonstrate a lower frequency of social interactions based on the difficulty communicating with members of the hearing world. The use of an interpreter can cause other students to increase insults and act less sensitively towards the DHH student because the difference between the DHH student and other students becomes more apparent from the presence of the interpreter (Maartje 2). Indeed, the greater the hearing loss, the greater the discrimination a DHH individual will most likely experience (Anita 491). This is because, similar to the use of an interpreter, the difference becomes more apparent. The behavior demonstrated by those who discriminate against the DHH worlds is relatable to the way that Ethan Frome, from Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome, was treated differently because he had an obvious deformity. Wharton writes, “a lameness checking each step like the jerk of a chain” (3). Frome’s accident left him with an …show more content…
Many parents treat their children differently than other children because of their hearing loss. A large percentage of parents treat their DHH children younger than their age (Maartje 2). While this may not be intended to create disadvantages for the child, it can make it more difficult for the child to adjust and function successfully in society. However, many parents prefer not to call their DHH children deaf or hard of hearing individuals because that is just one characteristic of that person. In fact, one mother states that she view her son as a “person with hearing loss but that’s simply how I’m describing his hearing, not him” (Kemmery 165). One main difference that many people are unaware of is that there are many different worlds that stem from hearing loss. There are three main groups that are in existence based on the varying degrees of hearing loss. The three groups are the hearing world, the deaf world, and the Deaf world (Kemmery 159). While many people might be able to understand the difference between the hearing and the deaf world, many fail to realize that there are many differences between the deaf world and the Deaf world and that someone who is deaf is not necessarily a member of the Deaf world (Senghas, Monaghan
As to be expected, the DHH students who choose to speak rather than sign or use an interpreter display more frequent social interactions (Anita 491). In contrast, many students or other members of the D/deaf community choose to utilize an interpreter at social events and school (Anita 493). These students demonstrate a lower frequency of social interactions based on the difficulty communicating with members of the hearing world. The use of an interpreter can cause other students to increase insults and act less sensitively towards the DHH student because the difference between the DHH student and other students becomes more apparent from the presence of the interpreter (Maartje 2). Indeed, the greater the hearing loss, the greater the discrimination a DHH individual will most likely experience (Anita 491). This is because, similar to the use of an interpreter, the difference becomes more apparent. The behavior demonstrated by those who discriminate against the DHH worlds is relatable to the way that Ethan Frome, from Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome, was treated differently because he had an obvious deformity. Wharton writes, “a lameness checking each step like the jerk of a chain” (3). Frome’s accident left him with an …show more content…
Many parents treat their children differently than other children because of their hearing loss. A large percentage of parents treat their DHH children younger than their age (Maartje 2). While this may not be intended to create disadvantages for the child, it can make it more difficult for the child to adjust and function successfully in society. However, many parents prefer not to call their DHH children deaf or hard of hearing individuals because that is just one characteristic of that person. In fact, one mother states that she view her son as a “person with hearing loss but that’s simply how I’m describing his hearing, not him” (Kemmery 165). One main difference that many people are unaware of is that there are many different worlds that stem from hearing loss. There are three main groups that are in existence based on the varying degrees of hearing loss. The three groups are the hearing world, the deaf world, and the Deaf world (Kemmery 159). While many people might be able to understand the difference between the hearing and the deaf world, many fail to realize that there are many differences between the deaf world and the Deaf world and that someone who is deaf is not necessarily a member of the Deaf world (Senghas, Monaghan