Anonymous Deaf Chat Q&A #1

ALL POSTS WILL REMAIN ANONYMOUS. PLEASE REMEMBER TO BE RESPECTFUL OF EACH AND EVERY REPLY. EACH ONE OF THESE REPLIES COME FROM A DEAF ADULT THAT HAS HAD THEIR VERY OWN UNIQUE EXPERIENCE. EACH OPINION DESERVES TO BE RECOGNIZED AS IMPORTANT AND VALID. I HOPE THESE WILL HELP YOU AS PARENTS OF DHH CHILDREN TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR YOUR OWN CHILD AND HELP YOU NAVIGATE WHAT MAY HELP THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL, HAPPY, AND PROUD OF WHO THEY ARE.

ANONYMOUS QUESTION #1

Do you know anyone that had regretted getting CI's?

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I had a roommate who has CI during my college time. She did complain her headache sometime and if anything happens to her she can't get into MRI. I am not sure about regret. She wore them but have not used voice at all."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Yes I know of several who regretted having CI surgery."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Yes. I know several people who regret the surgery because they had issues with vertigo, migraines, or reoccurring infections. Most of my friends who don't like their CIs just don't use them, but there's some who have issues with the actual implant that eventually get it removed."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Yes, I know two people. One is a teacher I had in high school. He was profoundly deaf and preferred to read lips. He finally got one after he retired. His did not work well, and he did not like wearing it. I also know a child who got one when she was 5 or 6. Hers caused a lot of pain, and she developed an aversion to wearing her CI."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I had a CI surgically implanted when I was 7 years old. Although I don't use it anymore and haven't for 25 years, I'm glad I at least tried. Now I know it's not for me and don't have to wonder."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Yes. I had several students who were implanted as children and never benefited from them. They couldn't understand or process the sounds that they were hearing. They were forced to wear them until they got into high school and were then allowed to make the decision of not wearing them."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I know some folks who dislike CI listening. So they don't wear it. No biggie."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Yes. I had a Deaf friend who was into filming and felt that a CI would help entering the world. The surgery did not go well and the person still suffers from pain and dizziness even years after the CI was removed."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I do. I had it done when I was 9 years old when I was not fully immersed into the deaf community and mainstreamed in public school in 3rd grade. I regret it because it reminds me of a time when I didn't love myself enough to recognize my worth as a deaf person. Now as an adult at 33 years old, I am fully immersed in the deaf community and college educated and I would have not accomplished it without sign language."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I actually know deaf people who regrets having CI surgery, but I have to say they had that surgery years ago when technology wasn't so good as it is nowadays. BUT one friend had the surgery 3-4 years ago, and she regrets having it and barely wears CI."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I do and I don't. I hate my CI and do not receive benefit from it other than sound awareness in a quiet environment, so I don't wear it. But I like that I have it because I can offer that Deaf perspective as a Deaf Teacher of the Deaf working with so many hearing people in my field."

ANONYMOUS QUESTION #2

What is one thing you wish your parents had done differently in raising you?

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I wish my parents learn ASL when I was young age. I don't have a special bond with between mother and daughter nor father and daughter because they only took one speech pathologist's opinion on what was best for me which state that I do not need learn ASL because I can learn to speak clear. No matter what ASL must."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I wish I had been told I was deaf!!!! I found out when I was 19"

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"My parents did not use sign language with me, and I wish they had. I think they felt that it wasn't necessary because I could read lips and speak. But a lot of my biggest struggles in adulthood are communication issues. I think if my parents had taken the time to use my primary language with me, I would be able to communicate better as an adult."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Let me choose if I wanted surgery/learn ASL (multiple times) that in the end led to a rare diagnosis of Lateral 3rd Stenosis which in a nutshell meant that my ear canal would keep "weeping" AKA draining until my hearing finally got so bad that it would stop. I learned finally in H.S. and then college and got minors in ASL, I would've liked a choice. I have medium hearing loss, speech impediment, and 26 yrs. old now and I hate HA (have them don't wear) and don't plan on it in the workforce. When I move to DFW, TX I plan on becoming more involved with the Deaf Community. Give your kids the choice, teach them both if you want but sometimes I wonder how it would've affected me."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Accessibility! If you want your deaf/hoh kid/s to be included in family meetings, information accessibility is important. If accessibility is not provided, isolation is easy to happen."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Signed. Learned my language. Saw me as capable."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Signed at all times when I was in the room, whether I was part of the conversation or not. The dinner table conversations weren't always signed."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I'm asked this question all the time. I honestly feel that they exhausted every option available and allowed me to choose what worked best for ME. Not what was most convenient for them. Although they learned sign language, they did not become fluent. They know just enough to converse with me. I wish they would've delved more into Deaf culture and became more fluent in ASL. But my relationship with them couldn't be better."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"To include and allow me into the deaf community early in my life and willing to learn ASL."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I wish they would have learned ASL and got me involved with the Deaf community from the time when I was little. I didn't meet a Deaf adult until I met my ASL teacher in college."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I wish they would have known and been given resources to make contact with the Deaf community. Deaf mentors is something I missed out on as a child."

ANONYMOUS QUESTION #3

My son does not want to wear his hearing aids. How much should I make sure that he wears them?

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I wore hearing aids at school when I was younger and when I get home after school, I took it off because now I wear eyeglasses, it is the same thing. I need a break from hearing aid so loud all day. I (wouldn't) worry about it. Just make sure he wear it while watch tv, in school, while teaching him speaking at the same time ASL, etc. This is from my experience and I have a deaf son as well."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Can you find out why he doesn't want to wear it? Does it hurt, is it too loud, is it ill-fitting? Find out if there's something wrong with that first and see it that resolves the issue. For me personally if I'm home, I often don;t wear my aids unless I'm listening to music or watching a movie. I don't put them on till I leave my house because I want a break from (being) bombarded by sound. Perhaps consider he might need "sound breaks"?"

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Don't ever! Wearing hearing aids (is) exhausting and can be painful. Accommodate his level of hearing without the aids, and if he makes the choice to wear them, support that. Forcing him is only going to make him resent you, his aids and his deafness."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"How much hearing loss does he have? If he's profoundly Deaf, it's likely that they do nothing for him. I'm profoundly Deaf myself and detested hearing aids because they essentially did nothing for me but make my ears feel stuffed with uncomfortable ear molds. Also, there is such a thing as "listening fatigue" when Deaf people wear devices because we are constantly trying to recognize sounds and make connections. Maybe just have him wear the during certain times of the day (speech therapy, for example) or start with one hour a day and gradually increase his time wearing them. It's a tough decision and also a very personal one."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Depends on the age. Younger children can sometimes be a bit more challenging. Believe, trust and acknowledge what your son is trying to tell you. Perhaps the HA overwhelms him and he cannot process what is being said. Information can just as easily be attained through sign language instead of spoken language if/when he doesn't wear his HA."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"First, I would try to find out why he doesn't like wearing his hearing aids. Are they hurting his ears? Are they helping him? If he isn't old enough to tell you, it may be a good time to talk to his audiologist. If nothing is wrong, and he doesn't like it, it's up to you how much you require he wears it, but do remember that forcing it may only make him resent it more."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"You should let your son have a choice of wearing it. Deaf people can decide for themselves if they want to wear a hearing aid or not."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"As much as you can, but don't force it if the child truly does not like their HA/CI. Ask him why he does not like it? Is it too loud? Does it hurt? Can he even understand spoken language? I was forced to wear my CI as a child and I learned that I could not turn it off (old school CI- no blinking lights to indicate if it's on or not) at certain parts of my day. I was doing this by 3rd grade and finally stopped wearing it for good at age 14 when I moved to a residential school for the deaf."

ANONYMOUS QUESTION #4

Are you close with your hearing siblings?

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Yes I am close to them now. Growing up, nope."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Yes! Especially with my sibling that has taken ASL classes and hangs with my Deaf friends and I."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"All of my siblings are hearing. My closeness to them is completely irrelevant to my lack of hearing."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I have one hearing brother and he's one of my best friends! He's older than me and always looked out for me when I was younger (and still does). I do not have any other siblings."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Nope. We are not close because they don't sign."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I have one hearing sibling, who knows sign language because my parents are also deaf, so we're close, despite he even doesn't understand some things about deaf community, perspectives, frustrations, demands, etc."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Yes, because they learned sign language along with me as a child."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I am the oldest of four. I have two younger sisters and a younger brother. Both of my sisters are professional sign language interpreters today. All of my siblings are my closest friends. All because ASL was used in my home growing up and there were no communication barriers."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I have one sibling and they're hearing. Everyone in my family is hearing. I'm close to all of my family. But this is because I have little communication barriers with my family. I am the rare deaf person that benefits from my HA & CI and can speak very well. For the most part, I am included in everything I do with my family. Just little things here and there that I miss. And they're working on improving upon being more inclusive with me in those instances."

ANONYMOUS QUESTION #5

"Is it offensive to you/the Deaf community as a whole when hearing people teach ASL?"

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Yep it's offensive because oftentimes hearing people get the credit/recognition while deaf people get brushed off even when it's our native language."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"It's definitely not ideal. Deaf people should always be the first choice to teach our language. I understand that in rural areas and in areas where finding qualified Deaf teachers this may be difficult. However, I would urge people to invest in Deaf people when possible."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"HELL YES."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I can't speak for the Deaf community, only me. I don't mind a bit! For the most part, hearing people taught me to sign! I would be offended if they had an attitude that they were better at teaching sign language than Deaf people, or if they were teaching wrong."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"If at all possible, I feel ASL should be taught by native Deaf signers who are fluent in ASL. Too many people out here on social media land think ASL is cool and "teach" what they are learning while they learn. Often teaching incorrectly. This is NOT ok. Amplify and promote those who are fluent and let people learn correctly from them. ASL should not be viewed as something that is "cool" and can gain you followers. It's an actual language. It should be showed the respect it deserves."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"It does bother many, myself included. It can be viewed as cultural appropriation."

ANONYMOUS QUESTION #6

What are your thought on hearing parents (who know + use some ASL) adopting a deaf child?

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"That's the dream!! Kids with disabilities tend to stay in foster care and less than optimal living situations. If you're willing to accommodate and accept a deaf child just as they are, G-d bless you!

-a deaf ex foster kid"

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I would urge you to learn ASL to the best extent you can prior to adopting a Deaf child. Language deprivation is a terrible thing and I would try to prepare as best as possible to prevent that from happening. But if that's what's in your heart, go for it! Just make sure you have all the supports you need on hand."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I think that's great! Just be open to different ideas and be prepared to follow your child's lead when it comes to language."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I think it's great! Especially if they are familiar with Deaf culture and ASL. It's important to be open-minded when raising a Deaf child."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I think hearing parents who adopt deaf children with the intention of providing them with an accessible language from the start (aka sign language), I'm all for that! But all to often, I see hearing families adopt deaf babies/children with the intention of "fixing" them. This never turns out well."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I think that's great. If they are able to give the child a home filled with love and language, go for it. Just to be sure to give them a language rich environment in their chosen mode of communication. Get involved with the Deaf community!"

ANONYMOUS QUESTION #7

What are some of the best things your teachers did to support you?

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Oh, so many things! I had amazing teachers. Love me like their own children, take the time to teach me and make sure I understood, encourage me when times were hard, and stay patient when something took extra time to learn."

ANONYMOUS RESPONSE

"Respect my accommodations and learning style. And also be inclusive!"

ANONYMOUS QUESTION #8

I have trouble using ASL word order still even though I am learning and want to be a part of the Deaf community someday. Is signed English frowned upon?

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"SEE is somewhat frowned upon by the Deaf community. If you're having difficulty with ASL word order though, that's not Signed Exact English (SEE) but rather what's called Pidgin Signed English (PSE). I promise Deaf people will be accepting of your efforts and shouldn't be critical because your word order is wrong. Most of us just wish our parents could sign, period."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I do not have an issue with signed English because I grew up in the 90s and that's what I was initially taught. However, the Deaf community mainly uses ASL. They're typically forgiving of mistakes and patient with those learning, but I think it's important to keep working to learn ASL. For me, it's a constant work in progress."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Not exactly "frowned upon. Being able to communicate with your child should be the ultimate goal, but know that signed English is NOT an official language. Keep trying to learn ASL! Don't give up!"

ANONYMOUS QUESTION #9

What is something you wished your parents would have known about your deafness?

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I wish they would have known I was normal, and told me so. That's not to say I blame them for not saying or knowing that- they were just a product of what doctors told them. Please tell your child that they are perfect how they are, and as normal as can be."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"This question is hard because my parents actually knew a lot and supported me well. I do wish they had realized how lonely and alienating deafness can be at times. (Especially in middle school and high school.) I think they always assumed I had an easy time making friends and that I was never really bullied or treated differently. Nothing was really bad, but I was lonely and depressed sometimes."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Deaf friends are IMPORTANT!! I had many hearing friends. While they were great...Deaf friends are unmatched. They know and understand exactly what it's like to be Deaf. It does wonders for the self-esteem and confidence!"

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"That I'm not the only one experiencing resentment, fatigue, and anger towards my family members who do not sign. (Not towards just parents but any family member who is perplexed by my "attitude")."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I wish they would have known that ASL would have filled the gaps in conversations I missed at family/social gatherings."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"(That) it's ok."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"My mom told me... 'you learning sign language is not our problem we have our own problems ur sister and I we have our own issues in life you can't be mad we all won't learn sign language. You 3(me and my 2 kids) need to that's you guys's problem you're asking for too much from us.' That's one among the many comments my mom has lost my respect. I don't think of my family the same and things like that have done mental and emotional scars in myself."

ANONYMOUS QUESTION #10

How do you respond when people of faith ask to pray for healing of your deafness?

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I tell them that I appreciate their good intentions but I was made perfect how I am, and I don't wish to be any other way. I then ask that if they want to pray for me anyway, wish for good health and happiness."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"This hasn't happened to me personally, but has happened a lot to some of my friends. I can't stand sympathy though. For me, I know that my G-d doesn't make mistakes. I'm happy with myself just the way I am. If someone wanted to pray for me to become hearing I would probably tell them just that, please don't because I'm happy the way I am."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I usually tell them off quite rudely. If i care about them, then I still tell them off, just nicer. If they've got a problem with my Deafness they need to take it up with their Boss, not me. I don't want to be hearing. And the Boss made me as I was meant to be."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I just smile and tell them I'm happy being Deaf and explain that my life wouldn't be nearly as beautiful as it has been if I weren't Deaf. I wouldn't have the husband or children that I have if it weren't for my Deafness."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I pray that they become Deaf."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"That's a big no no! I've never had that happen to me personally, but I've had friends who have had to endure years of it. It's very traumatic. If someone asked me, I would simply say, "Thank you, but I don't need your prayers. God made me this way and I'm proud to be Deaf."

ANONYMOUS QUESTION #11

How can audiologists help support the Deaf community?

ANONYMOUS RESPONSE

"I would LOVE for them to start coming to our events! In my area we host Deaf events specifically welcoming parents who are hearing, and we invite audiologists and medical professionals who serve DHH kids as well! I would suggest they start by listening to our stories and keeping them in mind when they practice everyday."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I think the first and most important thing is to learn sign language. At least enough to communicate with their patients! Also, stop acting like hearing aids or cochlear implants are a "cure" for deafness. No matter what hearing aids I wear, or even if I get a cochlear implant, I still will not be a hearing person. And that's ok! Recognize the Deaf community and the value of Deaf mentors. They need to add more in their curriculum to cover this, because there's so much more to it than putting a hearing aid or cochlear implant on and learning to speak."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"It's on them to be involve to truly understand the deaf culture."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Acknowledge and honor the critical period of language development by endorsing ASL in every DHH patient! The ultimate goal should be language development...NOT hearing and speech skills. Recognize the 800+ researches that say sign language supports proper language development/acquisition and ZERO researches have been able to show that language development is possible solely with a cochlear implant."

ANONYMOUS QUESTION #12

What are some the best toys the you used and loved?

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Dolls & books"

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I grew up in the 90s, so I was lucky in that technology hadn't taken over everyone's lives. I really loved playing outside. I was also very imaginative and inventive. I loved legos! My brother and I spent hours building stuff, playing with it, then taking it apart and building something else. My best friend and I also had American Girl Dolls that we really loved playing with. Really, anything that allowed for some imagination and creativity!"

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I played a lot of sports and loved to read!"

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I wasn't a kid enamored by toys. I loved being physical and rode my bike from sun up to sun down daily. But I did love toys that allowed me to be creative such as Brite Lite, wooden blocks, Spirographs, Legos, etc. I also loved BOOKS! Those were essential for my language development! I also always enjoyed doing puzzles. Also another excellent way to build language skills."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Toys all kids play with, but not so much on auditory toys. Toys that light up, things that move, outdoor toys, etc."

ANONYMOUS QUESTION #13

How do you feel about HoH children and speech therapy?

ANONYMOUS REPLY

The earlier the better! If they're able to develop speech skills, GREAT! We do live in a hearing dominant world. It's important for DHH children to develop any skill that'll help make it easier for them to communicate with others. HOWEVER, if the child doesn't develop great speech skills, it's important not to dwell on that, but to remind them of what they CAN do!!! Building their self-esteem should be a priority!"

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"If kids are happy, continue it. If they are not happy about it - something to talk about instead of forcing."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Speech therapy can be beneficial, but do not pull your child out of class/school for more outside speech therapy. Being in class is more important. Teachers and SLPs will work on spoken language if that's the goal. As for myself, I hated it growing up because I was always pulled out of my mainstream classes 2-3x a week and would fall behind on schoolwork. Finally stood up for myself at my own ARD/IEP and said I didn't want it anymore."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Understand that speech is not the same thing as language. Don't get to caught up in your child being able to speak. If they are able to utilize, that's great! But also be sure that their language is also developing as well. Many parents misunderstand speech to mean language. While in fact they're two very different things. Also, don't force your child to go to speech if they're not enjoying it. Many d/hh adults reflect back on their education and speech therapy can be traumatic for some who were forced to learn when it didn't benefit them."

ANONYMOUS QUESTION #14

What are you thoughts on a hearing person teaching deaf children in elementary schools?

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I don't mind hearing people teaching DHH kids in elementary schools. The problem is when they are not fluent signers (assuming this is a signing environment), and when there are few native Deaf models in the school. There should always be a majority of Deaf models, especially in teaching and administrative roles."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Deaf adult here. Personally, I don't have a problem with hearing ppl teaching (especially elementary), but I would hope deaf teachers are given preference, as unemployment is a real problem for some of us."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"No. I want to communicate with you. I don't care who teaches."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I think it's great as long as the person is passionate about working with deaf children and open to all options as far as managing hearing loss and learning. I also think it's very important to have role models for the children to look up to, but hearing role models are important too!"

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I think the first priority should be given to qualified Deaf teachers before allowing a hearing person to teach. Nothing personal against hearing teachers for the Deaf. Having a Deaf teacher as a role model is imperative and influential for Deaf children. If a hearing teacher is hired for Deaf children, I would hope he/she is well equipped with knowledge about the Deaf culture and fluent in ASL."

ANONYMOUS QUESTION

"That's a tough question... Deaf deaf educators have the insight as to what it is like to be deaf and therefore can share real life experiences and strategies from that actual experience with their students. Deaf deaf educators innately know some methods of teaching deaf students what cannot be taught in a college prep program. Many hearing TOD got into the field with the perception of wanting to "fix/help" deaf children learn to speak or blend in with the hearing world. Many are not part of the Deaf community and therefore are not able to assist their students in establishing their deaf identity which is CRITICAL. However, I do know some hearing TOD/SLP that are very involved with the community and support deaf children and their need to establish their identities. I am grateful for those who take on this perspective."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I'm Spanish but I think the situation and the thoughts are same in the entire world. It's ALWAYS better having deaf adults in school, sign language is "pure", their minds is similar to deaf kids' ones (I mean their minds works in a specific way, different to hearing individuals), children develop role models, culture and self-esteem, and most important, they develop deaf identity, because you can't build an identity if the adult in front of you is hearing, different. I hope I explained well!"

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I see a benefit for those who have access to spoken language, but there should always be some deaf individuals working with these children. My issue with hearing people working with DHH kids is they often think they know what's best, but that's not always the case. Hearing people often, but not always, use SEE, CASE or SimCom which is not best practice. If the hearing person is Deaf centered, then that's great!"

ANONYMOUS QUESTION #15

If you were raised bilingual, what was your experience like?

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I was actually raised trilingual! I used English with my parents, sign language at school (until 6th grade), and German with my grandpa. I think I had a fairly good experience and can switch languages quite naturally. I was recently disappointed when I tried taking Chinese classes. Even with hearing aids, I can't tell the difference between the consonant sounds."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I feel like I had an advantage is school knowing ASL and English. If I wasn't sure what a word in English meant, an ASL sign would give me a clue! For example, I read the word "imperative" in junior high during my English class. I looked at my interpreter and she signed "important". I feel like being bilingual helps me understand each language better."

ANONYMOUS QUESTION #16

Should all families with Deaf/HoH children sign? Why?

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I think that all families with Deaf or HoH kids should at least try it out and learn some basic signs. I think it's best for parents to follow their child's lead and use what works best for their child. (Not what they think is best, or audiologist says is best, or a doctor says is best.)"

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Yes. Even if it's sign supported English. Why do you need to accommodate your child? Because if YOU aren't willing to put the work into communicating with you child, how will they believe that anyone else could ever want to? If you choose not to accommodate your child you're telling them you do not care about their needs."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Yes. ASL makes language 100% accessible for DHH children. Hearing aids and cochlear implants don't make it 100% accessible. Why wouldn't you want 100% for your child?"

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"ABSOLUTELY! YES! WITHOUT A DOUBT!Any person with hearing loss would benefit from learning sign language. It's the only language that is 100% accessible to those with hearing loss. Cochlear implants and hearing aids do not make us hearing (trust me... I know. I have them myself) I grew up oral and still missed out on things. ASL is the only time I feel 100% included."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"Yes. All families deaf or not should sign. Everyone deserves to chat through windows!"

ANONYMOUS QUESTION #17

What's your experience with speech pathologists been?

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"It's been a long time since I've taken speech classes. I didn't mind them when I did, even though speech could be frustrating. My best tips for parents of kids in speech therapy: be patient, make it fun, and don't give up. I also don't think it's fair or helpful to force your child to use one method of communication. Be open to using different methods!"

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I've always had kind SLPs. They knew speech therapy was hard for me and not my favorite thing to do, but I never felt forced or looked down upon. Speech therapy is a very humbling experience for the DHH population because it doesn't come naturally or easily to us, so having that patience and support made all the difference."

ANONYMOUS RESPONSE

"As a child in speech therapy... I disliked it and quit when I was in 3rd or 4th grade. I told my mom I was done because we constantly worked on the same sounds OVER AND OVER! It wasn't fun or beneficial for me anymore."

ANONYMOUS REPLY

"I had one in elementary that I really liked and one in Jr. High I hated (I used to make fun of her) and I'll never forget her name. Speech therapy is stressful for kids normally I think. 1. They're missing out on class/study hall; 2. They're being differentiated from friends (why I don't believe the inclusive school argument, but not the point); and 3. When they go home people are trying to get them to say words over and over again correctly. I was an undergrad Speech Pathology and Audiology student there needs to be a change in mindset when it comes to D/HH kids."