Video: Deaf Baby Hears for First Time

Mediaite ^ | May 28, 2010 | Colby Hall

[Louis Foxwell]

My grandparents were deaf, using only sign language for communications. My family has been in service to this population for nearly a century.
The impact of deafness is devastating on social and intellectual development. The deep and abiding love we share with many of these wonderful people is anathema to much of the hearing world.
Deaf people experience vicious discrimination. They are enslaved, humiliated and cheated with unerring consistency. Their comfort is found almost esclusively in deaf communities. They are a minority unnoticed when not abused.

[Darkwolf377]

Their comfort is found almost esclusively in deaf communities.

I never thought of that, but it's pretty obvious when you state it that way. I've worked with the homeless, at-risk kids, and kids with various mental health and emotinoal disorders, and what fascinates me is how many sub-cultures we have within the larger one. (Alcoholics, for example, are yet another one.) Thanks for your comments, you've given me something to think about.

[MissDairyGoodnessVT]

awesome really sweet made my day

[Darkwolf377]

I’m glad to read that. I’m a cranky-looking old dude who walks to work through a tough part of town and have never been bothered by the gang members who strut around here, yet I’ve probably watched that a dozen times. Just seeing the pleasure on the kid’s face is like a tonic.

[MissDairyGoodnessVT]

:):)!!

[SWAMPSNIPER]

The Florida School For the Deaf is here in St. Augustine.
There is definitly a subculture, many deaf people don’t seem interested in joining society as a whole. There is some hostitlity towards implants, quite a few deaf people don’t want them for their kids. I think they are afraid of losing a child who can hear.

[fullchroma]

Prayers and condolences to you and your family. I’m so sorry.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I’ve had the same wonder, myself. I don’t know that there is an “easy choice” over sight or hearing. I think losing sight would be the most difficult to adapt to, and yet, to never again hear my children laugh with joy... that would be a special kind of pain that would be difficult to overcome.

The idea of losing one of my senses makes me that much more grateful that the creator gave me all five.

[Nea Wood]

I read once that Helen Keller had stated that if she could miraculously receive either her hearing or her sight, she’d choose to hear. She said being deaf made her feel very lonely.