Spasmodic Dysphonia Bulletin Board

Having SD and people asking if you are deaf .........
			Archive

Posted by: snowie ® 02/02/2004, 14:50:55

Hi there, One more thing I'd like to ask ....... it first came to light that something was wrong with my voice, when people started to ask me if I was deaf .... or to assume I was, and speak to me 'very very slowly' thinking I couldn't hear them ... or trying sign language on me!. As you can imagine this was really upseting and frustrating particuarly as I had no idea what was wrong with me!. Has any one else experienced this ?? and does any one know what is causing me to sound as though I'm deaf ?? .... ... It would be good to at least understand why this is happening ... Many thanks for all your help with my 101 questions ! Best wishes to you all, Snowie Modified by snowie at Mon, Feb 02, 2004, 16:26:10

| |

Current page

Replies to this message

Re: Having SD and people asking if you are deaf ......... Re: Having SD and people asking if you are deaf ......... -- snowie Top of thread Archive Posted by: Richard ® 02/02/2004, 16:18:43 Did they think a deaf person can hear them better if they spoke slowly? Idiots! Also, your "different" type of speech makes people who are already uptight even more uptight. It isn't you, it's them. Try not to get too upset due to other's behavior. Richard Callen ADDED: But you will be upset to some degree. It is natural. The imbeciles! Modified by Richard at Tue, Feb 03, 2004, 20:36:03 | | Where am I? Original message Top of thread Current page Re: Having SD and people asking if you are deaf ......... Re: Having SD and people asking if you are deaf ......... -- snowie Top of thread Archive Posted by: Laurie ® 02/02/2004, 20:24:06 Snowie, One thought is that if someone asks you if you're deaf, you have to wonder about their sanity. But moving beyond that, I can relate to this general idea. I walked into the registrar's office in college a couple of years back with a written note that I needed a certain loan application form. I had a botox injection that left me 100% voiceless for a few weeks so I became accustomed to writing things down in noisy atmospheres. The man who assisted me immediately started speaking quite slowly in a loud voice, deliberately trying to catch my eye to see if I understood his (so very complicated) instructions. I assumed he thought that I was deaf (since I wrote a note) so I decided not to make eye contact (i.e., I wasn't a skilled deaf person practicing lip reading) for a minute and then answered in my whispered voice. He seemed surprised that I could, indeed, speak. Thereafter, he spoke normally. One other time, I was in an elevator signing with a deaf friend and two women entered. Upon seeing us signing, one said to the other "they're deaf." I guess it intrigues people. Anyway, don't let it bother you. People are sometimes more intrigued (or nosey) than critical. Laurie (AD/SD) Modified by Laurie at Mon, Feb 02, 2004, 20:27:48 | | Where am I? Original message Top of thread Current page Re: Having SD and people asking if you are deaf ......... Re: Re: Having SD and people asking if you are deaf ......... -- Laurie Top of thread Archive Posted by: arlene ® 02/02/2004, 21:04:02 That brings to mind what happened to me at work the other day. I have been having an extremely hard time with my voice and had answered the phone since there was no one else available. This woman on the other end asks me if I could hear her. I told her yes mam I could hear her very well. So she says "well I thought since you cant talk good you cant hear either!!!!!!!!!!!I had all I could do to keep from exploding. People can be so ignorant. Then she proceeded to tell me that since my voice was that bad I shouldn't be at work, I should be at home. I only wish..............Hang in there. | | Where am I? Original message Top of thread Current page Re: Having SD and people asking if you are deaf ......... Re: Having SD and people asking if you are deaf ......... -- snowie Top of thread Archive Posted by: paf ® 02/02/2004, 21:09:58 Hi Snowie, I have had similar situations both during difficult periods with my voice and after a Botox injection. Like Laurie, I have been voiceless at times. And, people often think I am deaf when my voice is returning after a Botox injection. I went into the department of rehabilitation one day to talk with a counselor and they sent out the deaf counselor who started signing to me. The receptionist had assumed that I was deaf. I had to laugh and I told him..."No, no, no, I am not deaf." He smiled and wished me a good day. People are going to have their own perceptions in regard to your voice. I tend to believe that it isn't my problem or issue. It is an issue for people who do not take the time to be thoughtful in their interactions with others. It has certainly taught me to be more compassionate toward others so that is the upside of this impairment. Just remember that the voice is not who you are. You are a person with a voice; maybe not the same voice you once had but certainly a voice with a lot of personality and humanity behind it. I hope that with time you can find some humor in some of these situations and some peace in knowing that your voice is only one aspect of who you are. Your voice is only one way to represent yourself to others and to share your feelings. Wishing you well, wishing you peace. Pam : ) | | Where am I? Original message Top of thread Current page