Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it hard to date a deaf person?
Dating a person with hearing problems is as hard or easy as dating a normal person. There are a lot of misconceptions associated with people who have issues with their hearing capabilities.
You may think that since the person cannot or is hard on hearing, it would be difficult to communicate with him or her. But, communication is a challenge with completely normal people too. People simply assume that dating a deaf person requires more work and effort. It may be true to a certain extent, but that is true for other dates. Challenges can exist in relationships of all kinds – with even non-deaf people, and in most cases, both partners need to work a lot and consistently to communicate effectively and make the relationship work. In fact, the good part is that when you date a person hard of hearing, you take extra care to ensure effective communication from the start. That is good for the relationship!
If you have normal hearing, it is always advisable to first learn and pick up ASL (American Sign Language) to communicate well with your date. Eventually, you might be meeting the person’s family and friends and the extended social community of your partner. It will be easier for them to accept you as a part of their group and community if you understand ASL, or else it could get intimidating, and you might start to feel lost in the relationship.
Another aspect worth remembering is that a deaf person would probably try harder to impress the date for numerous reasons. Most of it stems from the prejudiced attitude they might have faced during other times when trying to get a date due to their disability. In such a case, as a partner, you may find it easier to interact with a deaf date.
Where can I meet deaf friends?
If you are looking to date a hearing-impaired person, online deaf dating sites are the right place to find genuine partners. Don’t go to a generic dating site but look specifically for deaf dating sites. Some of the best ones are eHarmony, which is one of the best dating sites for all. Here you can meet people of all mentalities, including those interested in a relationship with a disabled person who is hard of hearing. Besides this, there are dedicated disabled dating sites where you can find people with a disability.
Deaf Singles Meet, Deaf Dating Zone, Deaf Match, Meet Deaf Singles, Deaf Dating, Deafs.com, Dating for Deaf, and Deaf Dating sites are examples of the best online places for deaf people to find their dates.
If you wish to have friends from this community without any romantic inclination, you can sign with Facebook Deaf Groups, join a Silent Suppers program or a culture function for Deaf, volunteer at a school for Deaf, take the help of an ASL instructor to introduce you to hearing-impaired groups, sign-up with your state’s association for the deaf, or volunteer at disabled services program. You could also become a part of the Hearing Exchange Chat site or enroll with the World Deaf Directory to become a part of the world community.
How to communicate with a deaf person?
Communicating with a person who is hard of hearing can be difficult. But, the point is to keep trying, not to belittle the person or make them feel awkward. It is also important not to get irritated at the person or insult his/her intelligence. Also, you should not joke or make fun of the disability. You need to be considerate and courteous. Remember that a person with a hearing impairment looks for visual clues when you talk – so be gentle and go easy on your speed so that the person across can follow the conversation.
If you wish to communicate in person, look for a quiet and not noisy place. The ambiance of the place has a crucial role in helping the person understand what you are saying. Choose a place with good lighting and let the light fall on you so that it is easy for the person to lipread. Try to face the person and make eye contact. The disabled person needs to see your eyes, hence, do not wear sunglasses. Keep your mouth uncovered.
Also, maintain a distance of at least a meter so that the person can see and follow your lips and hand signs easily. As mentioned earlier, speak softly and clearly; try not to shout or mumble. In case there is more than one person, take turns to speak. Repeat if required. If you are still facing any communication issues, write them down to make things easy. Also, try not to be callous in your attitude, wearing an ‘oh, don’t worry’ look on your face.
Using gestures and associated expressions helps make your communication strong. But, do not overdo it because that can be distracting. Do not over-mouth words. If you know the deaf person well, you can use phrases or short sentences, but not with strangers or people you meet for the first time. Have patience, and do not walk away till you are sure that the person has heard the conversation.
How does a deaf person make a phone call?
A hearing-impaired person can use a phone to speak to friends and family. There is specially-made telecom equipment known as TTY or TDD (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf) that comes with a display screen and keyboard and a telephone handset. The system works with the help of State Relay Service as an interpreter working as a facilitator.
The system permits the use of common abbreviations like PLS for please, HLD for hold, and so on. The receiver, on the other side, gets to know if the call is coming from a TTY system. There would be either a beep or a message announcing that it is a call from a ‘hearing impaired caller.’ The receiver will also be asked if they have received such a call or not, and if not, the procedure will be explained to them by the Relay operator.
The caller or the receiver should practice good phone techniques like speaking directly on the mouthpiece of the phone. Be patient, speak clearly and slowly, and repeat if necessary.
How do I call a deaf person?
When calling someone who is hard of hearing, naturally or developed over a period, the person needs to understand how the communication takes place. It could be either typed or signed, and there is always a relay officer to repeat the words. There are a few things to take care of when you call a person hard of hearing. To allow the relay offer to type the message properly, pausing between each sentence or phrase is important.
Difficult words should be repeated. You should speak only when it is your turn to speak. You need to talk about one topic at a given time. Let the other person know that you are done with the speaking and give them the indication to go ahead and speak. Always speak in the first person, like using ‘I’ and ‘you’ to address the person directly rather than indirectly. Involve the relay officer only in case of any problem. When you are about to end the call, you must bid goodbye to the person on the other side.
If you wish to address a fully hearing-impaired person, remember most people prefer being called ‘Deaf.’ People who have partial hearing problems often like to be addressed as ‘hard of hearing.’
