language, communication, and sense of identity. This fact, by definition, makes them a cultural group. This invisible disability greatly affects a person’s life and interactions with others. Only by recognizing and understanding a family’s specific culture can we incorporate and tailor our interactions to effectively help that family. We do this not only with our actions but most importantly with our communications skills.
Try imagining a life without sound, a world devoid of music, voices, or laughter. Now imagine hearing only partial sounds, distorted and muffled. This is the world experienced by a person who is hard of hearing. Exacerbating the impact of hearing loss are the feel- ings of frustration, depression, isolation, and exhaustion felt by a person with hearing loss.
There are many prejudices directed toward people who are hard of hearing. Some stig- mas include
• Almost all people with hearing loss are old people. This is not true. About half of people with hearing loss are working age or young people
• People with hearing loss are less intelligent than people with normal hearing. This is not true. There is no connection between hearing impairment and intelligence. The range of intelligence of people with hearing loss is equal to the range across the gen- eral population.
• People with hearing loss are almost always mentally ill. This is not true. People are not mentally ill if they suffer from hearing loss. But psycho- logically, it is difficult to be hard of hearing.
• People with hearing loss hear what they want to hear. This is not true. Hearing loss is not equal to selected hearing. The ability to hear depends on the degree and kind of hearing loss and the conditions and surroundings in the hearing situation.
• If people with hearing loss cannot hear, they just have to wear hearing aids or turn up the volume. This is not true. It is not that simple and even though hearing aids help they do not make one’s hearing normal.
People who suffer from untreated hearing loss often find it extremely difficult to par- ticipate in social activities, even with their own families. Some common social problems and consequences for people with untreated hearing loss are
• isolation and withdrawal • inattentiveness • bluffing • problems communicating with children/grandchildren • distraction/lack of concentration • problems at work—may have to give up working/retire • problems participating in social encounters and reduced social activity • loss of intimacy
60 VOICES FROM THE COMMUNITY: CROSS CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS OF GRIEF AT THE LOSS OF AN INFANT
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