Deaf FAQ
I know there are countless versions of this elsewhere, but here is mine: What do I call you? · Deaf · Hard of Hearing · Deaf and dumb (extremely rude, equivalent to the “N” word) · Deaf mute (rude/ignorant) · Hearing-impaired (well-meaning, but rude) Clarity matters more than volume It does not help to yell or talk really slowly or animated. Speak clearly and normally at an acceptable volume. Clarity is far more important than super loud volume. Most importantly, face me. Why can’t you understand me well? People with accents are extremely difficult to understand for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing folks. Also, men and women may be easier or more difficult to understand. Background noise, especially other voices, makes it virtually impossible to understand someone. “But you speak so well” Thank you, but I don’t have problems with my vocal cords—I have problems with my ears. Just because I speak well does