As many people may not know, this week (5th-11th May 2025) is Deaf Awareness Week, and the theme this year is ‘Beyond Silence’. I feel this is the perfect opportunity to share my own experience of being deaf/hearing impaired.
Looking back at my childhood, I remember sitting in a classroom, unable to understand the conversations around me or join in. I felt alone and isolated. I was the only deaf child in my entire school, and it was incredibly lonely at times.
Babies who are born deaf or hearing impaired don’t have access to sound from day one like hearing babies do. As a result, my communication and language development were delayed. I didn’t receive my first pair of hearing aids until I was three years old, so I missed out on a lot. I actually didn’t start speaking until I was seven – a fact not many people know about me.
It took years of determination, immense patience from those around me, and countless hours of often patronising speech therapy. Don’t get me wrong – I’m grateful for the help I received. But 30 years ago, things were different, and people often treated me as if I were stupid.
One of the biggest misconceptions deaf people face is when people say, “Your speech is too good for someone who’s deaf,” or ask, “Are you sure you're really hearing impaired?” It’s incredibly tiring and frustrating to constantly defend yourself and explain the extra effort we have to put in – the extreme fatigue that comes from concentrating so hard on conversations and reading people’s lips. It’s exhausting!
For me, and many others in the deaf community, the biggest challenge is how we’re treated because of our deafness. People often slow down their speech too much, shout the moment you say you're deaf, or worst of all, say “It doesn’t matter” when you ask them to repeat something. That hurts. So, for that seven-year-old girl who was always excluded from games like Chinese whispers and missed out on secrets at sleepovers, I want to share some tips to help you become more deaf aware:
1. Be patient and speak clearly – but don’t overdo it or become patronising. We’re deaf, not stupid.
2. Never say “never mind” or “it doesn’t matter.” If a deaf person asks you to repeat something, please just repeat it. Dismissing us makes us feel excluded and insecure.
3. Don’t speak with your hand in front of your mouth or face. It makes lip-reading very difficult.
4. Don’t speak with your back to us. We need to see your face and lips – otherwise, your speech becomes muffled and hard to follow.
5. Be kind. We didn’t choose to be born deaf. Treat us the way you would want to be treated.
6. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you’re unsure about something, ask. Educating yourself is a great way to learn and show support.
7. Be an ally. Stand up for the deaf community and help us raise awareness.
To those who judged me in the past or told me I couldn’t achieve my dreams – I hope this article shows just how challenging life with a disability can be. Please be kind. Don’t put us down – because we will only come back stronger.