When hearing aids benefit deaf/hh children

While growing up at around age 6 or 7 years old I received my second hearing aid after having worn out my first one that I had since age 2 1/2 years old. It wasn’t the behind the ear hearing aid but a body aid. I’ve gotten a lot of good mileage out of my old hearing aids. Obviously so because without that hearing aid of mine I wouldn’t be here where I am today. Successful and thankful with what residual hearing I had left though not perfect. It has helped me with my ongoing ragtime piano playing ever since I was seven years old. I am proud of all of my past hearing aids I've worn because each one of them I have used it with great benefit. I even remembered how I enjoyed using my hearing aid when I was little because it gave me access to the world of sound, music and voice around me. It took awhile to realize that hearing is a precious thing and a gift even if I couldn't hear perfectly. It was perfect enough for me with the help from the hearing aid technology. I even have a drawing I did when I was around 5 or 6 years old showing me as a happy kid wearing the body hearing aid. There was a time or two when I didn't like wearing my hearing aid but that phase quickly passed once I realized how important my hearing aids were to me.

Below is a picture of my old body hearing aid inside a protective case . It’s a Zenith. Along with a Battery Membership card, and a special yellow button that has as special message.

It’s so well preserved though I am sure my old hearing aid can work if I put in the right kind of battery.

Pretty fascinating on how hearing aids (even cochlear implants) have helped so many people with hearing loss. Isn’t technology great? And perhaps someday hearing aids will become obsolete with the help of biotechnology that have the ability to restore sensorineural hearing loss. It's not a matter of if but when. That day is coming whether in my lifetime or not.

Remember AB2072...?

Remember AB2072?  That was three years ago when the brouhaha started.

Remember the veto of that bill and the reason why?  Refresh your memory here.  And how that bill could have created a path to have a California law recognizing ASL as a valid option for language and communication access?

Remember how happy those culturally deaf protesters were when AB2072 was vetoed by the governor of California?

Do you also remember in the AB2072 bill it referred to California's Department of Education as one of the multi-agency that support the Early Start Program?  And how they would provide a packet of information on "Communicating with Your Child" with information about local, state and national resources and how the Dept. Health Care Services web site provides links to local, state, and national resources regarding deaf and hard of hearing children as stated in the bill ?

Remember in 2010 the year when AB2072 came out in California the Department of California did not have a position statement on language access for students who are deaf and hard of hearing? Do you realize that the CDE has now posted their position statement on their website two days ago?

Do you realize in their position statement what the Department supports in terms of language and communication access?

Recognizes and respects the right of parents of children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing to make informed decisions about the language(s) they will use in raising their children.

and

Recognizes and respects the right of parents of children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing to make informed decisions about the communication tool(s) they will use in raising their children.

and more importantly on the choices,

Believes that parents should not be compelled to choose between spoken and signed language. They may choose to use both.

Remember those who were against the AB2072 bill stated their reason why?

The opposition argues that the focus of this bill about "communication options" is misleading and picking one option over another would only rob the child of the ability and opportunity for full language acquisition.

Do you want to read California Department of Education's position statement on language access again on the parents' right to make an informed decision regarding their deaf or hard of hearing child on language choice and communication access?

Remember how happy those deaf protesters were when AB2072 was vetoed the one opportunity on creating a path to have a California law recognizing ASL as a valid language option as a beginning foundation? How does that reconcile with the fact today that CDE now supports the right of deaf and hard of hearing children to have early access to a complete language, visual OR spoken, from birth? This mean CDE would support a deaf child with a cochlear implant or a hard of hearing child with a hearing aid to have early access to the spoken language only. Or that a child can visually sign in SEE. Even CUED speech would be a valid option. CDE position statement does not say they support early access to a complete visual language (i.e. ASL) which is what NorCal wanted in the first place.  Instead, CDE supports early language access either visual OR spoken, OR both.

Here's the funny thing if not ironic by now was that in the beginning the Deaf Newborn Identification and Advocacy (DNIA) strongly recommended changing the Newborn and Infant Hearing Screening program by putting the Early Start under the California Department of Education.

Early Start should be under the state entity that is best fitted to provide oversight and coordinate early intervention services: The California Department of Education (CDE). The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) should not be involved at all, unless a child in a particular case is developmentally disabled.

And

The CDE should be the entity responsible for designing an appropriate resource guide-handbook...

The DNIA states that ASL should only be the first option from the start along with reading and writing English with an emphasis on shifting away from the ear and the spoken language (i.e. aurally and orally) and that they are to be secondary in a deaf or hard of hearing child's life. But the CDE,

Emphasizes that the purpose of Early Start for children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing is to ensure that these children acquire age appropriate language skills to enable them to do well in school and career.

Nothing is said that ASL should be the language of choice for deaf or hard of hearing children but rather that the language could either be spoken OR visual, OR both as determined by their parents when they make their informed decision.

How does it feel to have a hole in your foot now that California Department of Education has solidified their position on language access for students who are deaf and hard of hearing, and Early Start?  Sounds like both CDE and DDS are very much in the same camp regarding their positions and philosophies for deaf and hard of hearing children.

Ain't that wonderful?

The Walking Effect

The difference between Walk4Hearing and Walk for ASL?

Walk4Hearing involves the community on a much larger scale with thousands of people every year in 22 different cities from June through October. The local media reporting in each city help generate more public awareness about hearing loss. It's a public relation dream machine. Walk for ASL on the other hand involves 15 culturally deaf people who will walk for 30 days from San Francisco to Santa Monica, California with the hope that their actions and message will capture the attention of the media.

Walk4Hearing is again raising money and has a very successful formula since 2006 because approximately 1 out 8 Americans with hearing loss have something that they can relate to each other with a common condition. There are many more hearing parents, friends and families who know someone with a hearing loss.  It could be their grandpa who experienced hearing loss later in his life. Or have a deaf or hard of hearing brother or a sister. A parent with a hearing loss. A hearing person whose best friend wears a hearing aid. A next door neighbor whose teenager experienced hearing loss from Meningitis.  Hearing loss is such a common condition in the United States the majority of the population are familiar with it. And because of the familiarity about hearing loss they become much more approachable about auditory-oral education, hearing aids, cochlear implants, or implantable hearing device that uses the eardrum as a natural microphone. No wonder auditory-oral schools are succeeding in their public relation efforts with their communities.

In its first year in 2006 the Walk4Hearing raised over $300,000. Since 2006 they have raised several million dollars. In 2011 Walk4Hearing successfully raised $1.1 million dollars in a matter of months. In 2012 they surpassed the $1.2 million dollar mark. This year their goal is to raise $1.4 million dollars and so far they are 24% of their goal with $336,000 raised already and they are on track to surpass the $1.4 million dollar mark before the first walk to start in June of this year.

Money raised is shared between national and local programs and services including support of children with hearing loss at www.kidsandhearingloss.org.

National Programs and Services    

• Provide timely and reliable information about hearing loss through HLAA’s website, Hearing Loss Magazine, HLAA e-News, the Hearing Loss Support Specialist Training, message boards/chat forums and annual conventions
• Advocacy at the national level to affect legislation that impacts people with hearing loss, whether it’s funding for hearing aids, cochlear implants, communication access in public places or other important issues
• A nationwide network of chapters and state organizations providing peer support
• Support for parents of children with hearing loss at www.kidsandhearingloss.org
• Outreach to veterans returning with hearing loss
• Social networking site for young adults with hearing loss at www.hearinglossnation.org

Local Programs and Services    

• Captioning and hearing assistive technology at HLAA chapter meetings to make them accessible
• Scholarships toward college tuition for students with hearing loss
• Funding for hearing aids and assistive listening devices for people who cannot afford them
• Installation of hearing assistive technology in public places, such as community rooms and public libraries
• Captioning of live theater productions
• Seminars on coping with hearing loss

The www.kidsandhearingloss.org website is to help

empower parents of hard of hearing and/or deaf children by providing the resources necessary for them to make informed decisions about their children’s hearing loss.

Below is a Walk4Hearing video promotion with subtitles.




Walk for ASL is a new venture idea to help raise awareness and seek funding for their own agenda and cause. It only actively involve 15 deaf people who will walk in California the 600 miles from San Francisco to Santa Monica in 30 days along the Pacific Coast Highway. Their goal is to get the attention of the media.

The difference here is that ASL and deaf culture are essentially a hidden language and community. They are more apparent in large cities such as Washington D.C.; Rochester, NY; Seattle, WA; and Austin, TX. Even in large cities the bulk of hearing people go about their daily lives and never get to meet or see a signing deaf person in their life. And for a good reason because the culturally deaf community make up about 0.2% (0.002) of the total population in the United States. The chance to meet a signing deaf person or a deaf group would be quite small. It becomes harder for hearing people to even sympathize with such a small deaf community when they try and raise awareness on ASL, a language and culture that are totally foreign to most of the hearing society. They might hear about signing deaf people in the news on rare occasions or by chance see a deaf character in a television show. But to the hearing society the language and culture of deaf people are still completely foreign to them.

Below is a Walk for ASL video promotion but no subtitles or transcript available.

Using your voice at Gallaudet University and elsewhere is OK

There were several instances of a protest supporter, student, faculty or alumnus who used his/her voice (without signing) in front of hearing, deaf, and  hard of hearing audience. Most of these people who used their voice instead of signing were either deaf or hard of hearing at places like Gallaudet University and the Senate Health Hearing in California on the AB2072 bill. In all cases there were sign language interpreters available and in some cases included voice interpreter and real time captioner.  This is about respecting communication preferences of deaf and hard of hearing people. A preference that they feel most comfortable in. Due to certain circumstances sometimes voice had to be used instead of signing.

Before I get started I want to remind people that Gallaudet University is a true, bi-lingual institute. I would like to think students attending Gallaudet University are not linguistically disabled in the English language, especially towards the end of their undergraduate career with a strengthened English competency and literacy.   I see both the English language (spoken or written) and sign language as equally supported on campus. Both ASL and the spoken English language deserve equal respect in the cases I'm about to present.

Secondly, I must remind people that president Hurtwitz of Gallaudet University re-iterated a key point that ICED issued a global call to "accept and respect all languages and all forms of communication" in the education of deaf and hard of hearing people. There were no restrictions or specificity against the use of Cued Speech, oral-auditory methods, SEE, PSE, AVT, note takers, CART, captioning, texting, voice to text, use of hearing aids and cochlear implants to help communicate and listen, and so on. Nor did ICED specify or condemn for using one form of communication method over another. Nothing was said about which form of communication MUST be used but rather that all forms of communication MUST be accepted and respected.

Did you get that?

Thirdly, as a side note, most students on campus do not sign in "pure ASL" but instead mouth the words while signing almost or completely in English word order like a PSE or signed English format. Some do sign and use their voice at the same time like former interim president Robert Davila of Gallaudet University as you can see (and hear) in the video below at time stamp from 1:13 to 2:01. Also note in the video on how deaf/hh people sign and mouths the words at the same time and oftentimes in English order. Pure ASL? Not really.



Moving on.

 

The first notable so called "scandal" that I'm aware of took place at Gallaudet University in 2006. Dr. Brenda Brueggemann, who is deaf, was the Commencement Speaker for Gallaudet University's graduating class of 2006.  She used her own voice instead of sign language.

 

 

 

She was at the time the interim Acting Chair of the Gallaudet University Board of Trustees. She was essentially pushed to take over Celia May Baldwin's position after she suddenly resigned claiming threats were made against her by some nutty pro-DPN2 protesters.  After the 2006 Gallaudet University graduation ceremony Dr. Brueggemann was wrongly attacked for using her voice.  The attackers simply did not see the bigger picture the reason why she had to use her voice in the first place as explained to me by Bruggemann in her email to me in 2010.

Meanwhile, I do also completely understand the reason and "right" for using ASL more and "better" --especially at places like Gallaudet. My ASL is only about half-good right now--not even as good as my German probably. But I can have conversations. I did so all the time as Board Chair with King and other Gu administrators directly on VRS (not using interpreters). I get by. And had I had any time to actually prepare my remarks for the GU graduation last May, I probably would have signed them more or at least part of them. But I didn't have that prep time. I was dropped into the Acting Chair's position on May 10, to be exact--once CM Baldwin resigned. And I was handed the remarks she was supposed to deliver (already scripted) for graduation on May 12. In fact, they didn't even give me the script until the morning of May 12. And it still had her name at the top of it! So, using oral/spoken English, I could feel comfortable enough to develop a few of my own "touches" in the prepared script. But I sure couldn't do that trying to use ASL....

If only the attackers knew about the little known history of why Dr. Brueggemann used her voice then they would not have screeched themselves into an apoplectic fit.   Instead, they get eggs on their faces just like Random Thoughts and Musings by moi blog who got everything wrong about Dr. Brueggemann's reason to use her voice that day.

Feeling silly right about now, don't you?

Let's keep an open mind here, folks.  Signers have a different level of fluency and visual reception/recognition. Not all deaf or hard of hearing people know sign language.

Dr. Brueggemann gave me a poignant but funny message in her email to me to share with everybody:

"Hey, I like my voice!" I'm proud of it. It's unique, it's mine, I like it. I think I'll use it! - Dr. Brenda Brueggemann. Sept 1, 2010.

Yeah, me, too.

The second "scandal" occurred around November of 2009 when a hearing doctoral candidate at Gallaudet University presented a dissertation defense in spoken English rather than ASL to a diverse audience of deaf, hard of hearing and hearing students as well as professors. Gallaudet University provided ASL interpreters. That "scandal" was short-lived, too.  Not much details other than it happened. Although I do admit this has nothing to do with a deaf or hard of hearing person but it was the idea that a doctoral candidate was allowed to use his own voice to speak in his dissertation defense at Gallaudet University.

Then we have an unknown person named "Bobby W" who claimed to have used his voice in 2006 to defend his student teaching experience for his degree at Gallaudet University:

If it makes you feel any better at the height of the campus scandal in 2006 while I was defending my student teaching experience for my degree from Gallaudet in front of the Education Department. I also choose to use my voice to do so. I used ASL for the answering/question session but the actual defense I used my voice. Imagine defending an education degree from Gallaudet University orally. I'm sure I was the FIRST to ever do so.

I received a few funny looks from my peers and a few of the EDU professors but It was a success...

-Bobby W.

Bobby W, where are you? Are you deaf, hh or hearing?

Next, of course, you have another Gallaudet University alumnus, which would me, who used his voice to speak at an audience at Gallaudet University's first ever vlogging/blogging conference in 2007.  I was one several panel members at that vlogging/blogging conference.  It was streamed in live in front of an internet audience and those physically present. Most people, I think, were quite receptive of my decision to use my voice based on the comments I received compared to Dr. Brueggemann's who probably got more people their panties in a bunch.  I don't think mine counted as a "scandal" by any stretch of the imagination.

And then we had this culturally deaf guy who was the Sacramento chapter president of CAD used his voice at the Senate Health Hearing in California in a room full of culturally deaf people which easily outnumbered the number of hearing people present. It's not a scandal if a deaf person choose to use his or her voice to speak or use sign language. The deaf and hard of hearing community support those who have a different but preferred mode of communicating.  You can find the original video of Tim Riker and others at the Senate Health Hearing in here.  




But the real eye-brow raiser was when Tim Riker criticized another oral deaf person, John Fortias, for having "unintelligible speech. " The sad thing is that the "unintelligible speech" claim is not true at all. John's speech is intelligible as evidenced in a transcript and by the interpreters in both videos (see above and below). It is quite evident that a sign language interpreter could understand John's speech as evidenced in the video below (video source).



The message?

If you're deaf or hard of hearing, whether you wear hearing aids, cochlear implants or none at all, it is alright to use your voice to speak in a public setting as long as other modes of communication are accessible to those who cannot hear, have trouble understanding the spoken word or unable to understand a different language such as ASL.  Let's hope students and faculty members at Gallaudet University will not shame students for using their voice as a choice.  After all, Gallaudet University is a bi-lingual institute.  Don't let people bully or chide for your preferred communication choices.

I have a question

A captioned video, "I have a question."

For cochlear implant musicians only - a call for panelists

For an upcoming web conference on listening to and making music with cochlear implants in September 2013, the Association of Adult Musicians with Hearing Loss are hosting a panel of adult musicians who wear cochlear implants. The purpose of this is to share with our audiences the very personal and individual experiences of what it is like to make music with a cochlear implant. Below are the criteria we will consider in panelist selection.

1. The panelist must have at least one year of experience with their cochlear implant(s).

2. The panelist must be musicians or music students who are active in music study, as evidenced by practicing on their instrument several times a week and/or taking private lessons regularly.

3. The panelist must be available on Saturday, September 7, from 1-3 pm Eastern time to serve on the panel.

A small honorarium will be given to panelists at the conclusion of the conference.

If you are interested in serving on this panel, please send your name, email address and a brief statement to AAMHL expressing your interest. The brief statement should state why you feel you would be a good candidate for the panel. All statements and contact inforrmation should be sent to info@aamhl.org by March 30, 2013.

Tara Congdon, Blue Ear, Phonak, and Iron Man

Tara Congdon responded to my earlier blog about her recent rant against Marvel Comics and Phonak in a poster campaign with Iron Man.

I agree with Tara's comment that the focus was not on Anthony Smith "The Blue Ear." What I saw was Tara's opinion of Marvel Comics' so called "intention" to push aside or attempt at "devaluing" those who cannot benefit from the use of hearing aids. I found that opinion remarkable which was why I came up with examples of Marvel Comics past characters who are deaf, especially Echo/Ronin, and not wear hearing aids and still be their "best self."

We all use technology to better ourselves with the help of hearing aids, cochlear implants, TTY, cell phone texting, captioning, CART,  real time face to face communication devices, lap top computers, and so on. Anthony Smith is using his own kind of technology to be his "best self” in his own way and that is to wear his blue hearing aid.

I disagree with Tara's contention that Marvel Comics poster campaign tell others that they "are less than whole human beings in their own right" because they are unable to use a hearing aid.  Ironically, if Tara had already been aware, Marvel Comics is known for their characters with varying kinds of "disabilities" such as blindness, mobility impaired, physical disfigurement, dwarfism, one-armed, deafness, and so on.

What is important is the encouragement of kids with hearing loss who can truly benefit from hearing aids to wear them and to not let other kids bully or tease them for wearing their hearing aids. It's an opportunity to educate people about hearing aids. I had to do the very same thing when I was in the 7th grade. I took the initiative to educate my peers about my hearing aids and what it can and cannot do, and my hearing loss.  My hearing aid has actually helped me live better by taking advantage of what hearing loss I have left. I am able to communicate better, listen better, and enjoy better the sound and music.   I agree about the transparency regarding Phonak and audiologists/healthcare professional that Tara spoke of in her article but this isn't about fitting kids who cannot benefit from hearing aids. This is about encouraging those who can and help educate people about hearing aids and hearing loss.

Read Iron Man's message of encouragement to a hard of hearing kid with a hearing aid.

Why no cochlear implant character in Switched at Birth?

Rachel Chaikof has a good blog piece about the lack of cochlear implant characters on the Switched at Birth show.  A show with deaf characters who do not know sign language and prefer to listen and speak. Go and check her blog out now and contribute.

Marvel Comics' "The Blue Ear Avenger" Inspires

Not only inspires but this story has gotten bit of a hate rant. More on that later.

This week's story (more here from Marvel) which is a follow up on last year's Marvel comics news on the making of a new superhero out of five-year-old Anthony Smith. Anthony at one time believed that superheroes do not wear hearing aids...that is until he became one when Marvel comics made him into a superhero as The Blue Ear.

Hey gang, I know this blog is a little later than usual but I've had a pretty amazing week! I got to create something special for an amazing little boy! I got to meet Anthony Smith, a real hero! Here's his mom's original letter to editor supreme, Bill Rosemann:

Hi there -  

I am the mom of a super hero mad 4 year old. He lives and breathes super heroes, he also has been diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder - mosaic trisomy 22. The good news is that his physical challenges are workable, he is mentally perfect, and while he will be having a heart surgery this summer - he is on the mend. The challenge that he will face for his entire life are his hearing impairments. He has no ear, and a complete hearing loss on his right side and mild loss on his left. He currently wears 2 hearing aids. 

Today as he was getting dressed I was putting on his "Blue Ear," the aid he wears on his left ear. He did not want to put it on, he told me super heroes do not wear blue ears. To get myself out of a bind I told him that sure they do - in fact Captain America has one under his mask. After repeated questioning he believed me - but I was wondering - maybe you have an intern, or someone who would like a challenge - could you make a little guy's day by drawing him a hearing impaired super hero?  

Thanks for considering this - I am likely to get stuck in your spam filter - but you never know - have a great day - I am attaching a picture of Anthony so you can see one of your dedicated customers.  

Best, Christina

I highlighted in bold blue in the above to point out that Anthony Smith has a mild hearing loss in his left ear although completely deaf in his right ear. Which makes the whole affair completely understandable on why it's important for the young boy to wear his hearing aid. And for Marvel comics to help inspire the boy. But not everybody agrees with this according to one CNN editorial writer written by Tara S. Congdon with a rant article called "Marvel misguided in hearing aid poster campaign."

However, these artists and Marvel have – perhaps unwittingly – stepped into a minefield by working with a hearing aid manufacturer on a marketing campaign that, by extrapolating an individual’s circumstances and applying it indiscriminately, devalues a segment of the deaf and hard of hearing community.

Marvel editor Bill Rosemann and artists Manny Mederos and Nelson Ribeiro have teamed with Phonak to create a poster that features Iron Man and the message "that kids who use hearing aids are just like him because ‘they are using technology to be their best self."

While the effort to destigmatize children who rely on hearing aids is laudable, because many of these children suffer relentless teasing from their peers for their differences, the poster’s message is deeply offensive and hurtful to those who gain little to no benefit from hearing aids. It dismisses the reality that Phonak’s technology does not always succeed in restoring hearing or achieving auditory comprehension for its users. And it implies that those who choose to or cannot use hearing aids are failing to be their best selves and are less than whole human beings in their own right.

I am a former Phonak user who derived no benefit from the company’s products. I have profound hearing loss, which means I can’t hear at all. While my parents chose to use Total Communication – an approach that blends hearing aids, speech and auditory therapy, and Signing Exact English – I was never able to differentiate sounds or understand speech.

She's correct that some deaf and hard of hearing kids have been teased for their wearing their hearing aids or even a cochlear implants for that matter. Just as some kids may have been teased for their use of the wheelchair, thick pair of glasses, knee braces, crutches, and so on.  It's really a matter of educating people about these conditions. It was not Marvel Comics intention to push aside those who cannot benefit from the use of hearing aids or with any other today's hearing technology. 

The difference here is that Tara S. Congdon grew up not benefitting much at all with her Phonak hearing aid, and that's understandable why she didn't like what Marvel comics did by creating a super hero with a hearing loss who benefitted from a powerful listening device.  Tara has a profound hearing loss and could not at all benefit from the use of her hearing aid. However, Anthony Smith who was made into a The Blue Ear comics superhero has a mild hearing loss in his left ear.  People with mild hearing loss can certainly and obviously benefit much from the use of a hearing aid. Anthony's hearing loss isn't severe or profound like Tara's but mild hearing loss. Take me as an example.  My right ear has a moderate-severe hearing loss while my left ear has a profound hearing loss. I grew up wearing a much older hearing aid technolgy, Phonak and other brands eventually getting digital hearing aids. I derived a great amount of benefit on using my hearing aid while growing and I was able to discriminate sound and understand speech incredibly well.  Imagine how far Anthony Smith could go with his mild hearing loss and the use of his hearing aid? I believe Anthony's Mom and Marvel comics did the right thing to help inspire and give confidence to a little boy on the benefit of wearing a hearing aid with his mild hearing loss.  Every day I am thankful on what hearing I have left.

In her CNN editorial rant what Tara S. Congdon does not realize is that Marvel comics do incorporate deaf characters with certain powers into their comic books.  In 1999 Marvel comics introduced a new deaf superhero character as Echo.

Echo appeared again as Ronin in the 2005 New Avengers #11 issue. Not only Echo but other deaf or hard of hearing characters with different kinds of superpowers or abilities appeared in other comics as well.

Deaf characters are often marginalised in literature. Echo the deaf superhero is coming to the rescue as the creators of comics strive for realism in their portrayal of deaf characters.  

"With any form of portrayal including the deaf in comics, we tend to see things very much from a hearing person's point of view," said Paul Dakin, a GP trainer from North London who studies deaf characters in literature, at a recent conference on comics and medicine. "Most of the people who write or who are artists are hearing, and as a result, traditionally there have been other reasons to portray deaf people. So, for example, they are plot devices; they are catalysts; they are means of reflecting particular aspects or features of a hearing character; they move the plot along, but they're not developed in their own right."  

In Hergé's Tintin, for example, Professor Calculus is hard of hearing. His disability is used as a comic device to introduce trivial and amusing misunderstandings into the story, rather than explored in its own right. Similarly, Hope Hibbert, a deaf girl who first appeared in The Sensational Spider-Man, issue 18, uses her ability to read lips from security camera footage to give Spider-Man the information he needs to save the day.  

"However, over the last 20 years an increasing number of deaf characters have started to emerge within mainstream comics," said Dakin. "That's given rise to the emergence of Echo. She is a major deaf character in the Marvel canon."  

Echo (aka Maya Lopez) is a superhero like no other. First appearing in Daredevil issue 9 in 1999, she is a rare deaf character with a complex emotional back story. Born deaf to a Cheyenne father and a Hispanic mother, she has the power to perfectly imitate anything she sees, including a rival's fighting style.  

"The character was going to debut as an antagonist in the story, but also as a love interest for Daredevil," Echo's creator and artist David Mack told me by email. "With Daredevil being blind, and constantly piecing his world together via his other senses, I felt he would be able to relate to Maya (aka Echo) who was deaf and grew up visually piecing the information of her world together to make sense of the mysterious audible world that she was not a part of."  

As research for the character, Mack read autobiographies of people who grew up deaf. "That was an incredible insight to me," he said. "I read a book where a boy was told that the rain makes a noise, and that lightning has an audible counterpart in thunder. So then he wondered what sound the sunshine made ... This kind of first person perspective really let me think from a different point of view."  

Echo uses both American Sign Language (ASL) and a Native American system developed for communication between tribes speaking different languages. The sign systems appear throughout the comic, both when Echo is signing and as background art.  

Though Echo provides perhaps the most complete example of sign language in comics, it is not the first. On the front cover of DC's Supergirl, issue 65, characters sign the comic's title. Spider-Man himself uses ASL in Sensational Spider-Man, issue 31 (and every time he shoots webs he signs "I love you"; his hand position blending the signs for I, L and Y in ASL).
 

And then you have Jack Flag who has a hearing loss in his left ear as a result of injury sustained as a costumed crimefighter and his healing powers have not mended the damage done to his ear. And then you have, of course, The Blue Ear, where the characeter Hawkeye teamed up with his fellow hard of hearing superheroThe Blue Ear in a comics rendering to help boost Anthony's confidence and inspire him to continue wear his hearing aid. This was a natural pick because Hawkeye at one time lost some of his hearing in a battle and was forced to wear a hearing aid until his hearing was fully restored.




We know there is a history of deaf people growing up who could not at all benefit from the use of hearing aids and that's an unfortunate thing. Which is why educating people about this history and that not all people with hearing loss can benefit from using a hearing aid. Just as well, it is important to educate people that there is beneficial value on using a hearing aid or any hearing technology such as cochlear implants.  Benefits vary from person to person on using a piece of hearing technology. I think there is plenty room for both for Marvel comics, DC and others to provide deaf and hard of hearing superheros or characters with a variety of super powers or abilities and be able to please both camps in the very diverse deaf and hard of hearing community.

I see nothing wrong with this story on helping inspire Anthony Smith to use his hearing aid. With his mild hearing loss he can certainly benefit greatly from using it. Just as I have benefitted greatly, and continue to do so, on my successful use of my hearing aid since I was two years old even though my hearing loss is much more severe than Anthony's. I thank my mother for helping me with my hearing aid while growing up. Just because you cannot benefit from the use of a hearing aid is not a reason to rain on this little boy's parade when he obviously can benefit from it. There are tons more boys and girls out there who can and do benefit greatly from the use of their hearing aids. Anthony Smith can do great things with his hearing aid and he's proving that everyday. He's an inspiration to hard of hearing kids everywhere. A real superhero.

Karl White's Speech at a TEDx Event on ASL and Speech/Listening

Here is a captioned video (Establishing a Sound Foundation for Children) of Dr. Karl White who is a Professor of Psychology at Utah State University and the founding Director of the National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management (NCHAM) presents a talk about newborn hearing loss detection and early intervention, deafness, ASL, speech, speech intelligibility, listening, hearing aids,
and and cochlear implants.

 


In one examples Dr. Karl White provided in the video was two young boys (around 5 or 6 years old) with their cochlear implants and the level of speech intelligibility they have virtually indistinguishable from other typical hearing boys. Dr. Karl White also acknowledged the importance of early use of ASL as well for parents who choose sign language. And provided a video of two deaf boys (approximately 3 years old) sitting in their car seats signing to their parents and to each discussing what they see outside of their windows like a passing airplane. Cute video. Dr. Karl White is recognized as one of the world's leading authorities on early identification and treatment of hearing loss in infants and young children. He has hundreds of publications and presentations at scholarly meetings, and has been invited to more than 30 countries to assist in the implementation of newborn hearing screening and intervention programs. His work has been recognized with awards from such diverse organizations as the Deafness Research Foundation, the American Association for Speech Language and Hearing, the Swedish Society of Medicine, the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped in India. He also serves on many national and international advisory groups and boards for organizations such as the World Health Organization, the Coalition for Global Hearing Health, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, March of Dimes, the American College of Medical Genetics, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

When Hearing Aid Companies invest in Regenerative Medicine on Cure for Hearing Loss

It was a matter of time when hearing aid or cochlear implant companies decide to invest in promising pharmaceutical companies on developing a drug that can either prevent further hearing loss or restore it.

One intriguing possibility for the future is the convergence of future drugs and devices. Hearing aid manufacturers have certainly not been deaf to the noises from the pharma sector. 

Sonova, the world's largest maker of hearing aids, has invested in two start-up companies - one in the United States for drugs to protect hearing and another Swiss biotech working on a treatment for acute tinnitus. 

It bought U.S. cochlear implant manufacturer Advanced Bionics in 2009 in a bid to increase its focus on the inner ear and understand how drug treatments could work with implants. 

"It will be interesting whether the innovation will be driven by pharma companies moving in or whether the hearing aid companies will branch out," said Auris' Meyer.

More and more investors are paying more attention to pharmaceuticals or biotech firms who look promising on developing drugs that target the cochlea on the restoration or improvement of hearing loss.

U.S. giant Pfizer is arguably the most advanced of the big players, with a drug in initial Phase I clinical testing trial for age-related sensorineural hearing loss that looks to enhance the function of existing hair cells.

Some of its biggest rivals are laying bets, too. Last year French drugmaker Sanofi inked a two-year research deal with privately held Dutch biotech firm Audion Therapeutics to develop small molecule drugs to improve hearing.

In October, Roche joined forces with venture capital firm Versant Ventures and biotech Inception Sciences to find molecules targeting ear hair cell protection and regeneration in the cochlea, the spiral-shaped cavity in the inner ear.

Cross-town competitor Novartis, meanwhile, struck a 2010 deal potentially worth more than $213 million with U.S. biotech GenVec to develop gene-based treatments to replace hair cells in the ear that transmit sound.

"We're looking at restoration as our main line of work and we're interested in whether there are chemicals that might also play this role instead of having to introduce a gene," said Novartis research head Mark Fishman.

The question why are they investing time, resources and money for a drug that could revolutionize regenerative medicine in the field of sensorineural hearing loss? The answer is simple. The returns on their investment would be huge.

But the science is developing and investor interest is growing, piqued by the huge commercial success of recent new treatments for sight loss, such as Lucentis from Novartis and Roche and Eylea from Regeneron and Bayer. 

British charity Action on Hearing Loss conservatively puts the potential Western market for new drugs at $4.6 billion a year - a figure that could grow quickly as ageing populations swell the ranks of those with hearing problems.

With each progressive successes such as restoring some of the hearing loss in gerbils will only embolden and encourage investors to help speed up the search for a regenerative medicine for the restoration of hearing loss. It would only be a matter of time in several years time rather than decades until success in the field of regenerative medicine on sensorineural hearing loss would be realized and capitalized.  In the inexorable march towards on the cure for sensorineural hearing loss will continue to march forward and unabated. The writing is on the wall.

NBC story of deaf girl to hear again

Once a year, Bill Austin, founder and CEO Starkey Hearing Technologies - the largest hearing aid technology manufacturer in the United States, with the Starkey Foundation visits the Yankee stadium and donates Starkey's state-of-the-art hearing aids to any children and adults who would not have otherwise able to afford the latest hearing aid models on the market today. Stephanie Montalvo recently received a Starkey hearing aid that her family's insurance wouldn't have been able to cover. And upon receiving it the sound around her was louder and with more clarity over her old aging hearing aid that barely provided much sound. "I feel like I'm a newborn baby, being able to hear again," she said. 

The Starkey Foundation has given the gift of hearing to over 800,000 people in the past 12 years with free hearing aids. In 2012 notable celebrities like Chelsea Clinton who helped Bill Austin distribute new hearing aids to hundreds of kids at Yankee Stadium. . And deaf kids still get excited upon receiving a free hearing aid.  Deaf boy at 1:06 into the video (first video at top of page) signs and says while smiling "I have a new hearing aid! I am happy!"

At the Clinton Global Initiative in 2012 President Bill Clinton challenged Bill Austin to do more on providing free hearing aids to kids and adults around the world. Starkey Foundation for awhile remained "stuck" at 50,000 fittings a year decided to meet Bill Clinton's challenge to scaled up their efforts to more than 100,000 fittings a year to kids and adult so that they may experience, as Bill Austin said, the gift of hearing.

Besides Bill Clinton and Chelsea Clinton who are championing for free hearing aids to kids around the world so does Marlee Matlin who champions for the donation of free hearing aids to deaf and hard of children around the world. In fact she regularly attends this annual gala event called "So the world may hear." This year's gala 2012 event raised a record $7.6 million dollars and had many notable celebrities like:

President Bill Clinton, Maria Bello, Robin Williams, Marlee Matlin, Billy Crystal, Forest Whitaker and Sammy Sosa attended this year's Awards Gala, which raised a record $7.6M. But the biggest star was the power of hearing.

Indeed, the power of hearing. Yes, that's a strong draw and reason for people to support on finding ways to alleviate hearing loss. Even Lou Ferrigno (who received his Esteem Envoy implantable hearing device) and Gary Busey who were at the gala event as well. It was Marlee Matlin who confronted Busey in the Celebrity Apprentice show about his hearing loss that he needs to get a hearing aid. It was on the Celebrity Apprentice when Marlee Matlin helped raise $1 million dollars for the Starkey Hearing Foundation. And now Gary Busey has become a big supporter on helping deaf and hard of hearing kids get their free hearing aids.

Now, here's the irony.

Marlee Matlin is perhaps unwittingly helping people understand and value the power of hearing for several years by attending the "So the World May Hear" gala annual event that began in 1984. Marlee Matlin supports the distribution of free hearing aids to children around the world and for them they are getting a taste of that power of hearing and experience the joy of being able to hear sound.

Deaf pitcher aims for pro baseball

It is not everyday you get to hear of a deaf pitcher who can pitch 90 mph fastballs and have a good chance getting into the major leagues. Scouts are certainly taking a hard look at him.

Hard of hearing person interviews Sarah Churman

Here's an interesting captioned video interview of Sarah Churman by DJ Demers of Sharp Focus. What makes this an interesting interview is that you have two hard of hearing people talking back and forth on a live video feed with DJ Demers out of Toronto, Canada and Sarah Churman out of Burleson, Texas. They're able to understand each other quite perfectly. The only difference between the two is that DJ Demers wears regular hearing aids in both ears while Sarah wears her Envoy implantable hearing aid in one (but soon to have her other implantable hearing aid that was donated to her for free by Envoy Medical will be activated in March).

D.J. DEMERS is a funny dude who wears hearing aids, but he doesn’t talk about them much.

He was recently nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award for best standup newcomer and was also a finalist in the prestigious Cream of Comedy competition. All this despite his hearing impairment. He also showcased for NBC at the Comedy Store in L.A. for their Stand-Up for Diversity initiative. What makes him diverse? Possibly his hearing aids.

D.J. has appeared in two episodes of the extremely intellectual show, ‘Cocktales’, on the Comedy Network. He has been profiled by the Toronto Star and ‘The Morning Show’ on Global. His videos have been featured in Eye Weekly and Bite.ca, and he has written for the Walrus Laughs and Virgin Mobile Canada. Most of the content had nothing to do with hearing aids.

These days, D.J. hosts and produces a monthly comedy show with Chuckle Co. at the Comedy Bar in Toronto. He is also the host of ‘Sharp Focus with D.J. Demers’ on The Accessible Channel. With his mixture of intelligence, playfulness, and not being able to hear-ness, D.J. is always a crowd favourite.

He also wears hearing aids.

Interesting! Be sure to visit DJ Demers in Facebook and support your hard of hearing comedians! But, hey, I did some stand up comedy before. And it wasn't easy but I sure did have some fun doing it. And ya gotta have a passion for doing it if you want to make something out of it. Although I do have a creative side in me like doing my Uncle Bob's House - a Pepsi parody video (you gotta watch the original Pepsi commercial to understand my parody video).



Ahem, anyway, the video interview of Sarah Churman is already captioned so be sure to turn on the CC button on YouTube if you need captioning. Thank you Sharp Focus for including captioning! The 36 million people with hearing loss in the United States thank you! I maintain my own standard to include captioning to my own videos at every opportunity.

Patient dear...

Hard to believe that some deaf people would actually get upset over the word "patient" as seen in the photo on the left. A sign that says, "Hearing & Speech Center. Patient Parking Only. Violators Will Be Towed." That sign is located on the campus of Gallaudet University.

One commenter starts first:

The most disturbing of all signposts shown in the video is “Hearing & Speech Center : __Patient Parking Only__” (emphasis mine). The word “Patient” insults all deaf students’ intelligence! So unbelievable. Why do students not protest?

And then others follow and chime in.

A “patient” is a person who is sick. Being Deaf or hard-of-hearing is not an illness or medical disaster.

And more....

Hearing and Speech Center for Patient Parking Only? OMFG! The gloves are coming off! Calling Deaf people “patients” is deemed offensive because there is nothing wrong with us. Gally is for students, not patients. WTF is matter with that Hearing and Speech Center people to decide on that?!?

We need to do something about that. JJ, they’re not grasping the straws. I don’t know what has gotten into you lately but yet I’ve noticed you’re starting to divide the Deaf just like others. Divide needs to STOP! I mean it. I’m sick of that.

Let’s NOT talk about the students and video, JUST DROP THAT! We need to focus on that signs and the words “Hearing Speech and Center” and “Patient”. We need to hear from Gally President, Board of Trustee and staff….or anybody who came up with that! Let’s focus on that.

Let's look at the definition of "patient" in the noun form and not as an adjective:

1a : an individual awaiting or under medical care and treatment b : the recipient of any of various personal services.
2: one that is acted upon.

There are many ways to be a patient. You can be a patient receiving psychological counseling. You can be a patient on getting your teeth cleaned at a dentist. You can be a patient receiving surgical care. You can be a patient in getting your annual flu shot. You can be a patient in getting your hearing test done at an audiology clinic. You can be a patient in getting your hearing aid fitted or getting a new ear mold set up at the audiology clinic. You can be a patient receiving speech therapy to help improve diction.  You can be a patient at a counselor office getting counseling advice. To be a patient does not necessarily mean in terms of being sick or unhealthy or that one is suffering. It all depends on the situation. It all depends on perspective. If all else fails, call them "clients" instead.  As for "Hearing and Speech Center" go here for my opinion on that part.

Addendum: Full meltdown mode in process. Proceed at your own risk.

Seriously, now.

Signs or No Signs?

Ah, another one of those rounds of shocked outrage over....signs. No, not sign language or ASL but as in signage like stop signs, directional signs, billboard signs, advertising signs and so forth. The little outrage is just beginning to trickle over a video piece regarding the numerous "Hearing and Speech Center" (HSC) signage in various spots on the campus of Gallaudet University.

For those who don't know the Hearing and Speech Center is:

one of the largest of its kind in the DC area and provides a wide array of services to the Gallaudet community, their family members, and the local community. Services include: an Assistive Devices Center, audiologic evaluation, aural rehabilitation, cochlear implant services, hearing aid services, speech reading classes, and speech-language pathology services.

The Center is a full service, urban clinic that serve the Gallaudet University community and the greater Washington DC area. A full service commitment to all those communities whether deaf, hard of hearing, Deaf, or hearing.

You know what? I think having those signs in place as designed provide an important strategic outcome for the Deaf community. First, those signs help hearing parents of deaf/hh children find their way by directing them to the location of the Hearing and Speech Center for their appointments. You get new clients and patients all the time and many of them are not familiar with Gallaudet University campus layout. Those directional signs on campus help point the way. While parents with their kids wind their way through campus they would get to see a campus full of kids, students, staff, and professors signing as they make their way to the center. You have exposure right there. Imagine if Gallaudet University didn't have that full service Hearing and Speech Center? All those kids with hearing aids or cochlear implants would not ever step foot on the campus of Gallaudet University but instead it'd take place at another hearing and speech service elsewhere whose grounds and offices would probably be sterile of any signing exposure. Not only kids but adults who use Gallaudet's HSC would also be exposed to a signing community probably for the first time, too.

 Many of those directional signs are placed together with signs for buildings such as "The Field House," "Ely Center," "Gate House," and "Sorenson Language and Communication Center." All in all, I say at the end those directional signs are a way to help bring more exposure to deaf and hard of hearing kids (and their parents) and hearing people by helping to direct them through a campus full of signing people by making it friendly and inviting for those arriving on campus for the very first time. What better way to slowly introduce them to a signing community and culture?

When bullies go after kids with cochlear implants

Here's a good story about a deaf boy who had to take a stand and defend himself against a bully. I'm not sure if it's because he was bullied because he wore a cochlear implant but in the end the deaf boy ultimately stood his ground.

There comes a point in all of our lives when we reach a limit and we are forced to defend ourselves. Bullies beware of a deaf child wearing a cochlear implant who will take no more shit.

I think many of us who wore hearing aids while growing up in regular or mainstreamed school were sometimes targeted because we were easily identified as a deaf/hh person. But for me growing up I never considered myself as being bullied because I always stood my ground and fought back. Only a couple instances happened in my life while as a kid I can remember clearly when I was in the 6th grade and 10th grade. I was never the one to back down if anybody ever thought I was easy picking. It helped that I had years of wrestling experience and have won tournaments. I had a great time going to regular school (4th thru 12 grade) and had a great many number of hearing friends while growing up. I played and competed in baseball, soccer, wrestling sports and school band competitions and made friends as well. I can't ever recall a bad time going to regular school starting in the 4th grade to 12th. The same goes for at a time when I went to a school with an oral program up to the 2nd grade at Birney School in Tacoma, and then entered a mainstreamed school at 3rd grade and eventually went to regular school starting in the 4th grade ever since.  I know others who have truly experienced bullying and were unable or didn't want to defend themselves had the brunt of it. But in my life, I don't dwell on constantly painting myself as a victim. In fact, I never saw myself as a victim at any stage of my life. As the old cliche goes, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. And by that convention you can certainly come out on top. 

New hearing aid style....punkish

I can't exactly say this is the kind of hearing aid people would desire for but I'd give them credit for being this creative. What you're seeing in this photo is a hearing aid. Yes. A hearing aid. Go here and learn more about this really strange idea of a hearing aid design.  If you're hard of hearing and are into this sort of punk-type of jewelry design for your ear...lobes....you might want to try this one out, if you can afford it. I imagine it'd be expensive considering not many would wear it in that fashion.

Sarah Churman responds to questions....

It was a matter of time until Sarah found the time to answer some questions pertaining to her ability to speak clearly and how she hears before and after getting her implantable hearing aid. It is really astounding to read comments from people saying how it's an impossibility for one to develop a clear voice with no deaf accent. Here's Sarah Churman's money shot on one of the  most asked question,"How do you know how to talk?":

Anyway, everyone is different. Everyone heals differently, everyone learns differently, and everyone excels at different things. I personally have always LOVED to read and write. English and Grammar have always been something I have enjoyed. I also enjoy talking! (Big shocker to those who know me huh? NOT! Lol.) I have worked very hard to overcome and to speak well. I went to deaf ed school when I was very young, then on to public school where I took speech classes and therapy. I don't think people realize how intently I read lips. When you read lips, you are studying how people move their mouths, where they place their tongue (and for those of you with tongue rings, yes, you trip me up) and their teeth. It's a skill I have had 29 years to hone.

Next question: "How did she know what the doc was saying without looking at her mouth?"

Um. I got my ear turned on :) How do YOU know what people are saying? You HEAR them. I don't mean to be rude, but really? I don't know, I can't explain the brain or how it works. I just know my ear works and I heard her clear as a bell. (which was awesome) I've always been able to hear some noise if it was loud enough with my hearing aids, just not able to make a distinction as to what people were actually saying. If you covered your mouth, I couldn't read your lips. The best way I know to explain it is like this.; if you went to a foreign country and someone spoke to you, you'd know they were talking because you can hear something, but you have no idea what they are actually saying. Hope that helps.

With hearing aids, noise distortion is always an issue which is why sometimes hearing people talk can get muddled. Sounds are electronically amplified but gets distorted. But with the Esteem implantable hearing aid this distortion gets eliminated because it uses the ear's "eardrum as a natural microphone, picking up sounds through the ear canal, thereby using the body’s natural anatomy to reduce the background noise, distortion, and acoustic feedback that people experience with conventional hearing aids."

It's pretty galling to see people dismiss the very notion that deaf people cannot have the ability to speak clearly. I don't think the motto "deaf/hh people can do anything except hear" precludes the ability to speak clearly. Some require more intense speech therapy and training while others not so much. It all depends on amount of hearing loss, types of frequency loss, early intervention, amount of speech therapy and probably the most important of all is the love to talk constantly and not be afraid to find ways to improve speech diction. Although I believe that we can have the ability to hear just not close to the level of a hearing person but that Esteem implantable hearing aid sure comes pretty close.

Echoing Sentiments

Chris Heuer produced a piece in Deaf Echo basically lamenting over Sarah Churman's YouTube video that went viral by going over his own little history and hinting that he may just take back his sincerity about Sarah Churman.

Sarah Churman, if you’re reading this, let me start out with a disclaimer. What I’m about to write isn’t about you. If your implanted hearing aid works for you, that’s great. For the moment I say this with all sincerity.

Some of you, including Sarah Churman, might be wondering what I mean by that remark: “…for the moment.” By way of an explanation, let me tell you a story.

The one thing that many, many people continue to forget about the viral YouTube video of Sarah Churman was that the Churmans never expected it to go viral in the first place. In the first 8 days since YouTube aired, she has been on the Today Show with Matt Lauer and the Ellen DeGeneres show, and was featured on CNN with Anderson Cooper. Webwise, she was all over the place as well. Pretty good in just a few days time. Technically it'd been about 5 or 6 days time rather than 8 days because it took a few days before the video went viral and that's when the media caught wind of it, both the web and on TV. It went viral with no fault of Sarah's own. She didn't put the video up, her husband did with the encouragement of his mother so that their families and friends would be able to witness Sarah's reaction to her implant being turned on. The video captured accurately that Sarah was hearing herself for the first time. And now some people are heaping scorn at her for a variety of reasons. 

Strange world indeed.

Why is it so hard to congratulate a grown deaf adult seeing the immediate (and emotional) success from her implantable hearing aid in a video? A result that took Sarah by surprise at the clarity of sound that was coming in. Why reserve such congratulations to her and instead lament about one's own history struggling with his hearing aid wishing his story was video-taped and had gone viral, too? Had Sarah Churman's video received only 2000 views, all of this would've been essentially a "non-story." But instead it churned out some 7.2 million views/hits so far in less than two weeks.

Of course, I don't expect that everybody will share the same sentiments echoing mine when it comes to congratulating Sarah on her successful use of her implantable hearing aid. My approach is to separate myself from Sarah's and leave it at that because I recognize that each of us is different when it comes to our hearing loss, our experience, our upbringing, our preferences to communicate, and whether we successfully used our hearing aids, cochlear implants, other implantable hearing devices (e.g. Baha, Envoy, etc) or none at all (e.g. signing) to our benefits.


Off topic:
I'm disappointed and sad to report this but I am left with no recourse but to report this behavior and continued misunderstanding.

I left a comment at Deaf Echo on a blog piece about Sarah Churman just a few minutes ago. I went back to see if any responses came up (Patti's came up) only to see that my comment was once again removed. I am guessing this has to do with a disagreement and misunderstanding over what I wrote, my opinion several months back (and here) in Febuary 2011.  But I wasn't sure if I was still on the banned list (seven months later) and made a screen copy of my comment submission just in case. Sure enough, I'm persona non grata (the new commenting rules can be seen here while the old seen on Feb 2, 2011 can be seen here) for petty reasons, I suppose.

Before at 9:50 AM PCT (Oct 9, 2011):

Removed at approximately 10:10 AM PCT (Oct 9, 2011):

As you can see my comment was deleted. Nothing demeaning, hateful, derogatory, or abusive about it as you can clearly see from what I wrote seen in the screen capture. No ad-hominem attacks.  No foul language. And certainly not a spam. I think whoever removed my comment needs to have the cojones to look past his/her own petty feelings when it comes to a difference of opinions instead of hiding behind claims of "abusive comments" as reason for the continued blocking. Incredibly, the moderator(s) still refuse to point out exactly which or what comment of mine back in February 2011 was considered as an "abusive comment" which can, frankly, be anything they would want it to be and call it justified.  All of my comments have not been abusive nor disrespectful as Candy pointed out before as a witness to this whole charade. Clearly my recent comment seen in the screen capture above is not abusive nor disrespectful at all.  Folks, let's learn to let go such pettiness since after all Bobby (one of the moderator of Deaf Echo) said:

We love a good discussion that drives things forward, and we act aggressively to maintain a good environment for our readers and writers.

I've always loved having a good discussion that drives things forward in my blog and in other discussion forums, too. Nothing in my responses were shown to breach that "good environment for our readers and writers" as you can see in my latest comment that was conveniently deleted.  But then again, it's their blog and they have every right to do what they feel is right even if it means letting misunderstanding getting the better of them. Yet, I find all this incredulously humorous. And I certainly have a right to blog my opinions on people who simply cannot accept alternative viewpoints and opinions who are unable to simply agree to disagree. Agreeing to disagree is a show of professionalism. Pettiness is not.