[nfb-db] Social situations with normal people

[Scott Davert]

Hi janice.
I've had the same struggles as you have, and my social life has
suffered greatly. I've become an intravert because of this.
I understand also not being able to always hear or see someone when
they say hello to me, and wish that I could offer some suggestions as
to ways of dealing with this. But these are other people we're talking
about, people who have their own actions, thoughts, and assumptions.
All you can do is explain it to them and hope they understand. No
matter what audiological equipment you use, it's never going to be as
good as what would be considered normal hearing. The only way I've
found to deal with my extrovertedness, is to have small gatherings of
like 2 or 3 others, which makes it easier as long as you're not in a
noisey environment. But I fit in nowhere. I have a hard time with
speech and don't know enough sign language. I'm trying to learn sign
language now, but the politics and all the bs surrounding it is making
that difficult. So I just keep pushing on and do the best I can and
live with it. What other choice do I have?

Scott

On 7/26/12, Janice Toothman <janice.toothman at verizon.net> wrote:
> I get frustrated by those people who knew me growing up and assume I am
> being rude to them when I don't say "Hi" to them after they have said
> "Hi" to me. Do I always have to explain to people that I am not being
> rude or trying to brush them off but that I honestly didn't hear them
> because I am deaf and that I didn't see them because I am blind. How do
> you go to social events where the majority are sighted and your the only
> deaf-blind person and you can't make sense of the person your having a
> conversation with because of all the other noises/conversions going on
> in the room?
>
> I feel very isolated from my peers because I cannot hear conversations
> in a classroom when others are talking as well. Similarly family
> gatherings do not have usual anticipation at going to these events has
> diminished greatly due to my deaf-blindness.
> This is a challenge for me when I go back to school. The University
> offers me transcribers for my class but they write the "gist" of what is
> said and often leave out important dates and names of authors. Also, I
> do not receive this transcription in real time but within 24-36 hours
> after the class has ended.
> Unfortunately, when I go to conventions I have to rely on my FM system
> and a digital recorder.
> Has anyone else had problems problems in social situations.
>
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