Another update

An Update

I've just finished reading the book Seeing Voices, by Oliver Sacks. The book is a very good look at Deaf culture and the history of deafness in the Western world. I won't say too much about it other than it's a very good read and (given the history) I can understand a bit why so many Deaf people are so against Cochler implants and hearing people who seek deafness for themselves.

And on to the real subject of the the update. I've been considering methods of making myself deaf and have come to a sort of quandry: Even if I manage to make myself severely deaf how would I explain to any sane audiologist why I waited until then to seek help? Wouldn't I have noticed when, you know, I couldn't hear people? It seems that a stepping method would be required for any sense of believability. By "believability" I mean without having to explain myself!

I then began to wonder why I would even care. Well it's obvious: I need to have some sort of doctor signoff for work and probably would have to use some sort of correction at work.

And on to the topic of correction (re: hearing aids). I continue to ponder the correlary between the 40 year old transsexual woman I saw in the therapist's office when I was there to get my second letter for GRS that was wearing something completely pink and not age appropriate. Those types of people I can't help think are overcompensating or trying to overly present a female image. The same thing applies to me with my coveting of hearing aids: overly present a deaf image.

Casey and I are planning to move soon, closer to where we both work, and sie has offered to take BSL courses with me. But we'll need around £1600 for the first month's rent including security deposity, plus having to pay another £600 rent where we currently live for a month, and then £200 each for BSL lessons. I may have to wait until Spring for lessons. :( I don't think we/I could afford it all. *sigh*

Maybe in Spring.

If they only knew

A week ago Casey and I were running late on our joint journey to work and had to take a later than usual train. Consequently we couldn't sit next to each other. We had to do the next best thing and sit next to each other with the aisle between us, both at a table.

I was reading my Linguistics of British Sign Language book (which is really good) and one of the two people sitting in front of Casey whispered to the other: 
"That woman is learning to sign. I wonder if she is deaf."

I didn't hear them and it wasn't until later when Casey relayed to me what they said that I was laughing. Casey restrained hirself from telling them that I was learning sign because my hearing is a bit wacky.

Amusing.

BSL!

So now that I have a job I can afford to buy books. Among the first six books I've bought two of them are about British Sign Language. Another is about sensory defensiveness and APD.

These should be very englightening.