I just want your opinions. For a few of those who may be confused w/ my terminology I mean deaf & still see vs blind & still hearing. Which one would you find worse & which one would be not as bad?
It's a real tough one. I was going to say deaf is worse. But it seems blind would be worse.
Teddy's Mom Chiliswoman
You do not get to choose.
I was moderately deaf and sighted for many years. Just before I got my hearing aid that gave me the ability to hear a little better I thought that was pretty frustrating. I could hear bits of sound (as nearly all deaf people can), but I couldn't make sense of it. Even with hearing aids that happens. There was a sound outside my window that went on for hours and I could not figure out what it was or exactly where it was coming from. Finally I discovered it was a nest of baby woodpeckers. When I first got hearing aids there were sounds that drove me crazy Like I never knew some of my clocks ticked or that computers made a whirling sound. I still remove my hearing aids when I am alone, because I prefer the quiet.
Now I am moderately deaf and border on and off as legally blind. I have an eye condition that is not constant. So sometimes I see very poorly and other times I really can't see much at all. I can't drive when the sun causes a glare or at nighttime. I have to take breaks from using the computer because the glare from the screen slowly over the course of 4 hours renders me blind. I can no longer read print unless it is about 20 pt font and it is still hard. I can't read the labels on food so I use an app that reads them for me. Since I've adjusted to my deafness, I feel as if being blind is worse. But give me a year to adjust better and I doubt I will feel that way.
The reality of it is, my dyslexia is probably what frustrates me most now. I like to write. I used to write a lot more (I've published many journal articles and book chapters). I feel stupid and worry that I look stupid when I can't write a single sentence without a typo. I find it disagreeable to spend so much time spellchcking and still make mistakes. That is actually a low vision/ dyslexia issue. Maybe when I get better adapted to typing on the keyboard blind (I really can't see it anymore) the spellchecking will ne less arduous and maybe one of my other disabilities (I also have a spinal cord injury) will seem the worst. It 's really all a matter of perspective, adaptatiion, resourcefullness, and pride.
?
I think being blind would be worse, simply in terms of independence. Sure, being deaf would not be fun- no music, need to learn to lip read and sign language, but you could still drive, be completely independent and not have to relearn a lot of basic life skills- cooking without sight would be difficult.
Susan
Helen Keller felt that deafness was worse than blindness. She said that blindness cuts you off from objects but deafness cuts you off from people.