The Do's and Don'ts of Writing a Story

HOW TO: Writing deaf characters Pt. 2

 - Deaf and HoH is a culture. Yes, most people consider it a disability but it's not something they are ashamed of! Please stop writing pics/imagines about Deaf!Reader being ashamed of not being able to hear or getting hearing aids to impress their SO. It's completely wrong and just annoying. They are proud of their deafness and they don't want to be fixed. 

 - Do not use the term 'hearing impaired'! This is basically a slur words. it was widely used in the 90's but now it's considered a derogatory term. Just use deaf or HoH. Or 'deaf' if the person is medically deaf and not culturally deaf. 

 - Deaf and 'deaf' are different. Deaf if a cultural term for people who are born Deaf and raised in the community. The term 'deaf' is used in the medical field or used to describe someone who has hearing loss that does not associate with the Deaf Community. Usually, a hearing person who has become deaf later on.

 - Sign language is not a worldwide language. there are different types of sign language within sign language. ASL for America and Canada. BSL is for Britain. So if you're writing a story that takes place that is not America or Canada, do not say ASL. 

 - ASL does not = English. Same for every other language. ASL is its own language with grammar rules and semantics. It does not directly translate to English. So if you're writing ASL most likely write in GLOSS or write it as you would write a hearing character. (Sentence: "I want to go to the mall and buy a dress." GLOSS: "I want want go to mall I. Me buy dress me.")

 - Deafness is on a spectrum. there is a legal threshold that someone must pass to be considered legally Deaf. Some Deaf people can hear more than others. So when writing your character make sure to set a bar of what they can and can not hear. E.g. some can hear high pitched voices sometimes others can hear voices but cannot hear what they are saying. Both are deaf and cross the threshold. 

 - Hearing aids do not cure anyone's deafness. It only helps hear some sounds and maybe hear if people are talking. Not what they are saying although it can hep with that depending on how far they are on the Deaf scale. 

 - Cochlear implants are very controversial in the Deaf community so if you're going to write about them do your research! They are also not a cure for deafness, just an aid. 

 - Deaf people are not masters at lip reading! Even the best lip readers can only make sense of 30% of what is being said. So no, your character is not going to miraculously know what's going on from lip reading. 

 - Most Deaf people are born from hearing parents. It's really rare for a whole family to be Deaf. But your character is probably born from hearing parents. 

 - Also, the majority of hearing families with Deaf children do NOT learn ASL. It sucks but it's true. Only about 30-40% o family learn sign for their Deaf family members. So keep it in mind.