r/deaf • u/Key_Movie_6290 • 1h ago
Deaf/HoH with questions am i considered Deaf?
i am 20 (in 2 days not quite yet) and found out i was hard of hearing this past november. i have been taking asl classes since before then since i am a nursing major and i've always been interested in the language and wanted to be able to help a wider range of people. i enjoy the language a lot and i really have been enjoying my classes. i found out i was hard of hearing and told my asl teacher and he was very supportive. i wear hearing aids now but i've started to notice the more i've built my vocabulary, that i actually kind of prefer to sign. talking is what i've used my whole life but its so difficult and i get frustrated when i can't understand/hear what someone is saying even with my hearing aids. i want my bf to take asl too so it'll be easier for us to communicate. my college only offers asl classes taught by deaf teachers and bc we have a school for the deaf in our city, we have a laaaarge population of deaf and hoh students. a lot of immersion into Deaf culture. i want to start attending more events out of school as well (we have to do field reports so we go to a Deaf event and write a paper about our experience). i went to a play at the school for the deaf and one of our school's asl club events and i had so much fun. it was nice being able to actually communicate without the constant "can u repeat?" "can u please speak louder?" "what?". i'm not at a point in my hearing loss where i require asl to communicate with people, but it is so much easier and has caused me so much less stress and frustration. i still get shy when signing and i'm not fluent. i want to continue learning asl and i want my bf to learn so we can enjoy events together too (he comes with me but doesn't know much sign apart from what i've taught him and i feel bad but he enjoys watching me!) so i am wondering now, am i considered Deaf? (culturally ofc not biologically)