Hello. My name is George Hernandez and I have Single Sided Deafness (SSD), which means that I'm deaf in one ear, or (in a more positive way) I have one good ear.
I "came out" as having SSD in 2007. I was inspired to come out after coming across a page on SSD by Brian Dushaw. Since then I made a page on my personal website about SSD. A few days ago a fellow named Paul, who (surprise!) also has SSD, visited my page on SSD and sent me an email. He inspired me to make this SSD specific blog so that people with SSD can share their experiences, knowledge, problems, solutions, and so on.
When you have SSD, you tell yourself that things could be worse, and that tends to make you hide the FACT, even from yourself at times, that you have SSD. There's nothing to hide. Facing SSD head on helps you deal with it easier and makes you a better communicator.
So come on out! I'm listening with my good ear.
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2 comments:
I see alot of info on all of the physical effects of SSD on websites, but nothing about the psychological effects. How many of us with SSD chose not to tell anyone about our hearing issues because they didn't want to be "different"? I spent 30 yrs, playing dumb, until one person confronted me and accused me of being stuck up. She had walked by me in a machine shop and said hello, but I didn't respond. This was the 1st time that I admitted the reason for not responding, but it was also the first time that someone had confronted me. I've been informing people eversince.
I'm the author's wife. . .There's a lot to be said for telling people you have a hearing disorder. People WILL think you are "stuck up", as pbk47 said, or that you are not that smart, or a flake. By being up front with it, people understand why they aren't getting the response they expect from you, and will work to accomodate you.
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