Honestly, "Switched at Birth" on ABC family is super cheesy but will give you some ideas about how strongly people feel about Deaf culture and speaking. There is a moment when the deaf actor who plays ones of the main characters speaks. It is notable how difficult it is for him compared with the hearing actor who plays the lead "deaf" girl.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't post before, but I had thought that cochlear implants were a cure now? My cousin is an audiologist who works with infants and I believe she told me this.

I desperately need that popcorn eating emoticon.

So, cochlear implants are only a cure if you consider deafness a disease/disability rather than Deafness as a socio-linguistic group. Cochlear implants do not give you "perfect" hearing. It sounds kind of like a fuzzy radio not fully tuned in. Some people, including mostly hearing people with deaf children, find that a good substitute. Many in the Deaf community do not, and would prefer to have perfect command of a language (ASL) rather than imperfect command of another (spoken English).

Parent of deaf child here again. My kid has a cochlear implant. Over 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents, so it will become the norm for those with severe to profound hearing loss in this country to be implanted if they are candidates. My child missed out on all sound for the first year of life, and by 3 years old is not only fully caught up but advanced with language. The things my kid can hear (subtle sounds from rooms away or even outside) blow me away. While they don't "cure" her deafness, as she remains deaf when her devices are off, she hears in the normal range with them on, and loves to sing and dance : ) It's not a matter of whether I think of her deafness as a disability or not; it's a part of who she is. But it should not define her as my physical body should not define me. Being able to hear with her implant means she can interact with anyone she wants to on her terms. That's all I want for her. She already at a young age demands to put it on herself, and removes it when she doesn't want to hear me anymore : ) Best of both worlds I say!

Op--there are people who are deaf and people who are Deaf (meaning part of the culture). If your partner is Deaf, you will want to fully educate yourself on how to find common ground and understand his world. Some members of the Deaf community are very against using hearing technology (though that is changing with younger generations).

Anonymous wrote:OP, this sounds like too much work. Relationships are hard enough without homework.

OP here. I don't really see it that way. I like him. I like spending time with him, and I'm enjoying learning a new language. I don't know where this will lead, but for now I'm happy I don't really see it as homework.

OP, this sounds like too much work. Relationships are hard enough without homework.