Between the Hearing World and Deaf Culture

 The revamp of the “face” of Hearing Loss Cornwall, has given the charity the opportunity to refocus on its mission and share its clarity of vision. Whilst this should seem a straightforward strategy, in fact, we have been reminded of the challenge we face in addressing the struggles and diversity of “hearing loss” experiences that we aim to reflect and represent.

Hearing Loss Cornwall is committed to improving the lives of anyone in Cornwall living with hearing loss, which opens up the minefield of hearing-related terminology and the distinction between the Deaf and hearing culture. While some people cross over these cultures, at some point there are two worlds that are culturally different and communicate via different mediums (oral speech or sign language).

While some organisations work with the Deaf and others, with people living with hearing loss, Hearing Loss Cornwall is privileged to bridge the divide and to represent both the Deaf community and the whole hearing loss spectrum. Individuals will choose how they wish to address themselves. Some will identify as Deaf, others deaf, some will say they have a hearing impairment, others will say they have never heard!

Our focus is to provide support to meet the challenges of living in a hearing culture…. It is easy to forget that as many as 1 in 5 people in Cornwall find it difficult to access a life that most people take for granted.

When you ring that bicycle bell, maybe they won’t hear you, when you call out their name it may literally fall on deaf ears!

Yes, Deaf people can do everything except hear, but they do need a lot of consideration from the hearing world and Hearing Loss Cornwall will champion their cause!