Will Lewis: How hearing people react to my deafness

I’m the ‘oral’ deaf guy in the Deaf class sketch from Deaf Funny, and I’m thrilled at the reaction it has received.

In the sketch, my character brags that he can speak well and it got me thinking of all the reactions of hearing people to my deafness…here’s the popular ones….

You speak so well!

People react like its a miracle that as a deaf person, I speak so ‘well’ – that I don’t have an obviously ‘deaf voice.’  Er…thank you…I think?

I’m never sure whether to take this as a compliment, people’s reactions to deafness can be lovely to downright patronising and Deaf or not, everyone’s voices are individual and distinctive.

I would even bet that hearing people would find a deaf voice easier to understand than a hearing person with a strong thick accent – Geordies and Scots, I’m looking at you.

I guess growing up in a hearing environment had a subconscious impact on how well I speak but its not just me –  oh no people, I can list at least 5 other deaf people I know who were born deaf who can also speak ‘well.’

If you need a clue that I sound deaf, ask my mum – she’s always telling me to stop shouting….SORRY MUM!

You have selective hearing!

I find it that offensive that I’ve distanced myself from people who have said it.

Personally, it’s not what I can hear, it’s what I can follow and as I speak so ‘well,’ people forget I am deaf until a situation happens that I struggle with.

At one extreme, some people suddenly go into panic mode, apologising profusely trying to find an accessible solution.

At the other extreme, I’m apparently choosing not to hear – stop everything – excuse me? I don’t wear hearing aids for fashion!

Newsflash for those people – the only time I’ve ever had “selective hearing” was twice in my lifetime – when I deliberately turned my hearing aids off when I got really angry with a couple of people.

I’m surprised I haven’t turned my hearing aids off more often.  Oh yes, these babies are powerful weapons of destruction (evil cackle) once off, you might as well wave the white flag – oh wait, I can lipread you.

Damn – will have to shut my eyes then.

You can dance?

One of my proudest achievements was dancing in a drinks commercial with deaf talent that shattered any misconceptions that deaf can’t dance if they can’t hear the music?

Oh yes we can by feeling the beat. Need proof? Nyle Di Marco winning Strictly in America (come on British version – when are you going to have a deaf dancer!), deaf choreographers, teachers and dancers such as Chris Fonseca (who was the face of the commercial), Mark Smith and his Deaf Men Dancing company and The House of Krip featuring four deaf dancers that won a Vogue ball on their first attempt.

I discovered a love for dancing when I joined my older sister for a pop dance class when I was nine – being able to express myself freely in a physical way that I couldn’t do so well off the dance floor.

Hell, I even went on to win a nightclub dance competition two weeks running – all to win free beer!. I still get complimented about my dancing ability but sadly, when I was young, I didn’t think it was a career option; so I really hope young deaf dancers follow their passion.

How deaf are you – were you born deaf?

Don’t get me wrong, I found and embraced my deaf identity, love deaf culture and being part of the community.

It is also important to educate hearing people if it means better deaf awareness, support and equal opportunities – indeed, I’ve taught deaf awareness.

But, a lifetime of people asking this as their first question on meeting me make me feel like a novelty science project.

No different than people who don’t want to talk about their personal life, its not original and my experiences are not just about being deaf.

I don’t ask people who wear glasses how blind they are yet other people insist on trying someone’s glasses and are shocked when they can’t see.

And yes, I allowed two people to try one of my hearing aids – and would you believe it, they couldn’t handle how loud it was (!)  I stopped letting people try when one of them in shock threw my hearing aid on the floor and I’m having to revive it cos shock and horror I’m the deaf one that needs it!

Let’s face it, from the moment we are born, hearing people seem to focus on how awful being deaf must be and how amazing it is when some deaf people share abilities with hearing people.

So – how do people react to your deafness?

Will Lewis is a deaf actor based in London. He appeared in Deaf Funny, one of his proudest moments! He also performed in the Smirnoff commercial featuring deaf dancers.