# Persuade me that deafness & hearing impairment are not best thought of as disabilities. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 26, 2011, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370 "2011-05-26T23:36:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![justanotherdeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/77aa72/32.png) [@justanotherdeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justanotherdeaf)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370/221 "2011-06-02T15:11:27Z")
You know, many insurance won’t cover hearing aid because its cosmetic. Just because some people have more ability than others doesn’t mean their accessibility needs can be ignore. Its too bad govt get to decide what is consider disabled and whats not. it can be discriminating . So disabled in accessibility act??? I think they can word it better ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370/222 "2011-06-02T15:13:27Z")
How does a passenger converse with a driver that is deaf, and vice-versa? ---
**Author:** ![justanotherdeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/77aa72/32.png) [@justanotherdeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justanotherdeaf)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370/223 "2011-06-02T15:14:33Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > How does a passenger converse with a driver that is deaf, and vice-versa? Is it really imporant to you? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370/224 "2011-06-02T15:17:43Z")
> [@justanotherdeaf](#): > > You know, many insurance won’t cover hearing aid because its cosmetic. Cite? I know of health insurance plans that include/don’t include certain things depending on what type of plan you want to pay for, but total refusal because of "cosmetic’ reasons? ---
**Author:** ![justanotherdeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/77aa72/32.png) [@justanotherdeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justanotherdeaf)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370/225 "2011-06-02T15:19:07Z")
Ask your own insurance: do you cover hearing aids? And ask why ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370/226 "2011-06-02T15:20:20Z")
> [@justanotherdeaf](#): > > Is it really imporant to you? I didn’t know that “importance” was a prerequisite, but if I said yes, would you answer the question? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370/227 "2011-06-02T15:21:14Z")
> [@justanotherdeaf](#): > > Ask your own insurance: do you cover hearing aids? And ask why Your claim-_your_ cite. Got one? ---
**Author:** ![justanotherdeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/77aa72/32.png) [@justanotherdeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justanotherdeaf)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370/228 "2011-06-02T15:24:59Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > How does a passenger converse with a driver that is deaf, and vice-versa? > [@Czarcasm](#): > > I didn’t know that “importance” was a prerequisite, but if I said yes, would you answer the question? I dont think its important.but they do sign some in the car. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370/229 "2011-06-02T15:26:06Z")
> [@justanotherdeaf](#): > > How about accessibility Act > [@Czarcasm](#): > > As what-a substitute for the word “disabled”? Damn awkward. Not that anyone’s going to go back and rename a law (it doesn’t make much sense and it’s a poor use of Congress’ time), but I think the idea was that it be named the Accessability Act instead of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If it needed a new name, that’s a pretty good suggestion. It doesn’t replace the term disabled, though. The revised ADA defines a disability as “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual.” “Major life activities” are defined like this: > [@](#): > > include, but are not limited to, caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working. > > […]a major life activity also includes the operation of a major bodily function, including but not limited to, functions of the immune system, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder, neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions. As far as I’m concerned, these are very solid definitions. ---
**Author:** ![justanotherdeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/77aa72/32.png) [@justanotherdeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justanotherdeaf)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370/230 "2011-06-02T15:28:08Z")
[http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/disability\_issues&id=7262611](http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/disability_issues&id=7262611) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370/231 "2011-06-02T15:29:55Z")
> [@justanotherdeaf](#): > > I dont think its important.but they do sign some in the car. And how does the driver sign without taking hands off the steering wheel, and how does the passenger sign without forcing the driver to turn and see the signs instead of looking at the road? Not that this is important, of course. ---
**Author:** ![justanotherdeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/77aa72/32.png) [@justanotherdeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justanotherdeaf)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370/232 "2011-06-02T15:33:28Z")
They use their leg. But most use one hand on the wheel. And some do it at a stop. Other than that i dont think they really care to use a car as a kitchen table conversation ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370/233 "2011-06-02T15:34:59Z")
> [@justanotherdeaf](#): > > [http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/disability\_issues&id=7262611](http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/disability_issues&id=7262611) And [here is a clearer picture of what is available throughout the country.](http://www.asha.org/advocacy/state/issues/ha_reimbursement.htm) If that isn’t enough info, google “insurance for hearing aids” and see what is available. ---
**Author:** ![justanotherdeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/77aa72/32.png) [@justanotherdeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justanotherdeaf)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370/234 "2011-06-02T15:39:06Z")
Yeah, it had to be mandate by the govt because insurance did not want to pay hearing aids especially age related loss. So they labeled it comestic. Even medicaid don’t always cover it ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370/235 "2011-06-02T15:45:13Z")
> [@justanotherdeaf](#): > > They use their leg. But most use one hand on the wheel. And some do it at a stop. Other than that i dont think they really care to use a car as a kitchen table conversation I hope to ghod that first sentence was just a poor joke. The fact of the matter is most people converse in cars, but the hearing can do it without having to look at the person they are talking to or let go of the steering wheel, because to do otherwise is unsafe. ---
**Author:** ![justanotherdeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/77aa72/32.png) [@justanotherdeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justanotherdeaf)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370/236 "2011-06-02T15:47:18Z")
Hearing people look at me while driving all the time ---
**Author:** ![justanotherdeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/77aa72/32.png) [@justanotherdeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justanotherdeaf)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370/237 "2011-06-02T15:57:17Z")
Evolution at work: [http://www.eurekalert.org/pub\_releases/2011-06/uos-rht060111.php](http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-06/uos-rht060111.php) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370/238 "2011-06-02T16:00:35Z")
> [@justanotherdeaf](#): > > Evolution at work: [http://www.eurekalert.org/pub\_releases/2011-06/uos-rht060111.php](http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-06/uos-rht060111.php) It’s not evolution unless the trait gets passed along to offspring. What this is is adapting to your circumstances. It’s definitely a good thing, and it’s also consistent with what has been posted about different brain wiring in people who are deaf from birth or early childhood. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370/239 "2011-06-02T16:01:47Z")
> [@justanotherdeaf](#): > > Hearing people look at me while driving all the time Hearing people sometimes wave their hands and arms when they talk, _but when driving, they shouldn’t for obvious safety reasons._ It is possible for the hearing to communicate with each other in a moving vehicle in a totally safe manner. Can you say the same for the deaf? ---
**Author:** ![justanotherdeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/77aa72/32.png) [@justanotherdeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justanotherdeaf)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370/240 "2011-06-02T16:03:59Z")
I think it was wired before birth if they are genetically deaf. And who knows what the future holds. I know that some people think we mutation for a reason like sickle cells [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/persuade-me-that-deafness-hearing-impairment-are-not-best-thought-of-as-disabilities/583370.md?page=13)