In between worlds Half deaf perspective

HAL

IN BETWEEN WORLDS DEAF

PERSPECTIVE

A conversation with Kacper on his single sided deafness

How did your hearing difficulties begin? Did they develop suddenly or gradually over time?

I began having hearing difficulties from the day I was born as I was born partially Deaf. However, due to insufficient government funding for hospitals in Poland at that time, I didn’t discover my hearing impairment until I was a bit older.

What were your initial emotions when you first realized your hearing was impaired?

When I first realized my hearing was impaired, I was quite young, so I didn’t initially recognize it as a big issue. As a child, I didn’t fully grasp the concept of being partially deaf, so it didn’t seem like a big deal to me. Since it had been a part of my life from the beginning, it felt normal and just something I accepted as part of

who I was. I didn’t have the same awareness or understanding of it as I might have if I had developed hearing loss later in life. Instead, it was simply a part of my reality, and I adapted to it without much thought or concern.

A conversation with Kacper on his single sided deafness

What did your family and friends say when they found out about your hearing problem?

I was young when my family discovered my hearing problem, so I don’t recall much. It was likely a big shock for my loved ones. My parents acted fast, scheduling hearing tests and specialist appointments. Everyone was supportive. My friends just like myself didnt fully understand the importance and seriousness of the situation at the time as we were all kids.

What adjustments or changes did you need to make when your hearing started to decline?

If my deaf ear was facing the person speaking to me, I couldn’t hear anything. Even when my good ear was facing them, I could only catch some parts of what they said, not enough to understand fully. When I was younger this was slightly frustrating as I couldn’t always reposition myself.

I had to position myself in specifi c ways so my good ear could pick up sound c

A conversation with Kacper on his single sided deafness

What do people get wrong about you because of your hearing?

Sometimes, they don’t realize I can’t hear at all in one ear and assume I’m intentionally ignoring them. I often hear comments about having ‘selective hearing’ even though that’s not true.

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Have you ever experienced feelings of exclusion due to your hearing? If so, how did you handle those situations?

In group conversations some people don’t include or brush off my questions about what was said.

Where do you feel most comfortable or engaged, regardless of your hearing impairment?

I feel best in places where it’s easy to understand what people are saying. I like being with close friends or family who understand my hearing problem. I also enjoy things like watching movies with subtitles, where I can understand what’s happening even if I can’t hear everything.

Ü NDERSTANDING

What important things have you learned from having trouble hearing?

It’s really important for me to take my in conversations because when things move too quickly, I have a harder time understanding. So, slowing down helps me catch everything and makes it easier for me to follow along.

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Do you find it challenging to determine the direction of sounds when you only have one functional ear?

It can definitely be challenging to determine where sounds are coming from when I can only hear from one direction. Sometimes I get confused, especially if a sound is coming from behind me but it feels like it’s coming from in front of me. It can be a bit

Do you use any tools, like hearing aids, to help you hear?

I don’t use hearing aids because I think my hearing loss makes me who I am, and I’m confident in how I handle things. Instead of using aids, I work on my communication skills and find ways to deal with any problems that come up. I feel good about myself and how I handle things, even if it’s a bit different from others.

My hearing loss makes me who I am s n

Do you talk about your hearing problem with others or keep it to yourself?

I share my hearing challenges with close friends and family who I trust. This way, I build stronger connections with people who understand and support me.

How has your understanding and accepting your hearing problem changed over time?

Every day, I find myself reflecting on my hearing situation, and it’s something that has become increasingly prominent in my thoughts. As time goes by, I’m becoming more attuned

A conversation with Kacper on his single sided deafness

to the nuances of my hearing challenges. While initially, it was a source of uncertainty and perhaps even frustration, I’ve begun to develop a deeper understanding of it. With this understanding comes a growing acceptance of my situation. I’m slowly accepting my hearing differences as a part of me. With each passing day, I find that I am more comfortable with my unique circumstances.

How do you deal with people who don’t understand or help with your hearing problem?

I try to explain to them that my hearing impairment is something I’ve had since birth and I can’t control or change it.

I try to be reasonable with others as this is important to me as I need to live with this, others just have to tolerate it.

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Are you worried about not hearing anything at all in the future?

I often worry about my hearing worsening because it’s not something that will improve over time; it’s only expected to deteriorate further. The thought of it worsening is always scary for me because I don’t have a backup plan - I rely solely on my one working ear

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to hear perfectly?

Sometimes I do feel a bit jealous when I see people around me who can hear perfectly without having to deal with the small yet annoying challenges I face. For example, they don’t have to worry about positioning themselves to hear properly or how much effort they need to put into listening. A conversation with Kacper on his single sided deafness

What advice would you give to someone who wants to understand and help people who can’t hear well?

I would advise people to be patient when communicating with someone who is hard of hearing. There’s often a delay between speaking and responding, so allowing extra time is important. Patience is key in effectively communicating with individuals who have hearing difficulties

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Publication mawde by

Kacper Cyckowski and Francesca Particelli