Your Bullying Experience
I have been (progressively) hearing impaired all my life, but my hearing loss was never detected until I was a Junior in high school (1971)! For years I faced humiliation from teachers and classmates who thought there was "something wrong" with me, but they didn't know what. Teachers accused me of day dreaming. Peers made fun of me with name-calling and avoidance. I had seen the school psychologist and was put in a special reading class, but none of that changed my "stupidity." I also spoke with a lisp, which was also a prime target for bullying.
Your Coping Experience
My loving parents, who naturally talked loud, thought my sometimes ignoring them was normal child/adolescent behavior. My Mom got in good with my educators and my Dad told me that I'm better than them (the bullies.) He taught me to stand up for myself by looking my tormentors in the eye and basically telling them that they don't bother me! He reassured me that once I'm out of school, all the bullying will stop and those people will treat me like I'm a long lost friend. Boy, was he ever right!! Once the tables were turned, I gave them the cold shoulder. Who needs two-faced people, anyway? I eventually got hearing aids (I went to 2 specialists when my hearing loss was detected in high school and was told "there's nothing that can be done. She's adjusted, so leave her be.") UGGHHHH!!!!! Over the years my hearing aids have become more powerful. I'm now 55 and my loss is severe to profound. I've faced discrimination in the work place and was once fired from a job because of my hearing (the administrator was shrewd...made up other reasons for firing me.) Adult peers are a little more tolerant of my hearing loss. I often make fun of myself. I've also learned to use my disability to my advantage...people sometimes don't know I can hear what they're saying. I just act stupid.
Lessons Learned
- Bullies have low self-esteem. They think bullying makes them look like the better person. Don't give them any reaction, which is want they want. Just walk away. Children should tell a trusted adult. And like my Granny used to say, "Some people can't be jealous without showing it."
Was Your Child Bullied? How Did You Deal with It?
Not that I know of. I've always told my son (now 16) to look people in the eyes when speaking with them. It can be intimidating to a potential bully.
Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing at Greater Bullying Risk?
Any person who is "different" from what we perceive as "normal" is at a greater risk for bullying.
