Are there any Deaf on AO

[TeamJackal37]

I'm Hearing Impaired and also Interpreter when there is an Event. My teamates are deaf, Some of you guys might seen us around at the MPP Games. I just want to know if there any hardcore deaf mag owners here at AO.

[InfinitR]

Not deaf, but just found this thread interesting. I never really thought about how hearing impairments are nullified in a web forum. I can't help but wonder how that would be on the paintball field....I would guess both difficult in certain perceptions and helpful in focus. Sorry to get off topic.

[AirAssault]

A similar thread was started a while ago.... some really stupid things said in it so every one keep your head on and think about what you say.

I am not deaf or hearing impaired but had a deaf girlfriend for a few years (Mrs. Deaf Colorado one year ) and was basically a member for the deaf community for said years. Awesome people so make an effort and introduce yourself to a deaf/hearing impaired person, they will appreciate your effort.

As far as deaf/hearing impaired Mag owners, Roll Call!!

[Lee]

played many times w/ a deaf guy years ago. he was an excellent player. fearless.

[MANN]

According to my wife I am deaf/have selective hearing.

[chafnerjr]

Not much of an issue for me*

I've got to say that I am very much interested in this post! I've been playing paintball for about 11 years now and for the same time I've been "hearing impaired". I was lucky enough to develop ottosclerosis at an early age. To be fair this is the most common type of hearing loss and it is in no way total hearing loss (*about 65% loss in the human vocal range). Most who have this issue begin to develop it beyond their late thirties. It tends to affect specifically what frequencies you can hear. In my case (as is in many others) it affects my ability to hear most of the human vocal range. While this is disruptive during conversation, or pre-game planning, it's not particularly troubling during the game. In game, if people are talking they are generally shouting. I can also hear twigs snap or leaves move because those sounds are at different frequencies that I can still hear somewhat OK. My hearing is a little more tuned into this for the same reason. You'd also be surprised at what I can hear in a car engine

I wonder what it's like to play totally deaf. I find that I have a slight advantage up front because I don't get distracted by noises so I stick to business. Then again, it could just be because I don't like playing backman!

[warbeak2099]

My sister is deaf and I took her out to play with me one time. She loved it and did great. She's got a cochlear implant and that thing is a miracle. She can hear amazingly with it. She was making moves and yelling out like a champ lol. With modern science where it is, it's not a reason for impairment anymore! Pretty amazing IMO and I think it's great that she and others can have that experience.

[chafnerjr]

cochlear implant

How is the battery run for your sisters cochlear implant? Is it a pack at her hip or is it imbedded?

[warbeak2099]

Oh they've got it really small now. It's all contained in the unit that goes behind her ear. It just looks like a regular hearing aid now.

She used to have the pack though and that made her feel really self conscious. The self contained ear piece is great, especially for increased mobility when playing PB.

[chafnerjr]

Battery

It's a good thing that she has it behind the ear. I couldn't imagine playing with that on your hip. They keep trying to talk me into such a device, but seeing as my insurance won't even cover 1 red cent of a regular hearing aid, I'm not going to hold my breath. Paintball, however, is one of those things where hearing can be important to some, or unimportant to others in my opinion. Most of it depends on your style of play. The faster and more aggressive you play the less and less it matters.

[warbeak2099]

Yea my parents fought pretty hard to get insurance to cover it. It's unfortunate but worth the struggle. I mean she was stone deaf before and now she can hear everything.

[halB]

I would love to see some deaf people play. The principles of fueng shui say that even if we are not intimidated or scared consciously, we are still affected sub-consciously without our knowing it. What I'm trying to get at is, everytime you're behind a bunker you hear those balls thwack thwack thwacking the bunker. Even if us hearing folk don't let it fray our nerves it must still affect us in some way. I bet deaf people would be balls to the wall running up the field never missing an opportunity to advance.

BTW: My aunt and mother are both interpreters, although my mom not so much recently. Deaf people are, well, people! And they're really cool. The culture is highly different. I still remember going to that one school for them. I mainly remember a statue of a buffalo...

[thahouse]

im deaf, and have a cochlear implant as well. I hail from the great white north...AND absolutely love mags!

As for it affecting my playing style...it does keep me very aware of the field, and i had to learn how to utilize bunkers in terms of not sticking my head way out to see whats around me...thank goodness for wood bunkers and the gaps in em

In terms of communications, i cannot keep in contact with my team via throat mics/headsets, so we have adapted with hand signals that all teammates are to know, but also wear headsets with throat mics...so they relay messages to me and we mow muppets! muahahaha.

[warbeak2099]

The culture is highly different.

It's not a culture, it's a disability. If my parents and sister had thought of it as a culture, she'd still be deaf. She can hear and speak now thanks to modern medical science. There were "deaf culture" people local to us who berated and even threatened my parents when they made the decision to implant her. They are ignorant people and would rather remain deaf. I'm sorry, but that "deaf culture" crap blows my mind.

[thahouse]

Yeah, there is an actual group of deaf activists in ontario, who believe that being deaf is "special" or some kinda junk like that, and they actually fight against cochlear implants and medical technology that enables profound deaf people to hear more than they can.

I honestly believed at one point that they are just jealous deaf people whom cant afford such advances in medical technology and dont want others to have what they can't. But now, after running into a few of them, i strongly believe they are just plain ignorant morons.

BUT back to paintballing..I really wish i could actually meet another few deaf people who play this sport...Being 23, i am eligible to be a big brother and i am seriously considering going to the provincial school for the deaf, and see if i can get them out on the field and have a blast.

The reason being, is because ive noticed that there are rarely any actual social deaf people in my area...There may be, but either i dont notice, or they are very secluded and arent as social/outgoing as i am..

Anyhoo..if there are any deaf ballers in ontario on here..please get in touch with me..id love to arrange something and get those ppl out on the field/socialize and build up their confidence.