Chapter 54

       I can not imagine how difficult it would be to become late-deafened, going from an everyday life filled with talking and hearing, to a new life filled with a language and a new life of communicating with others.  To be late-deafened is "defined as someone who became deaf-whether progressively, suddenly, or even genetically-after age 18" (pg 321).  I learned that those who become deaf as a teenager have an easier time adjusting compared to adults.  This makes a lot of sense, because as a teenager, people are still growing and learning about who they are, and becoming deaf would be part of that development.  However, for adults who have already settled and established their lives either through careers, marriages, or families, becoming deaf would be even more difficult.
       I thought it was very sad to hear of all the tragic side affects of becoming late-deafened.  It was crushing to learn that "a number of "rock-solid" marriages have fallen apart when one partner becomes deaf" (pg 322) and that "isolation, depression, and suicidal impulses are the most dangerous result of the process" (pg 322).  Accepting this new lifestyle must be extremely hard, and it seems that it is very likely that people accept deafness with nothing but negativity towards it.  Also, it can't help that there is not much acceptance from the Deaf community towards late-deafened people.  I think it is terrible that they are "accorded the coldest imaginable welcome, which is no welcome at all" (pg 323).  The Deaf community can often come across rejection from those in the hearing world, and I think it is crazy that they are willing to give this same rejection to those who are willing to accept and become part of the community.
       Luckily, there is a group, the Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA), to help out those in this situation.  This association is extremely beneficial to many late-deafened, as they find support from others in the same situation.  I would hope that being part of ALDA would help diminish some of the negative, social, side affects that come with being late-deafened.