Prompt: Hearing loss – from Tara621
Words: 756, ignoring the fingerspelling.
Characters: … I've always had this image of Wes as a disability support worker. So the scenario I've placed him in, was actually something I had to do in my own training. It was… a very eye-opening experience, because you never really think about how much you NEED those senses until you suddenly aren't allowed to. We only had time for about 15 minutes of this, but it was honestly one of the hardest 15 minutes I've ever had… So, I decided that Wes was going to do this with the Warblers! Also, while I've never had a scenario this crazy at work, it was really helpful in learning the limitations to communicating that many people have, so it helped just trying to think of various ways of overcoming them all… and also, the importance of things even as small as touch. But, more on that in my ramblings after the shot!
I look down at the page in front of me, its bold text staring right back at me. I'm about to open my mouth and relay its message, when I remember that I'm not meant to have the ability to speak.
I glance around my tiny circle. Santana is to my left, shiny black hair bouncing off her shoulders like water does rocks – but, unlike a waterfall, it's restrained by the single elastic strap of her nightcap. I want to tell her how beautiful she looks, the way she leans on my shoulder, a finger playing around my knee… but I am not allowed to speak. Just like she is not allowed to see.
Trent sits on my right, his hands fidgeting around a pair of heavy earphones… He has momentarily lost the ability to hear.
It's a strange exercise. We have a sheet with a few sentences to communicate around the circle. But between us all, we have one deaf, one blind, and one non-verbal. This is honestly one of the most bizarre forms of Chinese Whispers I've ever attempted… Though, in truth, the blank silence the room is giving me (and it's nice to know we aren't the only ones struggling!) makes a nice change, and I think I've learnt what to do in future, if the guys get out of hand…
Supposedly we have an advantage. I work with people with all sorts of communication difficulties. Trent knows sign language. And Santana… is Santana.
But, it's hard.
I'd give anything to write my message down. I suppose technically it isn't breaking rules – I know several people that use communication boards and other AAC's to their advantage – but, it makes it too easy… Instead, I slowly, painstakingly, use finger-spelling to get it across to Trent.
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Trent looks confused. "Don't it always seem to go you don't know what you got til it's gone?" he asks, a little haltingly, hands pressed against his ears. "Wow, I can't hear myself. You have no idea how utterly bizarre that is!"
Santana just raises an eyebrow… or, at least, her blindfold shifts so I think she does. "Joni Mitchell? Really?"
All I can do is nod.
"He says, yes," Trent relays for me. They're catching on pretty quick.
"I can feel him, gay Alec Baldwin," she shoots back, "but your unnecessary pity is endearing."
I hit her. Though even if he could hear, I doubt Trent would be offended by the 'insult'.
And now it's Trent's turn. He stares at me. "Am I allowed to speak?"
I bit my lip and tilt my head to the side… The Venn diagram between deafness and the ability to speak are not two separate circles…
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He nods. "Commctions lie breeveng. Yrnt alwaysaware oit bu ynow whenis gone!"
Again, I nod. And Santana… frowns? "Something… is like… breathing? You're not…"
I sign to him to repeat the end.
"Yrnt alwaysaware oit bu ynow whenis gone!"
"Not always aware, but you know when it's gone?"
Pretty damn good, is all I can think. I ask Trent for the first word.
"Cmmunction."
"Oh!" She grins.
And we're nearly there. But Santana's presents a difficulty. She doesn't have paper – she gets to make up her own message. But while I can hear, I can't speak, and while Trent can speak, he can't hear. Santana doesn't know sign language… and is growing more and more frustrated as her mind struggles to fetch an idea.
Finally, I decide to use Trent.
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He nods. "Say it out loud and Wes will spell it."
Santana gives a wicked grin, before bending down and whispering in my ear.
I groan. Of all the things in the world…
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"I'm not a pheasant plucker."
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"I'm a pheasant plucker's son."
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"I'm only plucking pheasants."
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"Til the pleasant fu – "
It takes Trent slipping up and swearing for the spell to break. Santana rips off her blindfold, Trent throws his headphones to the ground, and I crack up laughing.
It's a fun experiment. It really is. And, as both of them said to me later, very eye-opening. But also, as San so eloquently put it, "it's as hard as the men of Dalton collectively during a Matt Bomer visit."
I've never had anything quite this difficult at work. But, just remember… no matter what the ability, what the language, however someone speaks… you can always reach out to them. Trying to understand someone is one of the most powerful tools you have in your power – be sure to use it whenever you can.
So, I mentioned work stories up above… There's a few things that stand out to me, and, yes, I'm going to ramble, because it's 3.30 in the morning and I can't sleep, and because it's been quite awhile since I've had a good ramble, and my job is just one of those things I cannot help but ramble over…
I guess the first thing is actually more about assumptions, though it's tied in to communicating. I definitely had to learn the hard way not to judge someone's intelligence… My first ever shift, I was working with this gorgeous woman, Tina. All I'd been told was that she was non-verbal – which, for someone who at the time had not had any proper experience with people with disabilities, instantly translated to little intelligence. So I was meal-assisting her… and the way I was speaking… See, if people won't understand you, you adapt to suit that. I was using barely a form of speech above baby talk – really encouraging, really focused on the tone of my voice, and being horribly condescending… Then, the next morning, the staff explained to me that she was getting upset over her ex… She could indicate yes by looking upwards. And had understood absolutely everything I'd said to her the night before. It was… horrible. I've never forgotten that. And I've always made sure to ask people questions and not assume anything about them, if I can. I can't imagine what it would be like, having people constantly doing that, treating you like a child, with you unable to do anything other than cry or purse your lips…
Because of that as well, I think, I'm always more careful looking for other methods of communication. One of the women I'm always around can vocalise, but it's very hard to understand her sometimes. And I now know her so well that I can tell if she's indicating yes or no by either the direction she looks, the way her mouth moves, or how many times she blinks. You just… learn to look out for little cheat tricks that people can do, I suppose. But just because they can't speak doesn't mean a person cannot communicate.
And the other thing is… which I think is more relevant… Difficulties with speech are associated with many conditions that can leave someone in a wheelchair. I was at uni once and a friend asked me to help him – he was talking to a woman in a chair and was really struggling to understand what she was saying. So I want to say – it's not an uncommon problem, so don't feel bad if that situation happens to you. Also, these people will know that they have troubles – so the worst thing you can do is to smile and nod. You can ask them to repeat themselves, or speak more slowly, and you can repeat the bits you understand back until it forms a full sentence… But don't give up (unless they do) and don't pretend to understand!
… Yeah. Just in case you ever come across someone in a chair with speech difficulties and you find yourself wondering what to do…
… Okay, I need to sleep. Enough about work!
Thank you to everyone for reading, reviewing, etc etc. Congrats to Tara on her first prompt! And shout-outs to MyMagentaPeach, NiffAreForever, Tara621, Eraman, Pen Magic and ficdirectory!
Like it? Hate it? Want Call Me Maybe to be stuck on permanent repeat in my head? (At least it's the Scott Hoying/Luke Edgemon collab…) Please let me know!
Keep smiling! :D
