CaleanWsh Posted November 12, 2018 Report Share Posted November 12, 2018 (edited) My husband (I'll call him Kethern) has severe hearing loss. It's getting worse; to the point that he doesn't hear speech or sounds very well (if at all). He has begun to isolate himself from me and people at work. I have started making different signs to him, like you, me, talk, drink, come here, look, stop, deaf (I don't know the HOH sign) and other simple words/signs. Some are from the ALS vocabulary, some are just ones that I have made up on my own. I have talked to him on several occasions about learning ALS, but he is resistant. When I start talking about it, he starts doing something else, turns away from me so that he can't see me or just plain old ignores me. He has accepted that he is HOH. As a matter of fact, he is helping me cope with my age related hearing loss. (It isn't too bad yet, only higher frequencies are hard to hear.) I want to be able to communicate with him again. To be able to talk to him after he has removed his aids. (Without them he is nearly deaf.) To talk to him across a room. To tell him about my day, to have him tell me about his day. Just to talk. I am very new to ASL. I know some of the finger spelling and a few of the signs, but most of what I use is made up. I want to learn. I want "Kethern" to learn. How do I learn? How do I get him to WANT to learn? Thanks for listening. CW Edited November 12, 2018 by CaleanWsh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Izabel Ramirez Posted November 23, 2018 Report Share Posted November 23, 2018 I think it's beautiful what you're doing, trying to learn sign language to still communicate with your husband. ASL is a different world, but definitely a loving one too. Maybe he's not wanting to come into terms that he is really HOH, or maybe he'll want to learn if he sees you constantly trying to learn sign language or you'll show him a cool sign that he thinks is cool (maybe like his favorite animal?). When I started learning sign language and was actually able to communicate with someone deaf who was trying to find something in the mall and did it sucsuccessfully Then, my family realized how necessary and unique it is. Ooo and also maybe sign to him his favorite song or one you both love! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaleanWsh Posted November 23, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2018 Thanks Izabel 😎 I think your idea of signing his favorite animal would be cool. It's a wolf. Now I need to find that sign!! 😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Izabel Ramirez Posted November 26, 2018 Report Share Posted November 26, 2018 No problem! I suggest downloading the app 'Spread the Sign' or searching it up on google "wolf in asl" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now