Hi

[Steve Hopker]

Hi, I'm a 69yo and just accepting I'm hard of hearing, more so lately. Most likely age-related but with recent deterioration, and life-long tinnitus. Had a lot of middle ear infections, mostly in childhood but in my 40's a month or so of severe conductive deafness following burst ear drums. For myself, while I am bit hard of hearing, it's seem unlikely I will become deaf and absolutely need BSL, but learning something of it now feels a kind of 'insurance' if it would become really useful - I'd not want to age into a degree of deafness that really impaired communication. Of course, that would mean friends & family would need BSL to communicate with me, but then with BSL I might avoid total verbal isolation .  

But, beyond my needs, BSL is an official UK language and hearing people able to use BSL could be a way for these communities to be in more contact. 

And - so far, BSL seems fun, indeed ingenious, with its own history. I had no idea, for example, that [I read] American Sign Language is more like European sign languages, as it derives more from French settlers - ie BSL, ASL (etc)  are languages with their own long histories.

And - yes, following that - I hope learning BSL will challenge and reduce my less than charitable audism - ie will be about increasing my abilities, not 'helping deaf people' (😳!!)