Join LaRonda as she talks about Deaf “hooters,” loud children, and how they drive us crazy. (Transcript below)
Transcript:
Hello. Did you just see my son’s T-shirt? It says,
That was cute. The T-shirt was a birthday gift from his friend. My son just turned 12.
Last night, my husband and I gathered together a bunch of boys and a girl, put them in our cars and drove them to Dave and Buster’s. Dave and Buster’s is a more sophisticated arcade palace. Actually, it’s almost like a casino for kids. It’s a cute place and very fun. They loved it! My son is very involved with various video games and they all had a great time there.
We had to drive 2 cars. I drove our van, which was full of 6 boys and 1 girl while my husband drove another boy in his truck since there wasn’t enough room for them all in one car. So we caravaned there in two cars.
Now, you know I’m a Deaf mom. All of the kids in my van were hearing. I noticed something interesting as we drove. The kids began chattering away. Then the radio went on with loud base that began rocking the car. The loud music caused the kids to increase the volume of their voices as they tried to talk over the noise. Now, even though I’m Deaf as a stone and couldn’t hear them, I could see them in my rear view mirror. My son was cracking up with his fingers sticking in his ears. Why? Because the kids in the car were CRAZY-loud!
It made me wonder what they were talking about. Are they joking? Swearing? Saying terrible things? I had no way of knowing. I couldn’t lip-read them while driving. I just had to hope for the best and hope I have taught my son enough about using proper language. Ha.
On the drive back, they boys and girl were talking loudly again. Their voices became even louder than before.It looked to me as if they were practically screaming! It also made me wonder…. Are they testing me? Are they trying to see if Paul’s mom iss really deaf, or what? I was a little bit paranoid and a little bit curious.
But, there was not much I could do. I just drove them along, oblivious to what they were saying. I occasionally glanced back at them in the rear view mirror, smiled peacefully and drove the car. Later, I told my husband, “You should thank me for driving the kids. Had you been in my place in that car, with all that racket, it would have made your eyes roll.” But for me, it was easy driving and the noise level didn’t really bother me.
This story reminds me of the time I used to work as a School Counselor at a Deaf School. That’s when I discovered that Deaf kids can be LOUD too! That loudness is not only characteristic of hearing kids, but Deaf kids as well. I found that Deaf kids also have their favorite ways to make the Deaf or hearing staff there, go crazy! How? Deaf kids like to “hoot!” Are you familiar with hooting? It’s when a Deaf kid walks up behind another person and gives a loud and strong “HOOT!” directly behind them!!
It doesn’t matter if the staff member is deaf or hearing. The sound the Deaf hooter makes is usually loud enough to make anyone jump out of their shoes! Those that don’t hear it still feel it, as the volume is usually loud enough to rumble our carcass and cause us to swiftly turn and plow the instigator! That kind of thing just makes you crazy!
Kids…. they do the strangest things!
Bye (ILY wave)
*laughing* That’s kids for you! Gotta love these kids
Left by Mishkazena on September 20th, 2008
oh yes… i am deaf of course but i remmy everytime i go in car with my deaf “adopted” family with the kids, when i was a kid, i can remmy we all make tons of noise, yelling and hooting and all noise even though the parent driving is fully deaf, but the mom always knew the kids were making alot of noise but u know what funny, she tell them to shh shh cuz she worry about outside, will it bother ppl outside? i was a hooter and my deaf friends all did it too, they even hoot at me when i was little lol… so i think its common… my left ear is totally deaf, when deaf kid hoot in my left ear, i can hear a little squeak LOL. my right ear is mild about 75 db, with out hearing aid, i can kinda hear the hoot but it don’t hurt at all lol. hearing kids say that hoot is louder then screaming lol.
Left by Rita on September 21st, 2008
Very funny story. Last year I was selling tickets to a basketball game at my son’s school and some kids were in the same area but behind me. I guess they were making a lot of noise because the principal came and told them to quiet down. I said if I’m supposed to keep them quiet, you have the wrong person, because they sure aren’t bothering me!
Left by Sarah on September 22nd, 2008
I work with developmentally disabled adults, and from what I have been told, some of them are quite noisy in the car also! I’ve been told by some of our hearing staff that it’s a good thing that I’m deaf, cuz their yelling and screaming and asking all sorts of weird questions can drive you crazy! In fact, we have one client who is known to like to “scream” in the car at times, and recently he had to be driven to an appointment in another town about 45 minutes away. When the supervisor was asking for a volunteer, some of the staff spoke up and said “we should let Virginia take him, at least she won’t get a headache from all that screaming he does!” LOL
Left by Ocean on September 22nd, 2008
WOW I guess you can say both worlds are loud no matter which one you live in or even if your on the bridge of in between.
Misss you Lots
Kayla
Left by Kayla on September 24th, 2008
*giggling*
So true! I’m finding that my own kids can be loud too! I think they’re testing me to see if I really am deaf. Gotta love that stage. *rolling eyes*
Left by Tishia on October 3rd, 2008