Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880. Contrary to popular belief, she was not born blind and deaf, but was left with those disabilities after a serious illness at the age of 19 months. In spite of her obvious physical limitations, Helen worked very hard to become and educated, contributing member of society and a hero to anyone who has a disability.
She had the following to say about her perceptions on being blind and deaf:
"I am just as deaf as I am blind. The problems of deafness are deeper and more complex, if not more important than those of blindness. Deafness is a much worse misfortune. For it means the loss of the most vital stimulus-- the sound of the voice that brings language, sets thoughts astir, and keeps us in the intellectual company of man. "
"Blindness separates us from things but deafness separates us from people."
"Children who hear acquire language without any particular effort; the words that fall from others’ lips they catch on the wing, as it were, delightedly, while the little deaf child must trap them by a slow and often painful process. But whatever the process, the result is wonderful. Gradually from naming an object we advance step by step until we have traversed the vast distance between our first stammered syllable and the sweep of thought in a line of Shakespeare."
Those who live with hearing loss in any degree are missing part of that "most vital stimulus" talked about by Helen Keller. The good news is that of the 34 million people who have hearing loss in the United States, 95% of them can be helped.
If you or someone you love experiences the lonely effects of hearing loss, contact a hearing professional such as Timpanogos Hearing & Balance (801-770-0801) to begin the journey back to hearing today!
She had the following to say about her perceptions on being blind and deaf:
"I am just as deaf as I am blind. The problems of deafness are deeper and more complex, if not more important than those of blindness. Deafness is a much worse misfortune. For it means the loss of the most vital stimulus-- the sound of the voice that brings language, sets thoughts astir, and keeps us in the intellectual company of man. "
"Blindness separates us from things but deafness separates us from people."
"Children who hear acquire language without any particular effort; the words that fall from others’ lips they catch on the wing, as it were, delightedly, while the little deaf child must trap them by a slow and often painful process. But whatever the process, the result is wonderful. Gradually from naming an object we advance step by step until we have traversed the vast distance between our first stammered syllable and the sweep of thought in a line of Shakespeare."
Those who live with hearing loss in any degree are missing part of that "most vital stimulus" talked about by Helen Keller. The good news is that of the 34 million people who have hearing loss in the United States, 95% of them can be helped.
If you or someone you love experiences the lonely effects of hearing loss, contact a hearing professional such as Timpanogos Hearing & Balance (801-770-0801) to begin the journey back to hearing today!
