If you fall for a deaf girl, especially if you’re not deaf, then there is a lot that you should know ahead of time. Don’t be afraid to make compromises and adjustments in your relationship to ensure that you both are comfortable and content.
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How is Dating a Deaf Girl Unique?
It is often easiest for deaf people to date others that are also deaf, but it is possible for a hearing person and a deaf person to get along just fine. It is possible to meet deaf girls on dating apps, since those conversations will start off with messaging. It can be easy to get to know a deaf girl through text, but once the conversations move to in person, then it can become much harder.
However, there are many misconceptions when it comes to deaf people. One of the main ones is communication. Most people assume that deaf people primarily use or solely rely on sign language as a form of communication. However, according to Disability Unit, only about 10% of people with hearing loss actually use sign language as their primary source of communication. Many people lose their hearing through illnesses, so they learned a different language before they lost their hearing.
Deaf people can usually read lips, and some even use speech therapy to speak, so they are much better at communicating than most people think. However, this means that it is difficult or impossible for them to understand people that talk quickly or don’t face them when they speak. However, the better a deaf person gets to know someone, the easier it will be for them to read their lips.
Many people who are hard of hearing will use hearing aids or cochlear implants to help assist with their hearing. A hearing aid is a device worn by a partially deaf person to help amplify sound for them while a cochlear implant is a medical device that must be surgically implanted to function as the damaged parts of the inner ear. However, these devices do not always guarantee that someone who is hard of hearing will be able to hear completely clearly again, but they do help.
Pros to Dating a Deaf Girl
While dating a deaf girl may seem difficult at first, there are lots of great things that can come out of it. Here are some pros to dating a deaf girl:
- You get the opportunity to learn a new language.
- You will learn how to better compromise and adapt to someone else’s needs.
- You will learn more about deaf people and how they see the world.
- You will learn to communicate more with actions than words.
- You can communicate with sign language even in quiet areas.
Cons to Dating a Deaf Girl
Even if you are really committed to dating a deaf girl, there are always some struggles that may arise. These are not necessarily cons, but instead they are things you will need to work on if you want the relationship to be successful. Here are some cons to dating a deaf girl:
- There will be lots of misunderstandings at first.
- It will take some time for you to be able to understand each other properly.
- Many people in public will have a hard time communicating with them.
- They will not be able to hear everyday things, such as thunder or the doorbell.
- It is difficult to communicate in dark areas.
6 Things to Know About Dating a Deaf Girl
Before you date a deaf girl, there are certain things that you should know and do to make it easier and more natural for both of you. While you can both still be normal around each other, there are still some adjustments you may need to make communication-wise.
1 – Learn to Sign
If the person you’re dating knows sign language very well, then it is also a good idea for you to learn it too. Even if that person can speak and read lips, sign language is still a good alternate if they are unable to understand you. Plus, if they are speaking and reading lips for your benefit, then you should be able to learn to sign for their benefit. A good way to learn sign language better is to sign as you speak in order to get used to the motions and to help better communicate with your partner at all times.
2 – Be Patient
When you first start dating a deaf girl, it may be a slow process to be able to communicate effectively. You may need to talk slowly and enunciate more in order for them to read your lips properly. The same goes for you as you are learning to sign because if she signs too fast, it may be harder for you to understand her. Therefore, both of you need to be patient with each other as you figure out the best ways to communicate with each other.
3 – Accept Them for Who They Are
This is a rule that should be true in any relationship, but it is especially important with a deaf girl. Oftentimes, deaf people are used to others not taking them seriously or not willing to be patient with them. You need to understand that being deaf is a huge part of their life, so you need to take it seriously. Don’t get frustrated if they don’t understand what you’re saying or can’t communicate the way you want them to. If you really want to be in a relationship with them, then don’t try to change who they are just because it’s difficult on you.
4 – Encourage Others to Learn Sign Language
Many people don’t learn sign language until there is someone close to them that is deaf. However, everyone should really try to learn at least some basic signs. Therefore, it is your job to spread the word. Try to teach others that are close to you to learn some sign language so that they can converse with your new girlfriend easier. You should want to make life easier for her, not harder, so the more people that can learn sign language, the better.
5 – Protect Them if Necessary
There are also many people out there that don’t understand what it’s like to be deaf and don’t have any sympathy for those that are. This can cause many people to get angry when trying to interact with a deaf person in public. If you see your new partner struggling to communicate with someone that’s being rude to them, don’t be afraid to protect them. However, don’t step up and speak for them. Deaf people often don’t want their loss of hearing to get in the way of normal activities, so while they will appreciate you standing by their side and protecting them, they don’t need you to do everything for them or speak on their behalf.
6 – Learn to Compromise
As mentioned earlier, when a hearing person dates a deaf girl, then compromises need to be made. She will likely learn how to read your lips and speak to you better, so you also should do the same for her. Don’t expect her to adjust how she communicates just to better fit your needs. If both of you don’t word to find a healthy medium for communication, then the relationship will not work out in the end.
Conclusion
If you start dating a deaf girl, then it may seem tricky at first, but as time goes on, you will learn from each other and become comfortable communicating with each other eventually. Don’t get frustrated if things seem hard at first. You just need to take your time and put in a good amount of effort to make sure that everything works well for both of you, so don’t be afraid to date a girl just because she’s deaf. Things can be adjusted and you can actually learn a lot from spending time with her and getting to know her.