I have been asked by a friend if I know any means by which someone who does not hear can get recovery. He is an alcoholic (as am I) and ready to get help; maybe even enter treatment in addition to AA, but not too long ago had a virus which has left him deaf. He does not yet know ASL so really only communication would be written at this point. Any ideas would be great!! Thank you, denise
Hello and welcome. This issue has been raised before by our friend is Sarasota. Calling your local intergroup for info. You don't need your hearing here.
Hi. I have a man in my recovery home that is deaf. He does however know sign language. The state department that deals with the deaf, provides him with a interpeter to go with him to meetings 4 times a week, they also provide him with a video phone where he can sign with other deaf people who are in recovery as often as he wants, as well as others who sign (such as family) with the video phone. They also have a deaf/hearing interpeter/translator, who communicates with him on the video phone, established a phone call to me, and they tell me what he is saying or needing and telling him my responses in sign.
There are many resources in most metropolitan areas for the deaf and hearing impaired. But first things first, he should be learning how to sign.
As someone else has already mentioned, here all he has to be able to do is read and type, even if its slow... there is alot of online support for him, if he needs it... and this would be a good place to start while he works towards getting the other care providers providing their services and he is learning to sign.
I personally wish him the very very best, and hope he will find his way here to share with us what he would like to. Here it doesn't matter if someone is deaf or has the very best hearing, is highly educated or barely able to spell. If he will try to reach us, we'll be here for him.
Aloha Beach...I am hearing impaired and have been since around 84 ...getting worse over time until just recently. I am double bionic...hearing aids on both sides and they don't always work...mostly don't and what I have found for me that works in me getting most of the messages that I need is going to meetings often and asking for feedback and support in the quietness of personal conversations after or before or outside of the meeting rooms. When the outside noise messages go down the ones I need to hear are highlighted and I get more of it. I have stayed aware of the message that I have to do more to get more while others who have normal, natural, better hearing have it available to them a lot better.
You've been given other ESH...I hope it all helps. Help him stay the course and he will get and stay sober and HP will applaude as I see HP doing everytime a 12th step is done. (((((hugs)))))
-- Edited by Jerry F on Tuesday 27th of September 2011 02:30:28 PM
