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What about China?

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In reply to @tenkan

@tenkan said:

What, I still can’t hear ya, but no never heard of this “sub group” but ok you don’t want to be associated with that lot then, it’s ok, being deaf is nothing to be embarrassed about.

I’m not embarrassed at all, but I have associated with both groups and they are quite different. Read this for more information: Differences between Deaf and hearing cultures4.

But this doesn’t change that your deaf? Being deaf is not a culture for most of us, only if you want to be seen as “different”

In my experience, the deaf are as different a culture as a French or Spanish group living in America amongst English speakers. English is a second language to them. They identify with the deaf community. They will prefer their deaf children not receive . They may not look different (except for using sign) but they sure are insistent that they are their own thing. Just my observations and opinions based on them.

WH

Edited

In reply to @tenkan

@tenkan said:

…it’s ok, being deaf is nothing to be embarrassed about.

I still remember - many years ago (it’s got to be a bit over 40 years now! :open_mouth: ) I came down with a really bad case of laryngitis - to the point where I was completely speechless for a couple of days, even though by the second day I felt semi-decent otherwise.

I decided to have dinner at a restaurant I loved on the Lower West Side of Manhattan (I lived on the Upper West Side at the time). I took the bus downtown, and there were two young women sitting across from me who were having an animated, rapid-fire conversation in Sign - obviously enjoying themselves chattering about whatever they were discussing. I felt like a complete idiot - in those days before smartphones, before even dumb cellphones, before email, the best I could do (once I got to the restaurant) was gesture that I was effectively mute and point at stuff!

(The food was still good, though… and the place made a fresh-mint daiquiri the like of which I’ve never met in all the years and places since.)

In reply to @WhiteHat

My experience also WH… I would also add, most pre-lingually Deaf, known as “Big D” in the UK, have an extremely high opinion of themselves, to the point of being somewhat arrogant/aloof…In the USA, I have read that Big D, have hardened their attitude towards the hearing world, and have become rather politicised, and in some instances militant…Now, I have a tendency to feel a strong ambiance towards their aloof attitude, when you consider the complete f***Up, of the hearing world we have managed to make, when more intelligent solutions were within our grasp…Meanwhile, Big D chooses to ignore us, and rightly so!!! Cheers Kev :wink:

@kevels55 said:

My experience also WH… I would also add, most pre-lingually Deaf, known as “Big D” in the UK, have an extremely high opinion of themselves, to the point of being somewhat arrogant/aloof…

The same groups are in Poland. Over 10 years ago I even registered in their main forum. However, I have never written any post there, only read.
That forum were quite toxic, with much aversion to hearing people, whom they called even something like “hearianiacs” (“słyszaki”) as a try to despise them. If someone from they group wanted to hear and e. g. got a , they considered it a betrayal of their group.
So I got off that forum.

I don’t know if they hardened their attitude or have become better people.

Another observation: I think much users there were decent people, but not particularly active in the forum. The worsts posts were from ~5 people, who were very active.

Many big D can sign, speak that language. If one moved to a country where they do not understand or speak the language, would one adopt similarly toxic views? Probably not. What then is driving that within the big D community. Does it stem from isolation?

Obviously that analogy is not exact because of environmental sounds, ability to communicate by phone, etc.

Frinkin hell these guys are mutants! After doing a little research it seems they are “mute” as in deaf & dumb, so I can now see why they behave like this, very angry people with a “chip on their shoulders” but still it’s a lifestyle choice to live like that.

In reply to @user490

Sign Language is visual @user490 as such, it will take a signer perhaps 2 or 3 hours to learn the main signs of a foreign sign language, they will be able to to communicate effectively in an extremely short period of time! As a signer, I have done this on holiday… Cheers Kev :wink:

In reply to @DrJimmyJoeJimbob

Historically, these Big D were persecuted, and classed as “Deaf & Dumb”… Nothing could be further from the truth, depending on whom is signing, sign language is 5 times quicker than you can speak, and up to 7 times quicker!!! Cheers Kev :wink:

In reply to @tenkan

In truth @tenkan they want nothing to do with the hearing world, and that includes the …They are perfectly happy living in their own bubble, they don’t trust the hearing world, which is understandable, all they ever gave them was a hard time… Cheers Kev :wink:

In reply to @user490

I also come from China and base in Shanghai. Most of local brand hearing aids sale rely on e-commerce (JingDong, Taobao which similar to Amazon.) Big 5 also have sales network variously in China which including hospital, chain store and e-commerce( not only in big cities but also at small towns) which including Phonak Sphere Infinio I90( i get it in Apr. 2025 & paid for 20,500RMB including 5 years warranty but have to do all adjuestment . i also get one pair of customized Slimtip via Phonak China locally without extra payment.) you can also buy Oitcon Intent 1 here though list price is too expensive. Pls. do not forget not only the Costco (only 6 stores in Shenzhen,Ningbo,Hanghzou,Shanghai,Suzhou & Nanjing now )but also the Sam’s club (much more than Costco) also run their biz in China, hearing impaired persons can get Philips 9050 if pay 11,000RMB in Costco China. I ought to say Thanks a lot to @tenkan help during my DIY at the begining.

Or, here in the USA, you could buy a pair of I90s new with a 4 year warranty from a Phonak authorized audiologist with unlimited online support for about $3,000 by contacting FitHearing.com4.

That’s what I do. But note, I am also a DIYer so can adjust my to my hearts content. I understand that most people want in person support and for that a good audiologist who uses “best practices” such as (which I can’t do) is worth every penny.

In reply to @Avnet54

The Oticon Intent 1 is significantly less expensive. Demonstration units are available for sale, with the current price for a pair at approximately 880 US dollars.
Brand-new demo units are widely available in China, and they come with a 2-year warranty. In my opinion, spending 3,000 US dollars on a pair of hearing aids is clearly not worth it.

If any of you come to China and are looking for affordable hearing aids, demo devices, or equipment and accessories, feel free to contact me for assistance. I have thorough knowledge of market prices and can source the products.

Edited

In reply to @jimy

the trial models of the top five hearing aids are indeed cheaper on some Chinese e-commerce websites, BUT, these are from gray market channels (not for sale) and absolutely cannot offer an unrestricted 2-year warranty. Please Do Not misleading toursts!

Edited

Demo model means that these can be set to any technology level for the purposes of demoing the feature differences to customers, right?

It typically also means that they will only work for 2-3 months and then have to be reprogrammed to work again for another ’demo period’.

So these would only be an option for people who are comfortable with .

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