Is it proper to use the term "overcame deafness?"

Partially deaf?

 

I guess that would work. I don't mind "hearing impaired" either, personally.

It is a challenge dealing with hearing loss, and I guess the case can be made that it is a handicap depending on the severity of the loss. In certain situations it is a handicap, but not in all situations.

 

What makes you think you know what a handicap is?
A deaf person is not handicapped.
A deaf person is deaf.

 

Jesus. The deaf are a tough crowd.

 

Then I better not find any deaf people parking in handicapped spots at the mall.

 

I didn't know there was an official list of everything that is or is not a handicap. I am thinking quite literally here. If you have some sort of physical malady that prevents you from doing everything most people can (ie, handicaps you) then you have a handicap. Call it whatever you want. It's a handicap.

Sign language is awesome, but I've yet to see a person be able to "sign" a car honking, or a bird chirping, or an orchestra playing.

If you are deaf, God bless you, you can do a lot independently. Don't get me wrong. But it's difficult to get the entire life experience.

I'm not slamming them, or anything like that. God no. But there's a reason you hardly ever hear anybody say, "Damn it, I wish I were deaf."

 

The Deaf culture refers to that as being hard of hearing.

 

The definition of the word and a grasp of the English language.

 

Even if you are completely deaf in one ear and losing hearing in the other as you age?

 

http://dictionary.reference.com/dic?q=deaf&search=search

Let me know where the word handicapped appears in this dictionary entry.
Maybe you ought to open your horizons and you might learn something.

 

Yes, depending on the level of hearing that is still left. To the Deaf culture, there are three types of people: hearing, hard of hearing and deaf.

 

What level is deaf?