I can't help being deaf.
People say "push your hearing aid in" because it whistles a lot.
People shout at me because I didn't hear the word they said.

I find being deaf is boring.
The don't know what it's like being deaf.
Going to hospital,
Going to school and going to the base
And not going to your friends.

I don't want any friends because I feel happy on my own.
Some of them laugh at me especially the boys.
They're always saying and signing "you are a naughty little deaf girl."
I don't do anything about it.

My sisters say to me deaf swear words.
My twin sister, we're very different.
But I don't mind anyway.
I can't help being deaf.

By Sian Johnson
Age - 12
Hearing Support Centre, Alun School, Mold

I find it hard being deaf
There’s no way of one getting away from it
Because we are deaf
It is in us
And we find it hard sometime
But we are still the same
We can still do the same
Just with more help
But we can still do it
So that’s one good thing about it
We can all do the same thing together!

People who are not deaf
Don’t know what it like to be deaf
But I know what it like
If I explain about it to them
They know what life is like
It can be dreadful and very hard sometime
In a little way it can be good

That’s what life and deaf is like!

By Pierre
Age – 12½ years at the moment!
Thomas Tallis School, London

When I was born, my sister teach me BSL
I grew to be proud but feel scared.
People might bully me and I won’t understand people talking.
I am bit sad because people will speak fast.
I am bit happy because I will get new friend.
I am bit stress because I have to change my hearing aid batteries.
I am bit lucky to get CSW and Social Worker.
I got too many feelings from being deaf!
But I’m still proud to be deaf.
Still powerful,
Still happy.
My family always there for me, also friends, to help me.
I not scared,
I not sad,
I not stress,
anymore.

By Nadeem Islam
Age – 12
Thomas Tallis School, London

Deaf people is powerful
Enormous brain and strong heart
Amazing gift from them
Fast, strong, smart is deaf
Deaf can be smart than hearing

Radio aid and batteries make me angry
Changing volumes and pump the tube keep me mad
Don’t be mad and sad – frustrated
You still got power in your ear
Strong brain got full of memory in the brain
Being deaf is different from hearing people
Stop bully deaf people
Stop giving bad thing to deaf people
Stop making fun of deaf people
Stop making deaf people become bully
Hearing and deaf are friend
Good friend

I happy to be deaf
My mum happy
My sister happy
My friend happy

By Nadeem Islam
Age – 12
Thomas Tallis School, London

If you are born deaf, you will get a double hearing aid

The moulds are nice and cool and soft.

If you are frustrated don’t pull out your hearing aids,

They cost a lot of money!!

Do not pull out your moulds

You might lose them!

Don’t throw out your hearing aid

‘Cos they break easily!

Someone might scream down your ear

I got a cat and she deaf because I scream down her ear!!!!!

Don’t hit deaf people in the ear!

Don’t shout at deaf people to make them understand

It makes it harder

Talk slowly and carefully

The end

by Harry Roberts
Age – 12
Thomas Tallis School, London