CHAPTER 33:

"Most speech pathologists I know are nice. Why don't deaf people like them?"

Deaf people have problems with numerous members of the medical professionals because they feel that the presetation in many areas is poor. Doctors and audiologists are usually the ones who deliever the news to the parents that their child is deaf. Very little resources are provided for hearing parents and their deaf child. This can be a big problem if a parents first child is deaf. Same with deaf parents and their child, many resource should be provided for people who are deaf just as any other disorder diagnosed. Deaf people may get offended and feel that their community is any less important than others. Whether professionals realize it or not their words carry weight, and if people have a negative experience, chances are they will not be forgotten. These  highly trained professionals are in charge of many aspects of a deaf patient, they diagnose and send patients off to other specialized doctors that study even further.Speech pathologists take up where the doctors and audiologists leave off, their tasks is to mold the speech of a deaf child whose parents have entrusted to their care. Sometimes these professionals come off as demanding or bias to their own understanding and push their beliefs on their patients. Disregarding the main reason why the deaf child is there is the first place.  Perhaps training these individuals to be more comforting to the recieving party should be established. The deaf community is growing and if their experiences are always negative it will be hard to change the outlook of speech pathologists and other professionals.