Total Deafness

[Coppit]

Is it possible for someone totally deaf to be able to understand what hearing is?

[Sqad]

Not sure that I understand what you are getting at.
If he was born deaf, then he cannot understand sound as you and I know it, but if he was born with normal hearing and suddenly became totally deaf, then, yes, he would know what normal hearing sounded like.

[Coppit]

It's the same with any of the senses. If you had never had a sense of taste would it be possible for you to understand what it was?

[Sqad]

;-) no, I think it would be very difficult.

[jno]

it's hard enough to describe sense experiences even now. How could I tell you what a strawberry tastes like? Actually trying to tell you what sight or taste is like if you've never seen or tasted must be impossible.

But there may be cases where people have had a sense restored that they've never had before (an ear operation that overcame birth deafness, perhaps) and could answer this.

[jennyjoan]

I am deaf but not profusely - about 80% deaf - in fact my consultant has told me I am a candidate for cochlear implant - as if - A totally deaf person relies on so many of their other senses to get about. For instance at a dance - the feet rely on the floor. Look at the fantastic drummer (sorry don't know her name) but she is an international drummer and relies on her feet. As Sqad/Mohne says if he/she heard before they she would know what it would be like. Sorry Coppit I find it a funny question. Jennyjoan.

PS Another sense is the lips and teeth - they are good for lipreading - I was deaf all my life so lipreading was part of my life so I "never" learnt it - it just came naturally to me.

[Mamyalynne]

I had two great friends as a child, one was born deaf and she as JJ does lip read very well, sometimes she would like the feel of the vibration coming from whoever spoke to her and she would place her hand on on near your mouth.

The other was blind from birth and she challenged me to describe colours to her that she could then identify by feel - as children it was fun and not all that successful.

Saw a super piece the other day of a young man wearing a headset that converted colours into sound pitches so he knew what he was looking at, he was totally colour blind.