I knew a non-deaf person who dated a person with a hearing impediment. There’s nothing terribly unusual about that of course - it would hardly be noteworthy, but it was still funny to observe the fact that this couple enjoyed better communication than most couples who enjoy full hearing faculties. There was a deep bond between my friend and her hearing impaired boyfriend that transcended the differing abilities - it’s not like Friend X was surfing deaf dating sites to pick up sweet deaf guys. It was breathtaking watching the courtship between these two however - love doesn’t necessarily need words to express itself.

It’s always amusing to compare communication in relationships, especially between a deaf (well, partially deaf) duo who get along just fine versus a couple who can hear perfectly but choose to never listen to each other. Communication breakdown is incredibly (depressingly) common with many long-term relationships, but its even more pronounced when you’re comparing them with success story relationships. There are many valid reasons for communication failure - a lack of trust coming from both parties, crippling anxiety. Stubbornness is another major fault that’s found with uncommunicative partners. Good old fashioned resentment can spur this nasty process onwards as well.

To be honest, it’s probably not fair to continue to wring the irony out of this situation. There are plenty of deaf couples that maintain that seething, low-level of resentment that’s present in a lot of co-dependant relationships. Furthermore, just because a courtship between a deaf and non-person goes fine for a couple of day dates doesn’t ensure love, happiness, fulfillment, blah blah blah. But when you’ve got a good example of a deaf relationship gone right, it’s hard not to notice a wee bit of hilarity of couples that can hear, but choose not listen.

(original article)