hearing loss is something of importance to me. my sister is deaf, and so is her husband. we grew up in germany in the 50s and 60s when sign language was discouraged. i shudder to remember that today. it had the effect that i never learned sign language, and the effect on my sister that she never became really fluent in either sign, lip reading or “voice” speaking. i’m glad that things have changed – but there is still so much to do! thanks for speaking up!