I missed doing the multiple intelligence postings over the last few days, so today I’ll cover two. They are both related anyway.
They are INTERpersonal and INTRApersonal intelligence modes. Be careful you don’t get the two mixed up.
Let’s do INTERpersonal intelligence mode first. This means you are able to relate well to other people. You are able to understand their needs and moods, and enjoy sociable times with them too.
Of all the intelligence modes, INTERpersonal intelligence mode is the one most DHH people want and enjoy the most. Why is that?
It is because they don’t interact easily with hearies, of course. So they are most anxious to interact with those who share their hearing losses. DHH people LOVE to socialize and they are famous for dragging out their goodbye rituals. Why does that happen?
It is because they know it is the temporary death of communication/acceptance with DHH people until next time. They go back into the silent/quiet mode until they see their DHH friends again. With their DHH friends they can flower and be happy.
As you are aware, everyone wants to feel loved, accepted and wanted. Most DHH people get that from the socialization groups they belong to. This is why you see DHH parties, DHH cruises, DHH travel clubs, DHH schools, etc. In fact, there is a large world-wide DHH culture that is not commonly seen by society in general. But, it is an active, vibrant and lively culture.
Ironically, there are DHH people who refuse to be part of DHH culture. Be as it may, but it is their right and personal decision not to be part of the DHH culture.
These two intelligence modes has a lot to do with a very important subject, generally referred to as marginalization. I will cover that in a forthcoming DHH book.
Those DHH people who are sociable and very friendly, and understand others (including non-DHH people), will probably do better in regular society than most DHH people will.
They love to be on the TDD, videophone, email, and being at parties, and can do well with hearies on a one-to-one basis.
Such DHH people might be good at sales work, public service, and health services. They also might be good as party planners, interviewers, census/survey workers, social workers, librarians, and other related fields.
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As for INTRApersonal intelligence mode, it means you look inside yourself. You understand yourself more than anyone else, and can work within yourself. You can entertain yourself and work alone. You can relate to yourself as a loner. You understand your limitations and your abilities better than anyone else.
This is probably the most difficult intelligence mode for most DHH people to master, or understand. But it’s critical that the DHH person understands his/her own limitations, particularly when it comes to hearing ability. There are many DHH people who have residual hearing and think they can act like a hearing person, but really cannot.
Also, most DHH people cannot stand to be alone, and need to be with others. This is because they have no visual or social cues, and so feel lost and alone. As a DHH person myself, I enjoy being by myself, since I like to write and ponder deeply alone about many subjects.
It is critical that the DHH person cultivate the INTRApersonal intelligence mode, especially as it relates to hearing loss and the possible feeling of being marginalized.
Strangely enough, when I was born, I knew immediately I was “different” from others, and accepted that. I had the INTRApersonal intelligence sense to know that.
I will cover this subject in greater detail in a future book.
Thank you, I will be back in a few days.
