“Deaf Like Me” by: Thomas and James Spradley

Recommended Age: 18+

Description: Deaf Like Me is the moving account of parents coming to terms with their baby girl’s profound deafness. The love, hope, and anxieties of all hearing parents of deaf children are expressed here with power and simplicity.

       In the epilogue, Lynn Spradley as a teenager reflects upon being deaf, her education, her struggle to communicate, and the discovery that she was the focus of her father’s and uncle’s book. A book at once moving and inspiring, Deaf Like Me is must reading for every parent, relative, and friend of deaf children everywhere.

My Rating: 4.5/5

I absolutely love this book! It is amazing to me the many different opinions that the Spradleys received when trying to raise their deaf daughter, Lynn. Should they go down an oral approach (only working on lip reading/talking and no signs) or a manual approach (using American Sign Language). I appreciate how well the book documents each part in their journey!


Things to be aware of in “Deaf Like Me”


Language:

  • 7 “dumb” (4 of which are in reference to the the saying, “deaf and dumb”)
  • 1 “my God”
  • 1 “stupid”
  • “Retarted” is used multiple times, though not in an insulting or demeaning way.


Additional Notes:

  • There is a brief discussion about women’s menstrual system (in reference to a possible pregnancy)
  • Abortion is mentioned/considered. I must say I was highly disappointed in this aspect of the book. Even though abortions at the time were illegal, I was disappointed and deeply saddened that it was even a consideration. (-0.5 stars)
  • A character in the book passes away. When questions about death come up, that would be a perfect segway into the gospel! God made a way for us not to remain dead in our sins!
  • A casino is visited.

Links to the book:

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