How learning sign language can support your wellbeing

Photo credit rdne stock project-pexels. Woman with blonde hair and blue eyes wearing a black top. She has her hand close to her chin signing the beginning of the sign for ‘thank you’.

As a life coach, I’m often encouraging clients to try new things.

Learning a new skill engages your brain in a different way than work does and it gives you a sense of accomplishment.

Learning something in a group setting also gets you to meet new people with similar interests. So it’s great for increasing self esteem as well as your social network.

How learning effects wellbeing

When we learn something new, our brain forms new neural connections and strengthens existing ones. This process is known as neuroplasticity, and it allows the brain to adapt and change in response to new experiences.

As we continue to learn and challenge ourselves, the brain becomes more flexible and efficient, improving our ability to process information, solve problems, and retain memories.

The act of learning also triggers the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which are associated with feelings of pleasure and satisfaction. This can have a positive impact on our mood, reducing stress and anxiety, and promoting a greater sense of overall wellbeing.

But how can learning sign language help your wellbeing if you’re losing your hearing?

I’ve been deaf in one ear since childhood, and have never been encouraged to learn to sign. I was told I’d grow out of it, and just needed to ‘learn to listen’ so signing or support was never considered.

As I managed ok with lipreading most people didn’t notice. I never knew any different. The few times I talked about learning sign language the response was ‘why bother’ ‘you can hear ok, you don’t need it’.

But when I started to lose the hearing in my good ear, I couldn’t pass as hearing so easily. I struggled to follow conversations and started to feel isolated.

The possibility that I could lose my hearing completely and not be able to communicate with my husband or children spurred me on to learn sign language.

I did struggle at first because at the time, no one I knew signed so I didn’t have anyone to practice with. Then I found some groups online and found some in person sign language meetups.

At home it became helpful. Teaching my sons some sign language meant that we could understand each other when I couldn’t wear my hearing aids. It also gave me a sense of security that, if my hearing continued to deteriorate, we would already have some signing skills that we could all use together.

Through attending sign language classes you’ll meet people who want to make things better for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. They may have hearing loss themselves or have a family member who is deaf, or they might want to work in the Deaf community.

Learning sign language if none of your friends and family sign can feel like a waste of time. However, seeing you learning and doing well may encourage them to learn too.

If your family do learn to sign, it can be a relief not to have to rely on your hearing aids all the time. You may need to leave them off if you have an ear infection, the batteries may run out mid conversation or you may just like taking them off and having some quiet time whilst cooking dinner.

It takes away some of the daily communication frustrations that go with hearing loss and can give you a break from the effort of listening.

Are people who know sign language happier than people who don’t?

I started to think about this after a conversation with some deaf friends. Some of them sign and some don’t. The ones who knew BSL were proud to be deaf, they saw it as a joyful part of their identity and wouldn’t want to change anything.

Those that didn’t saw their deafness as an annoyance, something that was wrong with them and frustrating. It disconnected them from people around them.

Both have the same daily struggles with communication and understanding in a society that values speech. The doctors that insist you phone for an appointment. Utility companies that refuse to correspond via email. People that can’t be bothered to repeat something or say it in a clearer way, getting brushed off with ‘never mind’. People getting angry as they feel ignored.

So why do some people embrace their deafness whilst others struggle and fight with it?

People who have grown up within the Deaf community and use sign language still face barriers when dealing with the ‘hearing world’ but within their community, deafness is normal. There are no communication barriers between friends and support networks as everyone uses sign language. Shared experience of deaf school, discrimination, difficulties in the hearing world and passion for their shared identity and language makes their community stronger.

If you’ve always been part of the hearing community, When you lose your hearing, you also begin to lose connections. Others don’t understand what you’re going through. They think its not a big deal.  You miss out on conversations and feel isolated at social events. You can start to feel distant from those who usually support you. You can begin to feel separate from your community.

Why learning to sign is a great idea.

If you don’t know any others in a similar situation, it can feel like it’s just you. You have no one to share ideas or frustrations with. No one else gets what you’re going through. Many people with hearing loss become isolated and withdrawn because keeping up with friends and family who don’t understand or support them becomes hard work.

Learning sign language opens up a new network of people, who understand what you’re going through. You can make new friends through classes whilst giving your brain a workout. The sense of achievement as you work through each module will give you a boost in self esteem and confidence. Through practice groups and social meetups you can widen your social circle and create a new support network.

When you can share your struggles with people who get it, they get easier.

If you’re coming to terms with your hearing loss and want to talk, book a call with me.

If you want to find out more about sign language, the Signature website has information about courses near you.