Hearing Impairment Is No Laughing Matter

In my own life, I try not to let my hearing impairment become a serious matter. However, having a hearing impairment shouldn't be a laughing matter either.

Anyone who's not hearing impaired simply can't imagine how frustrating your life can be when you're hearing impaired. All of the demands of being hearing impaired are stressful enough, without having people make you the butt of ridicule.

As I was preparing to write this week's article, it was brought to my attention that a disgraceful display of mockery had been made against the late entertainer Johnnie Ray. Joy Hanni shared with me this information, from another fan's experience - Doris Limbert of Manchester, England.

In 1997 the BBC aired the television show Room 101. On that particular edition they made fun of Johnnie Ray and his hearing impairment. What was supposed to be in fun (light sense of humor) caused Doris to believe it to be in extremly bad taste. Doris wrote a letter of complaint to the BBC. She commented that a kind and caring man such as Johnnie Ray deserved better then tasteless humor (such as the type they had used) in regard to his hearing impairment.

Doris DID receive a response, yet as far as I'm concerned, not much of an apology from a group of people who could, and should have done more. The letter she received from them dated Oct. 1997 follows.

Dear Mrs Limbert,

Thank you for your letter about Room 101. I am sorry to learn that you were caused offence by an edition of this programe recently and your comments have been registered. It is never the BBC's intention to cause our viewers upset and we regret on this occassion you were upset by the comments about Johnnie Ray.

All of us are concerned when we hear that a comedy programe has failed in its intention of making viewers feel happier, and has on the contrary caused them distress as obviously this has to you.

Thank you again for writing and your registered comments will be drawn to the attention of the programe makers concerned.

Yours Sincerly etc.

I, myself, was amazed by the insensitivity of the BBC for airing any program that mocks anyone with a disability. I say to BBC: where was your conscience, or your morals, when you kept this tasteless humor as part of your credible line-up?

I am aware of the British humor varying from what some Americans consider to be amusing. We have taken several of your top series and with a few changes adapted them for our audiences.

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