{"id":449120,"date":"2022-05-18T22:56:53","date_gmt":"2022-05-18T19:56:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/im-a-deaf-and-blind-med-student-defying-myths-about-disabilities\/"},"modified":"2022-05-18T22:56:53","modified_gmt":"2022-05-18T19:56:53","slug":"im-a-deaf-and-blind-med-student-defying-myths-about-disabilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/im-a-deaf-and-blind-med-student-defying-myths-about-disabilities\/","title":{"rendered":"#I&#8217;m a deaf and blind med student defying myths about disabilities"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3f9cee79044\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3f9cee79044\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/im-a-deaf-and-blind-med-student-defying-myths-about-disabilities\/#%E2%80%9CIm_a_deaf_and_blind_med_student_defying_myths_about_disabilities%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;I&#8217;m a deaf and blind med student defying myths about disabilities&#8221;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CIm_a_deaf_and_blind_med_student_defying_myths_about_disabilities%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;I&#8217;m a deaf and blind med student defying myths about disabilities&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>One woman is defying the odds \u2013 and misconceptions \u2013 as the UK\u2019s first deaf-blind medical student.<\/p>\n<p>Alexandra Adams, who hails from South Wales, is using TikTok to spread awareness of her condition and the challenges she faces.<\/p>\n<p>Her <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/watch-movies-tv-seriess\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"8\" title=\"Watch Movies &amp; TV Series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">series<\/a> of clips seek to bust the myths about being a deaf-blind doctor-to-be.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNothing is ever easy, but I hope that by doing this I can help educate you in the challenges \u2014 but also the fun, innovative world of disability and difference,\u201d she <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@alexandraelaineadams\/video\/7096192316544666885\">said in one video<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-tiktok wp-block-embed-tiktok\"\/>\n<p>Deaf-blindness is defined as a \u201ccombined hearing and vision loss, thus limiting\u00a0access to both auditory and visual information,\u201d according to <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nationaldb.org\/info-center\/deaf-blindness-overview\/\">the National Center on Deaf-Blindness<\/a>. But, as Adams points out, it doesn\u2019t mean the person with the condition is totally blind or deaf.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, she noted, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@alexandraelaineadams\/video\/7096501519922547973?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1\">deafness is a spectrum<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"579\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-17.jpg?w=579\" alt=\"Deaf blind woman TikTok\" class=\"wp-image-22318679\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-17.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1158 1158w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-17.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=869 868w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-17.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=579 579w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-17.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=290 289w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-17.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 579px) 100vw, 579px\"\/><figcaption>Adams wants to dispel rumors and myths about deaf-blindness, especially in the medical field.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">ARK <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Media<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI am profoundly deaf, meaning that, without my hearing aids, I am in total silence,\u201d <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@alexandraelaineadams\/video\/7096501519922547973?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1\">the 28-year-old explained in another TikTok<\/a> with nearly 68,000 views. \u201cBut with them in, I\u2019m able to make out the <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">general<\/a> consensus of a face-to-face conversation using a mixture of sound vibrations, vowel sounds and common sense.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her explainer series kicked off because people began questioning her ability to be a medical student following a 17-month hospital stay as a patient for her various health conditions that had worsened, she told Ark Media.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-comp-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Deaf blind medical student TikTok\" class=\"wp-image-22318559\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-comp-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-comp-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-comp-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>A UK woman has become the country\u2019s first deaf-blind medical student.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">ARK Media; TikTok\/@alexandraelaineadams<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Along with being deaf-blind, she has also been diagnosed other conditions including <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ehlers-danlos.com\/what-is-eds\/\">Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome<\/a> (EDS), a disorder of the body\u2019s connective tissue; <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/mast-cell-activation-syndrome\">Mast Cell Activation Syndrome<\/a> (MCAS), a condition that causes the body\u2019s mast cells to release too much of a substance that creates allergy symptoms; <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/16560-postural-orthostatic-tachycardia-syndrome-pots\">Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome<\/a> (POTS), which affects blood flow; and other respiratory conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Adams received her first pair of hearing aids at just 2 years old, learning how to speak and pronounce words by feeling sound vibrations through a balloon placed next to her ears.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"579\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-12.jpg?w=579\" alt=\"Alexandra Adams TikTok\" class=\"wp-image-22318550\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-12.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1158 1158w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-12.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=869 868w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-12.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=579 579w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-12.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=290 289w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-12.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 579px) 100vw, 579px\"\/><figcaption>Despite people who question her medical abilities, Adams is still able to treat patients as any doctor would.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">ARK Media<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cThis means that, yes, I do speak to my patients face-to-face without requiring an interpreter,\u201d<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@alexandraelaineadams\/video\/7096501519922547973?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1\"> she said a video<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>She even uses a stethoscope \u201clike any other doctor\u201d \u2013 but with a twist. Hers is Bluetooth, connecting wirelessly to her hearing aids, which then allows her to still listen to a patient\u2019s lungs and heart.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"579\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-15.jpg?w=579\" alt=\"Alexandra Adams TikTok\" class=\"wp-image-22318551\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-15.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1158 1158w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-15.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=869 868w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-15.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=579 579w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-15.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=290 289w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-15.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 579px) 100vw, 579px\"\/><figcaption>She said she still faces hardships but is able to perform her duties as a medical student.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">ARK Media<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWe don\u2019t actually need all the hearing to be a good doctor,\u201d <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@alexandraelaineadams\/video\/7096501519922547973?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1\">she said in a clip<\/a>. \u201cWe can work out a lot about a patient through other clues, such as body language.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the comments section, viewers are wowed by her commitment to medical practice and skill.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"579\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-02.jpg?w=579\" alt=\"Alexandra Adams TikTok\" class=\"wp-image-22318683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-02.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1158 1158w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-02.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=869 868w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-02.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=579 579w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-02.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=290 289w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-02.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 579px) 100vw, 579px\"\/><figcaption>Viewers leave comments under her videos that she addresses in future clips.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">ARK Media<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI would love for you to be my doctor, as a disabled patient I feel like you\u2019d get it, and not put unrealistic expectations on me!\u201d wrote one user.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am a medical student and I stammer really bad,\u201d posted another, adding that they have a \u201chard time communicating with patients,\u201d and adding, \u201cI love ur courage and u really encourage me.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"579\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-14.jpg?w=579\" alt=\"Alexandra Adams TikTok\" class=\"wp-image-22318680\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-14.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1158 1158w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-14.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=869 868w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-14.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=579 579w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-14.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=290 289w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-14.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 579px) 100vw, 579px\"\/><figcaption>In the comments, people tell Adams she encourages them and that they\u2019d want her to be their doctor.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">ARK Media<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cDeaf people are actually very good listeners because they have to concentrate more on the person they\u2019re speaking to to understand,\u201d <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@alexandraelaineadams\/video\/7096501519922547973?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1\">she said in another video<\/a>, emphasizing the need for empathy for patients. \u201cInstead, it\u2019s the ignorance and discrimination that is a far greater form of deafness than any hearing disability.\u201d\n                        <\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/05\/18\/im-a-deaf-and-blind-med-student-defying-myths-about-disabilities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m a deaf and blind med student defying myths about disabilities&#8221; One woman is defying the odds \u2013 and misconceptions \u2013 as the UK\u2019s first deaf-blind medical student. Alexandra Adams, who hails from South Wales, is using TikTok to spread awareness of her condition and the challenges she faces. Her series of clips seek to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":449121,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/uk-first-deaf-blind-doctor-comp-1.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[129343,76502,5047,104088,5048,47912],"class_list":["post-449120","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-5-18-22","tag-blind","tag-health","tag-hearing","tag-medicine","tag-tiktok"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/449120","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=449120"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/449120\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/449121"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=449120"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=449120"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=449120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}