Nice people thread part 7 - a thread in its prime

Nikkster

zagubov wrote: »

Worst bit of editing ever!When i was trying to tidy this up I erased the key word "almost".

I'm not sure I've ever met anyone who'd rate hearing as a more serious loss.

It wasn't so long ago though that deaf people were not so much supported and respected inn society but were almost more of a figure of fun than blind people, and subject to ridicule, in a way that would now rightly be regarded as shameful.:(

That bit of editing made all the difference!

I'm pleased to say I can't remember deaf people being 'funny', what a horrible thing. As if life wasn't tough enough.

Nikkster

zagubov wrote: »

It's one of the first signs of Alzhemiers and one of the reason scratch-and-sniff cards are sometimes used as a test for the early signs.

Smell's a primordial sense and is meant to be one of the last ones to go as the senses fade with age. However, Alzheimers damage follows a particluar path around the brain that damages smell early on.

Years ago the UK spent £1500 for everyone who died of AIDS, £150 for everyone who died of CHD and just £11 for everyone who died of Alzheimers (4th commonest cause of death at that point). Utterly shameful!

Do people die of Alzheimer's or with it? (Genuine question, I completely wasn't aware of that)

Spirit_2

has this worked?

Nikkster

Spirit wrote: »

has this worked?

Yes - gorgeous

lostinrates

Oh spirit what a beautiful dog.

PasturesNew

If you can't hear, it's a bit of a nuisance. If you can't see, you can trip over, fall over things, can't find anything, don't know if your 4rse is wiped clean, can't tell when you've spilt things down you/your clothes are dirty, can't tell what you look like (what you're wearing), can't cross roads or look in shop windows, or spot new and exciting foods in supermarkets.... you can't see stuff on the telly, can't tell if you're about to step in doggy do..... billions of problems being blind, billions.

vivatifosi

lostinrates wrote: »

Is there a good performing arts resource centre/library too in your area viva?

I'm not sure. It has moved recently and AIUI is no longer a place you can drop in and browse - though you can visit - so I don't know what facilities it offers. I visited in its old place though - I quite often work there when I'm doing my non-library work strangely as it was next door to the business library.

misskool

Spirit wrote: »

Today my brother completed a course of radiotherapy for a head & neck cancer. Amongst other things, he has lost his sense of smell and taste.

all the best for your brother.

vivatifosi

PasturesNew wrote: »

If you can't hear, it's a bit of a nuisance. If you can't see, you can trip over, fall over things, can't find anything, don't know if your 4rse is wiped clean, can't tell when you've spilt things down you/your clothes are dirty, can't tell what you look like (what you're wearing), can't cross roads or look in shop windows, or spot new and exciting foods in supermarkets.... you can't see stuff on the telly, can't tell if you're about to step in doggy do..... billions of problems being blind, billions.

Is it the case that a good thing about blindness and deafness is that they are rarely profound? I have both in my family - my Mum is partially deaf as a result of being dug out of under the house she lived in as a kid when the Germans dropped a doodlebug. Also some family members have retinitis pigmentosa. In both cases while the effect is bad, people can still do quite a lot. My cousin has specialist software for her computer so although she is registered blind, she can still use it. In my Mum's case her hearing is duller but she can still hear sound - plus of course you can get great hearing aids now.

I wonder if with smell you lose it completely and that's why people feel it is so dreadful. Does that make sense?

ETA: have just caught Spirit's post and wanted to send my hope for a recovery to your brother.

Nikkster

misskool wrote: »

all the best for your brother.

So missed that when you posted it, Spirit (thanks for quoting missk).

Hope it all goes well for him. Thoughts are with you.