--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm half deaf. I have nerve damage and a…" description: "\"I'm half deaf. I have nerve damage and a constant ringing in both of my ears, and there are certain times and conditions when I can hardly hear at all...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/james-nachtwey-12788_certain_i-m-half-deaf-i-have-nerve-damage-and-a_1635975.jpg" --- # I'm half deaf. I have nerve damage and a constant ringing… ![“I'm half deaf. I have nerve damage and a constant ringing in both of my ears, and there are certain times and conditions when I can hardly hear at all.” quote by James Nachtwey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/james-nachtwey-12788_certain_i-m-half-deaf-i-have-nerve-damage-and-a_1635975.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/james-nachtwey-12788_certain_i-m-half-deaf-i-have-nerve-damage-and-a_1635975.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f25/james-nachtwey-12788_certain_i-m-half-deaf-i-have-nerve-damage-and-a_1635975.jpg) > “I'm half deaf. I have nerve damage and a constant ringing in both of my ears, and there are certain times and conditions when I can hardly hear at all.” [James Nachtwey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nachtwey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living with deafness and tinnitus challenges perception, yet certain conditions allow hearing to return briefly. **In simple terms:** Deafness and ringing hinder hearing, but some moments allow clarity. Key Takeaway Adapt techniques to maximize hearing when possible. Themes health disability perception adaptation Mood empathetic resilient Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - medical appointments - quiet environments - assistive technology - mindful listening Key Concepts sensory loss audio perception resilience Questions to Reflect On - What environments help you hear best? - How can you communicate effectively despite hearing loss? A Different Perspective Even with strategies, hearing may remain limited. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Conditions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conditions/) [Constant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constant/) [Damage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/damage/) [Deaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deaf/) [Deaf Nerve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deaf-nerve-525310/) [Ears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Half Deaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half-deaf-525307/) [Hardly Hear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardly-hear-525309/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Nerves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nerves/) [Ringing Ears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ringing-ears-525308/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [A world government run by the UN will be like getting an old, purblind, half-deaf substitute teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/a-world-government-run-by-the-un-will-be-like-getting-an-old-purblind/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [How to get a job: Speak up and show some life about you. Almost anyone who can give you a decent job these days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carpenter/how-to-get-a-job-speak-up-and-show-some-life-about-you-almost-anyone/) [Liz Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carpenter/) > [So I'm half deaf - and dyslexic. How about that? Nobody's perfect, and I'm proud of my defects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-busquets/so-i-m-half-deaf-and-dyslexic-how-about-that-nobody-s-perfect-and-i-m/) [Carmen Busquets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-busquets/) > [“There was a ringing in his ears, like a dead phone line that he couldn’t hang up on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-capell/there-was-a-ringing-in-his-ears-like-a-dead-phone-line-that-he-couldn/) [Mark Capell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-capell/) > [Doctor, I have a ringing in my ears." "Don't answer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/doctor-i-have-a-ringing-in-my-ears-don-t-answer/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [I can't be quiet, as that's when I notice the ringing in my ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-i-am/i-can-t-be-quiet-as-that-s-when-i-notice-the-ringing-in-my-ears/) [will.i.am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-i-am/) > [When your eyes are functioning well you don't see your eyes. If your eyes are imperfect you see spots in front of them. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/when-your-eyes-are-functioning-well-you-don-t-see-your-eyes-if-your/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [“The therapist, after a deeply upsetting investigation of normality at this time and place, was bound to conclude that a normal person, functioning well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut-jr/the-therapist-after-a-deeply-upsetting-investigation-of-normality-at/) [Kurt Vonnegut Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut-jr/) > [He gave you to me," she said, so low I could hardly hear her. "Now I have to give you back to him, Mama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/he-gave-you-to-me-she-said-so-low-i-could-hardly-hear-her-now-i-have/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“When my internal voice goes external, and I’m in a noisy crowd, I can hardly hear myself think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/when-my-internal-voice-goes-external-and-i-m-in-a-noisy-crowd-i-can/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Magic does that. It wastes you away. Once it grips you by the ear, the real world gets quieter and quieter, until you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/magic-does-that-it-wastes-you-away-once-it-grips-you-by-the-ear-the/) [Catherynne M. 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But that’s why I bought the scissors and the condom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-m-so-silent-i-can-hardly-hear-myself-think-but-that-s-why-i-bought/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) ## More by James Nachtwey > [Photojournalists know the horrors of war can only be exposed at close range. Kodak Film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nachtwey/photojournalists-know-the-horrors-of-war-can-only-be-exposed-at-close/) [James Nachtwey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nachtwey/) > [The pictures that were coming from Vietnam were showing us what was really happening on the ground level. 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It's only reality as we experience it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nachtwey/i-don-t-believe-there-s-any-such-thing-as-objective-reality-it-s-only/) [James Nachtwey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nachtwey/) > [I want my pictures to cut through political abstractions... and make a connection on a human level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nachtwey/i-want-my-pictures-to-cut-through-political-abstractions-and-make-a/) [James Nachtwey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nachtwey/) > [I used to call myself a war photographer. Now I consider myself as an antiwar photographer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nachtwey/i-used-to-call-myself-a-war-photographer-now-i-consider-myself-as-an/) [James Nachtwey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nachtwey/) > [While I was doing this reportage, I discovered a man who had one arm and one leg. 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