--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I became deaf when I was 18 months old…" description: "\"I became deaf when I was 18 months old. And I learned to sign when I was 5 years old.\" — Marlee Matlin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/marlee-matlin-7644_became_i-became-deaf-when-i-was-18-months-old-a_1051732.jpg" --- # I became deaf when I was 18 months old. And I learned to… ![“I became deaf when I was 18 months old. And I learned to sign when I was 5 years old.” quote by Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/marlee-matlin-7644_became_i-became-deaf-when-i-was-18-months-old-a_1051732.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/marlee-matlin-7644_became_i-became-deaf-when-i-was-18-months-old-a_1051732.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/marlee-matlin-7644_became_i-became-deaf-when-i-was-18-months-old-a_1051732.jpg) > “I became deaf when I was 18 months old. And I learned to sign when I was 5 years old.” [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Overcoming early deafness through sign language demonstrates resilience and adaptability. **In simple terms:** Learning sign language showed resilience. Key Takeaway Embrace alternative communication methods. Themes resilience disability adaptation Mood inspirational determined Type personal motivational When to use this quote - education - workplace - social interactions Key Concepts communication learning empowerment Questions to Reflect On - How can society better support deaf individuals? - What communication tools help you? A Different Perspective Societal barriers may limit opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“Tell Doris Jean I figure it’s about time I learned that sign language,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-ann-walker/tell-doris-jean-i-figure-it-s-about-time-i-learned-that-sign-language/) [Lou Ann Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-ann-walker/) > [I told them that I would sign for five years, I would sign for 10 years, I will make my career here in Ring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommaso-ciampa/i-told-them-that-i-would-sign-for-five-years-i-would-sign-for-10/) [Tommaso Ciampa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommaso-ciampa/) > [When you accept a role in a pilot, you automatically sign up for five years. You think it's scary to walk down the aisle?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-aniston/when-you-accept-a-role-in-a-pilot-you-automatically-sign-up-for-five/) [Jennifer Aniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-aniston/) > [In the deaf community, there are different types of people who have different philosophies. Some believe that they should only sign. Some believe they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/in-the-deaf-community-there-are-different-types-of-people-who-have/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [American Sign Language is my native tongue. That's the first thing that I learned to communicate with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-raci/american-sign-language-is-my-native-tongue-that-s-the-first-thing/) [Paul Raci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-raci/) > [I learned American Sign Language in college and seemed to pick it up rather quickly. I really love to sign and wish that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-kita/i-learned-american-sign-language-in-college-and-seemed-to-pick-it-up/) [Candace Kita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-kita/) > [When I was 11, I knew that I wanted to write a kid's book and tell the world what it was like being deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/when-i-was-11-i-knew-that-i-wanted-to-write-a-kid-s-book-and-tell-the/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [During a visit to California, when a friend of my grandmother's told my parents that I must be deaf because I was not responding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/during-a-visit-to-california-when-a-friend-of-my-grandmother-s-told/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [If I were offered a cochlear implant today, I would prefer not to have one. But that's not a statement about hearing aids or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/if-i-were-offered-a-cochlear-implant-today-i-would-prefer-not-to-have/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [I hope I inspire people who hear. Hearing people have the ability to remove barriers that prevent deaf people from achieving their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-hope-i-inspire-people-who-hear-hearing-people-have-the-ability-to/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [Watch me when people say deaf and dumb, or deaf mute, and I give them a look like you might get if you called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/watch-me-when-people-say-deaf-and-dumb-or-deaf-mute-and-i-give-them-a/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [There are many deaf people who couldn't imagine living in a marriage without someone who doesn't speak their language. For me, I believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/there-are-many-deaf-people-who-couldn-t-imagine-living-in-a-marriage/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [There are so many people, deaf or otherwise abled, who are so talented but overlooked or not given a chance to even get their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/there-are-so-many-people-deaf-or-otherwise-abled-who-are-so-talented/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [I like to say that the greatest handicap of deafness does not lie in the ear, it lies in the mind. I hope that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-like-to-say-that-the-greatest-handicap-of-deafness-does-not-lie-in/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [What the Bleep Do We Know was not written with a deaf person in mind, but when they met me, it clicked with them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/what-the-bleep-do-we-know-was-not-written-with-a-deaf-person-in-mind/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) ## More by Marlee Matlin > [Looking back now, thinking about that moment in the lights, with my heart pounding, Oscar in my hand, all I can say is I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/looking-back-now-thinking-about-that-moment-in-the-lights-with-my/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [I'm tired of seeing listings of programs I want to watch that aren't closed captioned. And I'm tired of looking for the symbol on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-m-tired-of-seeing-listings-of-programs-i-want-to-watch-that-aren-t/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [We had a dog, Apples. He was 13 years old, toothless, blind and had the worst breath this side of Jabba the Hut. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/we-had-a-dog-apples-he-was-13-years-old-toothless-blind-and-had-the/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [What the Bleep Do We Know was not written with a deaf person in mind, but when they met me, it clicked with them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/what-the-bleep-do-we-know-was-not-written-with-a-deaf-person-in-mind/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [I like to say that the greatest handicap of deafness does not lie in the ear, it lies in the mind. I hope that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-like-to-say-that-the-greatest-handicap-of-deafness-does-not-lie-in/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [There are so many people, deaf or otherwise abled, who are so talented but overlooked or not given a chance to even get their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/there-are-so-many-people-deaf-or-otherwise-abled-who-are-so-talented/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [When I was 13, I told Henry Winkler I wanted to act. He said, Do it and don't let anyone stand in your way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/when-i-was-13-i-told-henry-winkler-i-wanted-to-act-he-said-do-it-and/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [There are many deaf people who couldn't imagine living in a marriage without someone who doesn't speak their language. For me, I believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/there-are-many-deaf-people-who-couldn-t-imagine-living-in-a-marriage/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [Watch me when people say deaf and dumb, or deaf mute, and I give them a look like you might get if you called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/watch-me-when-people-say-deaf-and-dumb-or-deaf-mute-and-i-give-them-a/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [YouTube is akin to having my own network.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/youtube-is-akin-to-having-my-own-network/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [I hope I inspire people who hear. Hearing people have the ability to remove barriers that prevent deaf people from achieving their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-hope-i-inspire-people-who-hear-hearing-people-have-the-ability-to/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [I learned to speak first, and then to sign. I have never really known what it was like to hear, so I cant compare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-learned-to-speak-first-and-then-to-sign-i-have-never-really-known/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [It was ability that mattered, not disability, which is a word I'm not crazy about using.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/it-was-ability-that-mattered-not-disability-which-is-a-word-i-m-not/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [“Social justice is for everyone, including people with disabilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/social-justice-is-for-everyone-including-people-with-disabilities/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [The only thing I can't do is hear. I can drive, I have a life with four kids, I work on TV, I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/the-only-thing-i-can-t-do-is-hear-i-can-drive-i-have-a-life-with-four/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) [Explore all 89 Marlee Matlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) ## More Became quotes > [My sketchbook became everything to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carr/my-sketchbook-became-everything-to-me/) [Steve Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carr/) > [In that sense, I became politicized because the people in the coal mining villages who were involved in the struggle knew why they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bragg/in-that-sense-i-became-politicized-because-the-people-in-the-coal/) [Billy Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bragg/) > [Moses became America's true founding father because he evangelized action; he justified risk. He gave ordinary people the courage to live with uncertainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/moses-became-america-s-true-founding-father-because-he-evangelized/) [Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/) > [I have never really been fond of animals. I certainly wasn't an 'animal lover' when I became involved in the movement. I just came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/i-have-never-really-been-fond-of-animals-i-certainly-wasn-t-an-animal/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [In the Machine Age, the company itself became a machine - a machine for making money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/in-the-machine-age-the-company-itself-became-a-machine-a-machine-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [I felt cheated by the way grown-ups told me that the future of the world was bleak when I became a teenager in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/i-felt-cheated-by-the-way-grown-ups-told-me-that-the-future-of-the/) [Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/) > [In my relationship, I was giving myself away to make the relationship better, but in actuality, wasn't doing better by doing that. I became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/in-my-relationship-i-was-giving-myself-away-to-make-the-relationship/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I was fascinated with the phone system and how it worked; I became a hacker to get better control over the phone company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mitnick/i-was-fascinated-with-the-phone-system-and-how-it-worked-i-became-a/) [Kevin Mitnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mitnick/) > [In 1887, Oregon became the first state to make Labor Day an official holiday, with Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York quickly following suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-i-koerner/in-1887-oregon-became-the-first-state-to-make-labor-day-an-official/) [Brendan I. Koerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-i-koerner/) > [Mike Tyson is the most complex person I've ever met in my life. I've known Mike since 1986. We're both from Brooklyn. I didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-lee/mike-tyson-is-the-most-complex-person-i-ve-ever-met-in-my-life-i-ve/) [Spike Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-lee/) > [With \*NSYNC, we shopped our deal for a year in America, sang a capella in everybody's office, then moved to Germany for almost two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jc-chasez/with-nsync-we-shopped-our-deal-for-a-year-in-america-sang-a-capella/) [JC Chasez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jc-chasez/) > [Let's assume for the moment that the logic behind Presidents Day is actually sound for certain presidents. Why not have a separate holiday for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/let-s-assume-for-the-moment-that-the-logic-behind-presidents-day-is/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > ['Lost Boys' is one of my all-time faves. I just thought it would be great to be a vampire. I remember this movie called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-headey/lost-boys-is-one-of-my-all-time-faves-i-just-thought-it-would-be/) [Lena Headey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-headey/) > [By the time I became chairman and there was more of a feeling of urgency, there was a willingness to accept more forceful measures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-a-volcker/by-the-time-i-became-chairman-and-there-was-more-of-a-feeling-of/) Paul A. Volcker > [I don't think Cheney started off in 2000 with a burning desire to become vice-president. I think the prospect gradually became more appealing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barton-gellman/i-don-t-think-cheney-started-off-in-2000-with-a-burning-desire-to/) [Barton Gellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barton-gellman/) Browse all 1,121 Became quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I became deaf when I was 18 months old. And I learned to sign when I was 5 years old.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marlee Matlin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-became-deaf-when-i-was-18-months-old-and-i-learned-to-sign-when-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Became" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-became-deaf-when-i-was-18-months-old-and-i-learned-to-sign-when-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/marlee-matlin-7644_became_i-became-deaf-when-i-was-18-months-old-a_1051732.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/marlee-matlin-7644_became_i-became-deaf-when-i-was-18-months-old-a_1051732.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/marlee-matlin-7644_became_i-became-deaf-when-i-was-18-months-old-a_1051732.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I became deaf when I was 18 months old. And I learned to sign when I was 5 years old.” — Marlee Matlin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Marlee Matlin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I became deaf when I was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-became-deaf-when-i-was-18-months-old-and-i-learned-to-sign-when-i/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-became-deaf-when-i-was-18-months-old-and-i-learned-to-sign-when-i/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```