Christopher Jon Heuer lost his hearing early, but not before �being able to hear a lot as a kid.� He also received a good education, both in a speech-oriented setting and a signing environment. These varied experiences provided him with the perfect background to write about biases he faced, not only those of a mostly oblivious hearing society, but also those of ideologically restrictive members of the Deaf community. BUG: Deaf Identity and Internal Revolution combines new work of Heuer�s with his best columns from The Tactile Mind Weekly and the National Association of the Deaf�s Mind Over Matter. He addresses all topics � exit interviews, baldness, faith healing, marriage, cats, Christmas trips, backyard campfires in boxer shorts � with a withering wit that spares no aspect of life and deafness.
Being �bugged� for Heuer began early: �When I was growing up, my mother�s response to every problem I had was: �Well, he just needs to adjust to his deafness.� Bloody nose? �Chris, you need to adjust to your deafness.� Homework not done? �I know it�s hard adjusting to your deafness, honey, but ....� Acne scarring? �Lots of teenagers get zits, Chris. I know it�s hard for you, dealing with this while trying to adjust to your ....�� He rebelled then, and continues through his even-handed irreverence in BUG, a bomb that should go off ineveryone�s consciousness about being deaf and Deaf.