Tone Deaf

Mmm. No, thank you: to the use of the phrase “Tone Deaf” used as a term to speak of ignorance. Such as ‘this politician is so Tone Deaf’. Similar to the way some folks use the phrase “Blind Spots” as a term to speak of ignorance.

Friends, this language is part of a culture of denigration of dis/Ability. As a Deaf person, I ask you to choose other language that more accurately reflects the meaning you aim to convey.

Tone Deafness, also known as Amusia, is an auditory processing disability that may involve four distinct processing domains: musical perception, production, memory and symbolic manipulation skills.

Tone Deafness is not equivalent to ignorance. The Term “Tone Deafness”, is Amusia Auditory Processing Disability, and is not a kind or respectful word choice for a synonym to speak of ignorance.

Using the term Tone Deaf to refer to a person’s ignorance is a form of unconscious implicit bias, and is part of a long and pervasive practice of denigrating and structurally disadvantaging disabled folks.

Language matters Research is very clear that the language we use both reflects and creates and sustains our perceptions. Perceptions shape beliefs and biases. Biases come to influence behaviors and policies. In this way the language we use comes to be a sustaining mechanism of systems of structural oppression.

The good news is: anyone can immediately stop using phrases like Tone Deaf to refer to ignorance and instead speak accurately and use the word ignorant instead In this way, our practices of language choices come to be part of dismantling systems of structural oppression and help dismantle micro-aggressions too

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk on dis/Ability Justice.

Shared with you by a Profoundly Unilaterally Deaf dis/Ability Justice Activist named Katriona