logo

47 pages 1 hour read

Thomas S Spradley

Deaf Like Me

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | YA | Published in 1985

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Important Quotes

Quotation Mark Icon

“Horror-stricken. Louise turned abruptly into the nearest store until the children and their mother had passed. Fighting back the tears, she walked back to the car and drove home. For several weeks the sight of that little girl haunted her thoughts.”


(Chapter 1, Page 14)

Even before Lynn is born, Tom and Louise are both so obsessed with the idea of having a “normal” child that even the sight of a child with hearing aids disturbs Louise. Although she knows nothing about the child’s life, she makes an assumption based on her ableist prejudices.

Quotation Mark Icon

“DEAF! The word hit me with unexpected force, as if someone had hurled an iron bar through a plate-glass window, shattering the protective screen of explanations I had erected for Lynn’s perplexing lack of response to sound.”


(Chapter 2, Pages 19-20)

The idea of deafness shatters Tom’s preconceived ideas about who Lynn is and what her life will be like. The word “deaf” is not merely a description to Tom; it is an act of violence that disrupts his hope of a “normal” family.

Quotation Mark Icon

“I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. Just because Lynn doesn’t act exactly as Bruce did, we can’t jump to conclusions all the time. Kids are all different.”


(Chapter 3, Page 23)

Tom and Louise try to calm their worries about Lynn by explaining away the signs of her deafness. This is partly driven by fear, as well as their Obsession with “Normal.They put off confronting reality because they know that it would drastically change their lives to admit that Lynn is deaf.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 47 pages of this Study Guide
Plus, gain access to 8,550+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools