Deafness

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This article discusses the way the word deaf is used and how deafness is perceived by hearing and Deaf communities. For in-depth information on the medical condition, see hearing impairment. For a description of cultural norms in the Deaf community, see Deaf culture. For an overview of the differences between viewing deafness medically, socially, or culturally, see Models of deafness.

The word deaf is used differently in different contexts, and there is some controversy over its meaning and implications. In scientific and medical terms, deafness generally refers to a physical condition characterized by lack of sensitivity to sound. Notated as deaf with a lowercase d, this refers to the audiological experience of someone who is partially or wholly lacking hearing.^[1] In legal terms, deafness is defined by degree of hearing loss. These degrees include profound or total deafness (90 dB - 120 dB or more of hearing loss), severe (60 dB - 90 dB), moderate (30 dB - 60 dB), and mild deafness(10 dB - 30 dB of hearing loss). Both severe and moderate deafness can be referred to as partial deafness or as hard of hearing, while mild deafness is usually called hard of hearing.

Within the Deaf community, the term "Deaf" is often capitalized when written, and it refers to a tight-knit cultural group of people whose primary language is signed, and who practice social & cultural norms which are distinct from those of the surrounding hearing community. This community does not automatically include all those who are clinically or legally deaf, nor does it exclude every hearing person. According to Baker & Padden, it includes any person or persons who "identifies him/herself as a member of the Deaf community, and other members accept that person as a part of the community.^[2]"

Most deaf people, at least in developed countries, have some knowledge of the dominant language of their country. This may include the ability to lip read, to speak, or to read and write. Having some knowledge of both the dominant language and sign language is called bimodal bilingualism.

Contents 1 Demographics 2 Causes of Deafness 2.1 Categories of deafness and hearing impairment 3 Origin of controversy 3.1 Deaf identity and culture 4 Terminology 4.1 Deaf vs. hard of hearing 4.2 Other meanings of 'deaf' 5 See also 6 References 7 External links

Demographics

The global deaf population is roughly estimated to be 0.1% of the total population (1 in 1000).^[3] The figure is likely to be higher in developing countries than developed countries due to restricted access to health care, and, in some cultures, due to the high rate of intrafamilial marriages. The great majority of people with less than average hearing are elderly or developed hearing loss after leaving school.^[4] According to the U.S. National Center for Health statistics, approximately three quarters of deaf and hard-of-hearing Americans experienced the onset of hearing loss after age 18.^[4]

Causes of Deafness

Deafness can be caused by an illness (such as an ear infection in the first few years of life), by an injury (such as prolonged exposure to sound louder than 90 db), or by genetic inheritance.

Categories of deafness and hearing impairment

These categories may be overlapping. Deafness or hearing impairment may be:

• Unilateral – Loss of hearing in one ear only
• Pre-lingual – deafness at birth or deafness acquired before language is learned
• Peri-lingual – Deafness acquired while in the midst of learning a first language
• Post-lingual – acquired after a language has been learned
• Partial – limited hearing loss
• Progressive – hearing loss which increases over time
• Profound – complete or near-complete inability to hear
• Tone deaf – inability to distinguish between relative pitch (in music)
• Tinnitus – hearing damage characterized by a high pitched ringing in the ears which drowns out other sounds

Age of onset is also a significant factor.

Origin of controversy

The word "deaf" functions in one context as a simple label connoting a neutral fact of physiological circumstance. However, deafness as an issue touches on some of the complexities surrounding core issues of what it means to be human. Historically, the deaf have often been aggrieved, ostracised, oppressed, disenfranchised, and even the targets of genocidal policies by various figures throughout time.

Since the drive in humans toward language is so strong, sign language naturally developed in every sizeable deaf community on Earth. Since language is a key component of culture, once sign languages flourished, new cultures sprang up within the larger hearing communities. Given a thriving Deaf culture, controversy arises because those in the hearing community tend to think of deafness as a disability or social problem to be treated. From the other point of view, "treatments" are unneeded: a person who lives in the deaf community experiences every nuance of happiness, fulfilment, and emotional, spiritual, vocational, and intellectual edification that is possible within the hearing community. Given access to the Deaf community and identity, deafness is often not seen as a disability but as a positive attribute.

Deaf identity and culture

To many who are deaf, the label is one of identity, not audiological staus. It is seen by them as akin to an ethnic division. It describes shared experiences in the world, not only those directly related to sight and sound (the increased awareness of one over the other) but also the cultural expericences that often inevitably follow from that. The term deaf then, used by many of those who are within the category, has little to do with an ability or inability to hear. Because of all this, and many other sociological forces, you will find some who identify themselves as deaf with much more ability to hear than many who self-identity as hearing. In print, you can sometimes ascertain that the word is being used to reference the cultural identification because many people now capitalize the word when using it as a cultural label.

People who are part of Deaf culture typically use a sign language (such as American Sign Language) as their primary language and often emphatically see themselves as not disabled, but rather as members of a cultural or language minority.^[1] Members of this group use Deaf as a label of cultural identity much more than as an expression of hearing status. Hearing people may also be considered culturally Deaf if they participate in Deaf culture and share Deaf cultural values; this is sometimes referred as 'attitudinal deafness'.^[2] For example, children of deaf adults (CODAs) with normal hearing ability may consider themselves, and be considered, culturally Deaf.

Terminology

Deaf vs. hard of hearing

Deaf generally implies a profound loss of hearing; someone with a partial loss of hearing is more likely to be referred to as hard of hearing or the qualified partially deaf.

The term hard of hearing may be used to describe all degrees of hearing loss up to and including total deafness. In the case of profound deafness this may be political correctness, a euphemism for the simpler and accurate "deaf." Interestingly, this is seen as a euphemism only from the side of the mainstream. The Deaf community does not generally aspire to be hearing and sees the hard of hearing label as an indication of a mindset that views them pathologically.

Total deafness is quite rare. Most deaf people can hear a little.^[5] However, since hearing loss is generally frequency-based rather than amplitude-based, a deaf person's hearing may not be usable, if the normal frequencies of speech lie in the impaired range.

People with a moderate hearing loss, of about 36–50 dB, (http://www.handsandvoices.org/resources/coGuide/05_Lossvseffct.htm), generally describe themselves as "partially deaf." Others who were born hearing, but who have partially lost their hearing through illness or injury are "deafened." Those with a slight hearing loss (eg. about 16–35 dB hearing loss(hands & voices)), or have lost some of their hearing in old age may prefer an informal term such as "hard of hearing."

Those with some functional hearing generally do not take part in the Deaf community, and typically work and socialize with hearing people to the best of their ability. People with all degrees of hearing impairment may encounter discrimination when looking for work, while at their jobs, or when socializing with hearing people.

Other meanings of 'deaf'

Deaf is also used as a colloquialism to refer to a recalcitrant individual or someone unwilling to listen, obey or acknowledge an authority or partner. The third line of Shakespear's Sonnet 29 provides an example:

When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,

See also

• Models of deafness for a comparison of the medical, disability and cultural models of deafness.
• List of deafness-centered psychotherapy services
• Deaf education
• Late deafened adult
• List of deaf people
• Sign language
• RNID
• National Deaf Children's Society
• Hearing impairment
• Deafblindness
• Auditory brainstem response (ABR) test

References

Wikipedia information about Deafness This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Deafness". It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer). Help contribute to Americola and edit this article.