Diafness In The Deaf Community

This paper is intended to educate people on deafness as a disability, as an identity, and as a culture. Nearly 5% of the world’s population is profoundly deaf. Majority of these children who are born deaf are born into hearing families. Stigma is often associated with not only the hearing community but the deaf community as well. There are several treatment options but they are not all accepted by the deaf community. Throughout this paper, I will reference the word “deaf” with a lower case d to refer the audio logical disability whereas “Deaf” with a capital D refers to the community and culture. Person first language is also not commonly used when referring to people who are deaf in the Deaf community, therefore, I will often write “deaf people” instead of “a person who is deaf”. In the Deaf community, this is acceptable and is not a form of judgment.

Introduction

Living in a world with no sound whatsoever is a reality to millions of people worldwide, regardless of age, race, gender, and socioeconomic status. Approximately 5% or 360 million people of the world’s population have deafness or hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization. Deafness can be either acquired or congenital depending on several factors, including genetics and health of the individual. Congenital deafness is the loss of hearing present at birth. Being born deaf has many consequences, both positive and negative. According to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, over 50% of congenital deafness is due to hereditary and genetic issues. However, non-genetic factors can cause deafness in an individual at birth as well. Disease and illness while in utero of either the mother or child can cause the child to become deaf...

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... occurrence seen in those who experience deafness, especially if it is congenital. The Deaf community is extremely important to people who identify as deaf or hard of hearing. This culture is accepting of individuals and provides a community for all deaf individuals to join. Although the Deaf community is a safe place for people who identify as deaf, stigma still resides in both the hearing and the deaf world. Stigma towards the cochlear implant within the Deaf community creates disapproval and conflict. They view the implant as a way of “fixing” someone who does not need to be fixed. People who have their hearing may believe the stigma that deaf people are not as smart as people who can talk and hear. Living a successful and independent life is not unimaginable for people who cannot hear. Deafness is a disability but not a hindrance to an individual’s lifestyle.