deaf awareness and health

Question 1

is deafness more common in men or women?

Answer 1

men

Question 2

when is someone classed as ‘hard of hearing’?

Answer 2

up to 40dB hearing loss = cannot hear quiet speech in a library

Question 3

when is someone classed as moderately deaf?

Answer 3

40-70dB hearing loss = cannot hear normal convo at 3ft

Question 4

when is someone classed as severely deaf?

Answer 4

71-95dB hearing loss = cannot hear phone ringing/city traffic inside a car/pneumatic drill at 200ft

Question 5

when is someone classed as profoundly deaf?

Answer 5

> 95db hearing loss = cannot hear jet engine at 100ft/rock concert/power motor at 3ft

Question 6

what are some of the causes of deafness? (11)

Answer 6

• congenital
• genetic
• infection/injury e.g. rubella, CMV
• conductive malformations of auditory tract e.g. cochlear dysplasia
• ototoxic (toxic to the ear) drugs e.g. gentamycin, vancomycin, aspirin
• meniere’s (disease of inner ear)
• tumour
• infection - otitis media, meningitis, encephalitis, measles
• loud noise
• obstruction
• trauma

Question 7

describe the medical model of deafness.

Answer 7

• deafness is developmental deficiency or disease
• defect needs to be corrected/cured by treatment
• main aim of professional is to teach deaf child to speak
• deaf people are reminded that they are different
• deaf people have responsibility to make themselves understood and fit into society

Question 8

describe the social model of deafness.

Answer 8

• deafness is a socially created problem
• barrier of communication between deaf and hearing people stems from hearing people unable to use sign language/communicate appropriately. (lack of awareness, attitudes and lack of accessible info for deaf people)
• deaf people are isolated (family, school)
• there is oppression and discrimination towards deaf people
• social model recognises and accepts individual’s differences
• need to manipulate social environment to improve access and participation

Question 9

describe the cultural model of deafness.

Answer 9

• people who use BSL as first language part of minority group
• deaf people do not see themselves as disabled
• not experienced loss and have a positive attitude towards their deafness.
• deaf people share social beliefs, behaviours, art, literary traditions, history, values and shared institutions
• experience of deaf people > social disadvantage
• but for deaf people better to be disadvantaged than viewed as disabled

Question 10

how do deaf people communicate?

Answer 10

• residual hearing
• lip reading
• speech with/out equipment
• sign language - BSL, Cued Speech (hands next to mouth to help distinguish letters/words), Makaton, SSE (sign supported english)

Question 11

how do deaf-blind people communicate?

Answer 11

• deaf-blind manual alphabet

- hands-on signing - sign letters onto person’s hand so they feel the movements

Question 12

if can’t understand sign language and going to have a convo with a deaf person, what should you do?

Answer 12

get an interpreter