Deaf Awareness NOT FINISHED

Question 1

What are the definitions of the following:

• hard of hearing
• moderatley deaf
• severely deaf
• profoundly deaf

Answer 1

• up to 40dB loss
• 40-70dB hearing loss
• 71-95dB hearing loss
• > 95dB hearing loss (not usually ‘lost’)

Question 2

What are causes of acquired deafness?

Answer 2

drugs e.g. gentamycin, vancomycin, aspirin
meniere’s disease
tumour
infection e.g. otis media meningitis, encephalitis, measles
loud noise
obstruction
trauma

Question 3

Describe the medical model of deafness

Answer 3

• deafness is a developmental deficiency or disease
• defect to be corrected or cured by medication, equipment, technology, surgery
• individuals adjustment and behavioural change would lead to an effective cure
• main aim of professionals is to teach the deaf child to speak
• deaf people/children are reminded that they are different
• deaf people have responsibility to make themselves understood
• ‘fit in’ in the majority

Question 4

Describe the social model of deafness

Answer 4

• disability is a socially created problem
• communication between deaf and hearing people is the barrier with hearing people unable to use sign language/communicate appropriately
• isolation - family/school
• oppression and discrimination
• need to manipulate the social environment to improve access and participation

Question 5

Describe the cultural model of deafness

Answer 5

• those who use BSL as their first language see themselves as part of social, cultural and linguistic minority
• ‘deaf’ people do not see themselves as disabled
• have not experienced loss and have a positive attitude towards their deafness
• experience of deaf people amounts to social disadvantage
• in terms of its effects on mental health, deaf cultural attitudes conclude that a minority language group’’s disadvantages are preferred to a lifetime of viewing one’s self or one’s group as infirm or disabled

Question 6

What are the DON’Ts of communicating with deaf people?

Answer 6

don't shout
don't cover your mouth
don't speak too fast
don't assume a nod means 'I understand'
don't ask 'Do you understand?'

Question 7

What are the DO’s of communicating with deaf people?

Answer 7

speak clearly at normal speed
male sure minimal background noise/good
talk face to face
gain attention to tapping, waving, stamping feet