Deaf & Hard of Hearing

Hearing loss is described in several ways. An individual’s experience with hearing will influence their relationship with the dominant hearing world. Someone who loses hearing early in life may adapt quite differently compared to someone who lose it later in life.

• Deaf: Hearing loss to such a degree that communication and learning is accomplished primarily by manual communication, reading and writing, and gestures.
• Late-deafened: Profound hearing loss that occurred after developing speech and language; derive little benefit from hearing aids or other assistive listening devices.
• Deafblind: Combination of hearing and vision loss that affects the ability to communicate with others; not necessarily a total lack of hearing and vision.
• Hard of hearing: Hearing loss ranging from mild to profound; depend primarily upon spoken language when communicating with others; may benefit from use of hearing aids or other assistive listening devices.

American Sign Language (ASL) is the most commonly used language in the U.S. for people who rely on visual communication. It is a complete, distinct language consisting of signs made by the hands, facial expressions, and body language. It is not a form of English. Most people who lose their hearing gradually do not learn sign language or speech reading, which uses the speaker’s lips as well as facial expressions and gestures to understand the conversation. Only 30 percent of the English language is readable on the lips, which means 70 percent is filled in by knowing the context or guessing the meaning of spoken language.

A profoundly deaf person can be bilingual in ASL and written English and a person with some hearing ability may be bilingual in spoken and written English and ASL.

• Minnesota Relay. This free, federally mandated Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) program allows individuals who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or speech disabled to place and receive telephone calls. Captioned phones often negate the need for these services, Minnesota Department of Commerce.
• Sign language interpreter referral. Information on finding a sign language interpreter and other information about interpreter services, Minnesota Department of Human Services.

Communication challenges between deaf and hard-of-hearing patients and their health care providers has a direct effect on patient health and outcomes. Lack of health literacy for people in the deaf community has been associated with not picking up medical information from sources like radio and television, or overhearing family conversations about health.

• 48 percent of deaf participants in one study had inadequate health literacy. Deaf individuals were nearly seven times more likely than hearing individuals to have inadequate health literacy.
• Adults who have been deaf since birth or early childhood are less likely to have seen a physician than adults in the general population.
• Non-Hispanic White adults are more likely than adults in other racial/ethnic groups to have hearing loss.
• Men are almost twice as likely as women to have hearing loss among adults aged 20-69.

For a baby born with a hearing loss, language development can be delayed without early intervention. When hearing loss is found early, support from a variety of resources can prevent or reduce these delays.

• Patients with hearing loss were more likely to be unemployed or partly unemployed than those without hearing loss.
• Approximately half of the deaf and hard-of-hearing students leaving special education programs were reading below the fourth grade level.
• Children with hearing loss who get special help such as communication interventions—before six months of age can often learn language at the same pace as hearing children.
• The prevalence of hearing loss at all ages decreases as family income increases.
• Deaf children who do not receive early intervention services may have communication difficulties. They may face educational, psychological, and social challenges.

Culturally deaf. More than 90 percent of deaf children are born to hearing parents. People who are born deaf or became deaf at an early age are “culturally deaf” and more likely to identify as a member of the Deaf community. They may have lived within a Deaf community, learned to communicate using sign language, and/or developed the skill of speechreading. Being Deaf may be seen as a source of positive identity and pride. Hearing family members who embrace the Deaf community can strengthen the bonds between themselves and their child.

Physically deaf. People who become deaf later in life are physically deaf. They are more likely to hide their hearing problem. Many people who lose their hearing gradually over time become isolated because their lack of hearing impairs their ability to engage in conversation. They may withdraw from conversational situations or attempt to dominate conversations. They lose energy and stop socializing, resulting in a breakdown of family communication. They may go for years not knowing why they are withdrawing and becoming isolated.

If left untreated, hearing loss can have negative social and health impacts for both adults and children that go beyond the hearing impairment itself and include reduced quality of life and well-being. Potential health impacts from hearing loss can include headaches, muscle tension, and increased stress and blood pressure levels. Some studies have linked untreated hearing loss in adults to depression, fatigue, social withdrawal and impaired memory. Older people wait an average of seven years to accept they have a hearing problem and get treated.

• Communicating with Deaf Patients. 12 tips from SignHealth
• Communicating with People with Hearing Loss. Tips from University of California San Francisco Health

Approximately one in five of all adults in the U.S. experiences mental illness in a given year. Adults age 50 and older with untreated hearing loss were more likely to report depression, anxiety, and paranoia and were less likely to participate in organized social activities, compared to those who wear hearing aids. Culturally Deaf people may not seek treatment because few providers have sufficient knowledge of ASL and how it differs from English, as well as the differences between deaf people and with-hearing people.

• Mental Illness in the Deaf Community. Compared with the mainstream population, deaf people often face extra challenges when seeking mental health treatment.

As with the hearing community, end-of-life care discussions are best during non-urgent appointments. Deteriorating communication can be particularly problematic for individuals with significant hearing loss during times of medical crisis. Some hospices and organizations that work with individuals with hearing loss maintain lists of volunteers who are deaf or hard of hearing themselves. These volunteers can be helpful in meeting the social needs of these patients at the end of their lives.

• Hearing Loss in Palliative Care. Includes simple methods of screening patients for hearing loss, and practical approaches for patient encounters. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 2015.
• Palliative Care Guide for the Deaf Community. A six-video series in ASL on terminal illness and end of life care. Memorial University, 2011.

• Deaf and hard of hearing services and information. Resources to help Minnesotans who are deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing, and their families. Minnesota Department of Human Services
• Minnesota Hands & Voices. Support, information and services for families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Associations:

• Association of Late Deafened Adults. The association is about communication and acceptance of every deafened individual. It offers tips for communication strategies for late-deafened people and for communicating with a late-deafened person.
• Hearing Loss Association of America, Twin Cities Chapter. Minnesota’s only local chapter for a nation organization representing people with hearing loss.
• Minnesota Association of Deaf Citizens. This association works to preserve, protect and promote ASL and political, educational, economic, and social equality for deaf Minnesotans.