Deafness research

People who are

deafFacts, figures and ways

of communicating

or hard of hearing

3486 people who are deaf 12/5/09 13:39 Page 1

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People who are deaf or hard of hearing

We’re RNID, the charityworking to create a worldwhere deafness orhearing loss do not limitor determine opportunity,and where people valuetheir hearing.

www.rnid.org.uk


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This leaflet tells you about people who are deafor hard of hearing in the UK today.

There could be lots of reasons why you want to know more aboutpeople who are deaf or hard of hearing. Maybe a colleague isdeaf. A member of your family, your friend or partner may be hardof hearing. Perhaps you teach students who are deaf. You mayhave clients or customers who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Whatever your reason, this leaflet gives a brief introduction to deaf and hard of hearing issues. You should read it if you want to know about:

• how deafness is described and facts and figures

• what causes deafness

• hearing aids

• communicating with people who are deaf or hard of hearing

• equipment for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

You can find details of other information you can get from us.Contact the RNID Information Line (see back page) to find out more.


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How do we describe deafness?Being deaf or hard of hearing can mean very different things todifferent people. Some people will feel more comfortable withparticular words to describe their own deafness. They might feel strongly about terms they don’t like. At RNID, we use thefollowing terms:

• People who are deaf. We use this term in a general way when we are talking about people with all degrees ofhearing loss.

• People who are hard of hearing. We use this term to describepeople with a mild to severe hearing loss. We quite often use itto describe people who have lost their hearing gradually.

• People who are deafened. People who were born hearing andbecame severely or profoundly deaf after learning to speak areoften described as deafened.


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• People who are deafblind. Many people who are deafblindhave some hearing and vision. Others will be totally deaf andtotally blind.

• The deaf community. Many people who are deaf whose first or preferred language is British Sign Language (BSL) consider themselves part of the deaf community. They may describe themselves as ‘Deaf’, with a capital D, to emphasise their cultural identity.

Some facts and figuresDeafness and hearing loss may be more common than youthought. For example:

• There are an estimated 9 million people in the UK who are deafor hard of hearing. This figure is rising as the number of peopleover 60 increases.

• In the UK, there are about 20,000 children aged 0-5 years whoare moderately to profoundly deaf. Many more have temporary hearing problems in early childhood.

• There are an estimated 123,000 people in the UK aged 16 andover who are deafened.

• There are about 23,000 people in the UK who are deafblind.

• It is difficult to say how many people in the UK use BSL as their first or preferred language – current estimates vary between 50,000 and 70,000.

• Most of the 9 million people in the UK who are deaf or hard ofhearing developed a hearing loss as they grew older. About 2%of young adults are deaf or hard of hearing. Around the age of50, the proportion of people who are deaf begins to increasesharply and 55% of people over 60 are deaf or hard of hearing.

For more information, see our factsheet Facts and figures ondeafness and tinnitus.


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What causes deafness?There are many reasons why some people are born deaf or hard of hearing – or lose their hearing later. Sometimes people may losetheir hearing temporarily and it comes back when they receivemedical treatment. For others, deafness and hearing loss arepermanent.

Causes of permanent deafness and hearing loss include:

• Presbycusis – also known as age-related hearing loss. It is themost common type of deafness and affects many older people

• certain diseases such as mumps or meningitis

• certain drugs, in particular aspirin in high doses, or antibiotics called aminoglycosides

• frequent exposure to loud noise

• serious head injury

• if a mother has rubella (German measles) while she is pregnant, her baby may be born deaf

• if a baby is born prematurely or the mother has a difficult labour

• medical conditions such as Ménière’s disease

• repeated infections in the middle ear (behind the eardrum) –particularly if they continue for a long time and are not treated.

Are there different types of deafness?Yes – there are two main types of deafness:

• Conductive deafness – where sound has difficulty passing through the outer or middle ear.

• Sensorineural deafness – where the cause of deafness is in thecochlea or hearing nerve.


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Some people may have the same type and degree of hearing lossin each ear, or it may be different in each ear.

A hearing test will identify what type of deafness a person has.For more information, see our leaflet Is your hearing going?

Hearing aidsAbout two million people in the UK have hearing aids, but at leastfive million others would benefit from them.

Hearing aids make sounds louder and clearer so that users areable to hear them. They are battery-operated and are usually wornin or behind the ear. In the UK, you can get hearing aids free ofcharge on the NHS. Some people choose to buy them privately.

For more information, see our leaflet Getting hearing aids.


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What are the different ways that deaf peoplecommunicate?People who are deaf or hard of hearing choose to communicate indifferent ways, depending on their level of deafness.

• Some people with a mild hearing loss might use hearing aids or find lipreading helpful.

• People with a moderate hearing loss will have difficulty hearing what is said without hearing aids, particularly somewhere noisy.

• People who are severely deaf may have difficulty following whatis being said even with hearing aids. Many lipread and some usesign language or need other communication support.

• Some, but not all, people who are profoundly deaf may find thathearing aids are of little benefit to them. British Sign Language (BSL) may be their first or preferred language.

For more information, see our leaflet Communication supportservices.

Lipreading

Everyone lipreads to some extent, especially in noisy situations.When you speak to someone, their facial movements will give youinformation to help you understand the meaning of what they aresaying. Many people who are hard of hearing use lipreading too.

If you are talking to someone who relies on lipreading, rememberthat it requires a lot of skill and concentration and can sometimesbe tiring. Many words look similar on the lips. Some sounds arepronounced at the back of the throat and have no visible lip shape.

Go to www.lipreading.org.uk/about_atla/classes.htm to find a local class or contact our Information Line (see back page). If there is no class in your area, ask your local adult educationcentre or college to provide one.

For more information, see our leaflet Watch this face.


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Sign language

British Sign Language (BSL) is the most widely used method of signed communication in the UK. Some people use SignSupported English (SSE). SSE is not a language in its own right,but a kind of English with signs.

BSL develops naturally, as do spoken languages. It uses a range of communicative methods – hand shapes and movements, facialexpressions, and shoulder movements. BSL is structured differentlyto English and, like any language, has its own grammar.

For more information, see our leaflet Sign language or contact theRNID Information Line (see back page).

Fingerspelling

People who use BSL also use fingerspelling. Certain words, usuallynames of people and places, are spelled out on fingers. Forexample, each finger represents one of the five vowels: a,e,i,o andu. Fingerspelling alone is not sign language but it can be veryuseful when communicating with BSL users who are deaf.

Contact the RNID Information Line for one of our fingerspellingcards (see back page).


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What equipment is available for people who aredeaf or hard of hearing?A range of equipment is available for use in the home, car,workplace and when socialising. It includes:

• equipment to alert someone to different sounds, such as analarm clock, doorbell or smoke alarm

• equipment to help someone use the telephone better

• listening equipment – to help someone have a conversation,watch television or hear music.

For more information, see our leaflet Products to make life easier.



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Where can I get further information?You might find some of our other factsheets or leaflets useful:

• Is your hearing going? (leaflet)What to do about it – and how we can help.

• Getting hearing aids (leaflet)What to expect at a hearing test and how hearing aids work.

• Communication tips card

A double-sided card with tips on one side if you’re deaf or hardof hearing, and tips on the other side if you’re hearing andspeaking to someone who’s deaf.

• Watch this face (leaflet) How lipreading can help if you are deaf or hard of hearing.

• Sign language (leaflet)What British sign language is, and how to learn it.

• Fingerspelling alphabet (bookmark, card or poster)

• Products to make life easier (leaflet)Equipment to make life easier if you are deaf or hard of hearing.

• Solutions

Our catalogue of products for people who are deaf or hard ofhearing or who want to protect their hearing.

• Communication support services (leaflet)Information on the range of communication support servicesavailable for people who are deaf.

• Facts and figures on deafness and tinnitus (factsheet)

Please contact the Information Line (seeback page) for free copies of these. And let us know if you would like any of them – or this leaflet – in Braille, large print oraudio format.


We’re RNID, the charityworking to create a worldwhere deafness or hearingloss do not limit or determineopportunity, and wherepeople value their hearing.There are a number of ways to support us. To find out more:

Go to

www.rnid.org.uk

Information line

Telephone 0808 808 0123

Textphone 0808 808 9000

SMS 0780 0000 360(costs vary depending on your network)

Or write to us

[email protected]

19-23 Featherstone StreetLondon EC1Y 8SL

Fax 020 7296 8199

3486/0509 Photography Stuart Freedman, Philip Meech The Royal National Institute for Deaf People. Registered office 19-23 FeatherstoneStreet, London EC1Y 8SL. A company limited by guarantee registered in England andWales number 454169. Registered charity numbers 207720 (England and Wales) andSC038926 (Scotland).


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Deafness research