Experiences Of Deaf People Research Articles

Deaf role-models for Deaf children in hearing families: a scoping review.

The use of Deaf role-models (DRMs) with Deaf children born into hearing families is a practice aimed at improving outcomes for Deaf children, yet there is little peer-reviewed research available to influence future direction of such. This scoping review directs attention to available research on DRMs as a socio-linguistic and cultural viewpoint for balancing a predominantly audiological approach for early intervention for Deaf children. Systematic database searches initially yielded 132 records, of which seven articles were included in this scoping review. Findings are presented as five themes: 'Deaf Gain' and associated cultural capital, effective communication, developmental influences, family (or caregiver) attitudes to Deafness, and administration of DRM programs. Few formalized DRM programs were identified within the literature. The review concludes with recommendations for further exploration of the DRM experiences of Deaf people and their families within Australia.

Del ruido a la seña. Notas para la formación de una representación del sordo desde los enfoques histórico y cultural

The purpose of this study is to provide a perspective on the representation of the Deaf, considering historical and cultural aspects. This will contribute to a better understanding of the experience of deaf people and promote a more inclusive and respectful representation of this community. Theoretical elements are presented from the social representations that allow understanding the constitution of the concepts of deaf and deafness. We start from a qualitative and hermeneutic methodology, through a critical reflection on the representation of deaf people in contemporary society and its impact on inclusion and participation. We analyze stereotypes and prejudices that persist and identify progress and challenges in promoting an inclusive culture that is committed to respect for deaf people and diversity, which is reflected in the construction of two sections that analyze the evolution of the concept of collective representation to social representation and social representations of the deaf and deafness. We conclude that the study of Deaf culture and its history can provide insight into the experiences and perspectives of Deaf people and their communities, and promotes greater understanding and acceptance of Deafness as a cultural identity.

"They still phone even though they know I'm deaf": exploring experiences of deaf people in health services in Wales, UK.

Deaf and hard of hearing people persistently experience barriers accessing health services, largely due to ineffective communication systems, a lack of flexible booking arrangements, and a lack of Deaf awareness training for health professional staff. Face to face focus groups were conducted with 66 Deaf and hard of hearing people in Deaf clubs across Wales, UK. Thematic analysis was undertaken. Responses identified from focus groups are reported as barriers faced using health services, improvements that would make a difference, impact of accessibility of health services, and a potential Sign language badge for healthcare staff. Deaf people report that health professionals lack training on Deaf awareness and do not know how to communicate effectively with Deaf and hard of hearing people. Further research into Deaf awareness and training resources for health professionals are needed to establish what improves Deaf cultural competencies, and ultimately makes healthcare experiences more positive for people who are Deaf.

‘When he comes into police custody, he has certain rights’: The burden for achieving access in a video-mediated interpreted custody interview

This United Kingdom (UK)-based interdisciplinary proof-of-concept study explores the use of video remote interpreting (VRI) platforms to facilitate communication for deaf individuals using signed languages during their entry into Police Scotland's custody. The study employs three custody VRI simulations to assess the efficacy and limitations of VRI in this context. A unique framework is applied to scrutinise the management of equal access to routine police procedures, revealing disparities in the distribution of responsibility and highlighting the constrained capacity of interpreters. The research emphasises the need for law enforcement to move beyond mere interpreter provision – whether on-site or remote – and advocates for a holistic consideration of the overall experience of deaf people during police interactions. Furthermore, it underscores the imperative for interpreters to cultivate versatile skills, enabling them to address procedural and communication challenges, particularly when the welfare and safety of citizens are at stake. This investigation prompts a comprehensive re-evaluation of the support systems in place for deaf individuals in police custody, urging a shift towards a more inclusive and nuanced approach.

The sound of silence: deconstructing notions of inclusion in career guidance on exploring the experience of deaf people

ABSTRACT Learning that “career” was not a definite sign in Irish Sign Language (ISL) and that “Career Guidance” was poorly understood by the Deaf community prompted a systematic literature review (SLR). An uncomfortable truth relating to Career Guidance emerged – “Inclusion” is not where we presume it to be at. This paper presents the results of the SLR and shares how the answers from a thematic analysis can – through a Universal Design (UD), and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) (Rose & Meyer, 2002) lens – guide developments for inclusive Career Guidance. This paper shares the story of “d/Deaf guidance” in the literature; the tensions between theory and practice in relation to inclusion (Quirke, 2022), and the themes identified from the SLR – themes the Deaf community believe are a Deaf gain.

The experiences and opinions of deaf service users accessing radiology

All healthcare providers must ensure unrestricted access to care and equitable opportunity without barriers. Deaf persons, on the other hand, continue to experience difficulties in all facets of the healthcare system daily. Therefore, the study aims to explore deaf people's perspectives of accessing radiology in Ireland to develop further a set of instructions that could optimize communication between deaf people and radiographers. This was a qualitative study in which the experiences of deaf people were explored by conducting a solution-focused workshop with eight deaf participants. The identified themes from the transcript of the solution-focused workshop revolve around the barriers and challenges that deaf individuals encounter when accessing healthcare services. Also, factors such as stigma, lack of patience and poor attitude can influence deaf people's decision on whether they should return to that healthcare setting. Therefore, creating awareness and improving communication techniques could encourage deaf people to return for treatments or services and prevent a delay in healthcare treatment. Also, A national standard for communicating with deaf patients in Radiology Departments is a vital part that must be considered to ensure the area's continued development and advancement and to bridge the gap in communication between deaf patients and radiographers.

A Study on the Influencing Factors of Deaf Peoples Medical Behavior and Attitude in Shanghai

During an emergency medical treatment experience, one of our team members saw a deaf person with heart discomfort who could not express his condition to the doctor and felt anxious and helpless and thus began to pay attention to the medical treatment of deaf people. In the preliminary research, the team found that the medical treatment process and experience of deaf people are inconvenient. Some deaf people show more negative medical treatment behavior and attitude. Therefore, on this basis, the research question of this paper is further proposed: what are the difficulties and obstacles existing in the current medical treatment of deaf people? What factors influence the medical treatment behavior and attitude of deaf people? Taking the deaf-dumb people in Shanghai as the research target, this paper conducts a relevant investigation utilizing a questionnaire, semi-structured interview, and participatory observation. A total of 148 questionnaires were collected, and ten deaf patients, volunteers, and professionals from deaf organizations were interviewed for interviewing method. The team members also launched a participatory observation by volunteering at the deaf and hard-of-hearing outpatient clinic. This study found that some deaf people in Shanghai have negative attitudes and behaviors toward medical treatment, mainly manifested as reluctance to see a doctor in time, fear of going to the hospital, and distrust of the medical system and doctors. The main reasons for this problem are as follows: poor communication quality, low self-confidence, poor financial conditions, doctors negative attitudes, unavailability of voice services, and lack of volunteers. With the development of digital media in recent years, the difficulties in diagnosing and treating deaf patients have been alleviated.

청각장애인의 심리상담 경험에 관한 현상학적 연구

The purpose of this study is to explore the types of experiences the deaf have through psychological counseling from a phenomenological perspective to solve psychological problems to achieve a better understanding of the essence of those experiences. To achieve this research purpose, in-depth interviews were conducted with six deaf people who had received at least 10 psychological counseling sessions at a deaf welfare institution and analyzed using Giorgi's phenomenological research 5-step analysis method.
 In this study, the essential meaning of psychological counseling experienced by the deaf is that the hearing impaired perceive the differences and conflicts they experience as a minority in society as natural. This suggests a new perspective on problems while experiencing the decisive moment between the counselor, oneself, and third-party assistants who form a triangular alliance with an open mind that is not held back by communication barriers and prejudices. Psychological counseling for the deaf is a place where they can practice, and through small changes in counseling, they decide between two options at the end of counseling.
 This study found commonalities in the concrete and actual experiences of deaf people through psychological counseling at a psychological counseling site for deaf, which lacks study data. Therefore, it is expected that the results of this study can be used as data that can assist deaf clients with deaf psychological counseling.

Impact of an educational intervention on deaf and hard hearing females' knowledge and health beliefs regarding cervical cancer in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia: A theory-based study.

Deaf people experience barriers to communication that prevent access to health care and information that puts them at increased risk for lack of knowledge about prevention and early detection approaches to cancers. With decreased screening, they may be at a higher risk of discovering cervical cancer (CC) at a late stage. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention on deaf and hard hearing females' knowledge and health belief regarding cervical cancer in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. A quasi-experimental study was performed from the beginning of April till the end of October 2021 using a convenience sample of 33 deaf and hard hearing married females students from Al-Amal center for deaf and hard hearing females and Tabuk University. The data were collected using an interview schedule composed of three parts translated to American Sign Language: background variables (basic data), cervical cancer knowledge quiz, and health belief model scale for CC and Pap smear test. About 75.8% of the participants were older than 20 years. The intervention-based HBM showed significant improvement in the overall knowledge score after the intervention compared to pre-intervention (FET = 16.345 P = 0.000). Moreover, significant enhancements (P <0.05) in all HBM construct scores after the HBM intervention compared to the pre-intervention. HBM-based educational interventions can be useful educational modalities for deaf and hard hearing populations. This intervention effectively enhanced the deaf and hard hearing females' overall knowledge and health beliefs scores.

Speaking in Hands: Early Modern Preaching and Signed Languages for the Deaf

Abstract This article demonstrates that deaf men and women were integrated into early modern communities through use of sign language, and that Protestant concerns about preaching and hearing promoted sign language as a legitimate form of communication. Historians have believed that the Protestant emphasis on preaching excluded deaf people from heaven. However, not only did contemporaries believe that deaf people could be saved, but debates on this topic prompted a wider assessment of the nature of hearing loss and sensory knowledge. Discussions about deafness therefore had implications for all congregations, as English preachers used well-known manual gestures from rhetorical texts to make their sermons accessible for both the ‘spiritually’ and the ‘physically’ deaf. The experiences of deaf people in early modern England demonstrate the importance of religious practices in shaping perceptions of disability and impairment. By focusing on deaf parishioners, it is possible to explore some of the impacts of the Reformation on ideas of embodiment while modifying literary accounts of the representation of disability in the period. A little-known part of early modern history, the role of preachers in the evolution of signed languages for the deaf offers new perspectives on Reformation history and the growing field of disability history.

Exploring communication difficulties with deaf patients

One in five people in the UK are deaf, with hearing loss affecting more than 70% of people over the age of 70. Despite this being a higher prevalence than asthma, heart disease or diabetes, deaf people experience persistent health inequalities with poorer experiences and outcomes in disease prevention and management. Clear communication and patient engagement with health are key to better outcomes. Nonetheless, there exist cultural, educational and organisational barriers when addressing communication with patients with hearing loss.Foundation doctors have regular and prolonged contact with their patients, and often feel underprepared when interacting with patients with hearing loss. This article aims to highlight these communication barriers and suggest changes for improvement.Improvement will require adaptations from both individual and organisational perspectives, with patient care as a clear focus for change.

Qualitative research within the Deaf community in Northern Ireland: A multilingual approach

In this methodology article, the authors illustrate how they conducted multilingual qualitative research in an exploration of the barriers that Deaf people in Northern Ireland face when attempting to access the system of justice. The authors’ research practices are informed, to the extent possible, by the principles of community-based participatory research (CBPR). They explore the challenges of conducting research in American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL), and Irish Sign Language (ISL), and spoken English, facilitated by sign language interpreters fluent in BSL and ISL. Centering the research on the lived experiences of Deaf people who navigate the system of justice, the authors implemented CBPR-informed research methods, which ultimately led to sustained discussion and joint action by the authors and members of the Northern Ireland Deaf community aimed at the removal of barriers that Deaf people face when interacting with the justice system. By writing about their methodological approach in Northern Ireland, the authors wish to be transparent about their work in the hope that other researchers can replicate their successes and avoid the limitations of conducting this work in partnership with members of the Deaf community in other countries.

Evidence-Based Practices in Deaf Education: A Call to Center Research and Evaluation on the Experiences of Deaf People

The evidence base for educational interventions for deaf students has been, and continues to be, called into question due to a lack of “gold standard” research available to support it. Yet the paucity of research in deaf education is not only in the volume of research that meets rigorous standards but also in its lack of attention to and inclusion of a deaf-centered perspective on the inferences made about the strength of study findings in the field. This chapter uses a deaf-centered lens to examine what constitutes evidence, how it is gained, and how this information supports academic outcomes for this population. We include examples from the literature to examine implications for research personnel, study design, and accessible dissemination, with specific attention to both study sampling and measurement considerations. Considerations for deaf-centered research criteria include (a) integrating deaf researchers and epistemologies, (b) attending to the characteristics of deaf students, and (c) acknowledgment of root causes and systems factors. The recommendations in this chapter supplement the larger ongoing dialogue regarding the cultural responsiveness and representation of marginalized populations within the education research endeavor.

Deaf Activists and the Irish Sign Language Movement, 1980–2017

There is a dearth of qualitative research concerning deaf people's experiences of participating in the Irish Sign Language (ISL) recognition movement, and this limits our ability to understand the opportunities and constraints they encountered as they negotiated their way toward the passing of the ISL Act 2017. While ISL is unique to Ireland, it is also of crucial importance to deaf people's identity and the quality of their social and educational life. The aim of this qualitative study is to reveal the primary findings derived from interviews with nine deaf activists who participated in this study. Framed within the social movement theory and the Freirean concept of critical consciousness, the study illuminates the background on how and why deaf activists managed to overcome some significant challenges during the ISL movement. The findings show that deaf activists successfully negotiated their way through the political and legal system to achieve their goal. Discussions and conclusions drawn from the findings suggest that deaf people have the potential to be both agents of social change and effective social movement activists. Finally, the article seeks to be added to the canon of literature on sign language studies and the emerging research on sign language recognition.

Mediating identities

Deaf people’s lives are frequently predicated on working with interpreters. Identity becomes known and performed through the translated self in many interactions with hearing, non-signing people. Taking an interdisciplinary approach in combining interpreting studies, deaf studies, applied linguistics and social research, the ‘Translating the Deaf Self ’ project, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (UK), sought to explore the experience of deaf people and other stakeholders of the lived experience of being translated. Drawing on discourses of identity, representation and trust, this paper gives an overview of the findings from two focus groups with sign language interpreters (n = 7) on their perspectives of the experiences of deaf signers being ‘known’ through interpreting. Social constructionism underpinned our approach to data analysis and the dominant theme of ‘trust’ was examined with reference to a framework for trustworthiness developed by Alan Jones and Samantha Sin. In particular, we focus on the issue of trust in relation to representation, relationships, ability and boundaries. The main findings demonstrate that sign language interpreters are acutely aware of the responsibility they have to represent deaf signers, especially at work, and thus represent their professional-and-deaf identities, and the important role of trust for deaf professionals to feel represented through interpreters.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Open Access Attribution: CC BY

Health State Values of Deaf British Sign Language (BSL) Users in the UK: An Application of the BSL Version of the EQ-5D-5L.

Deaf people experience health inequalities compared to hearing populations. The EQ-5D, a widely used, standardised, generic measure of health status, which is available in over 100 languages, was recently translated into British Sign Language (BSL) and initial validation conducted. Using data from this previous study of the EQ-5D-5L BSL we aimed to assess (1) whether responses to the EQ-5D differed between a sample of Deaf BSL users and the general population (2) whether socio-demographic characteristics and clinical measures were associated with EQ-5D index scores in Deaf BSL users and (3) the impact of psychological distress and depression on health status in Deaf BSL users. Published population tariffs were applied to the EQ-5D-5L BSL, using the crosswalk methodology, to estimate health state values. Descriptive statistics (mean, SD, 95% CIs) compared Deaf BSL signer participants' (n = 92) responses to data from the general population. Descriptive statistics and linear regression analyses were used to identify associations between Deaf participants' EQ-5D index scores, socio-demographic characteristics, physical health and depression. Descriptive statistics compared the BSL index scores for people with psychological distress/depression to those from two cross-sectional, population-based surveys. Using the EQ-5D, Deaf participants had lower mean health-state values (0.78; 95% CI 0.72-0.83; n = 89) than people participating in the 2017 Health Survey for England (0.84; 95% CI 0.83-0.84; n = 7169). Unlike larger studies, such as the Health Survey for England sample, there was insufficient evidence to assess whether Deaf participants' EQ-5D health state values were associated with their demographic characteristics. Nevertheless, analysis of the BSL study data indicated long-standing physical illness was associated with lower health-state values (ordinary least squares coefficient = -0.354; 95% CI -0.484, -0.224; p < 0.01; n = 82). Forty-three percent of our Deaf participants had depression. Participants with depression had reduced health status (0.67; 95% CI 0.58-0.77; n = 36) compared to those with no psychological distress or depression (0.87; 95% CI 0.61-0.67; n = 36). The study highlights reduced health in the Deaf signing population, compared to the general population. Public health initiatives focused on BSL users, aiming to increase physical and mental health, are needed to address this gap.

The Experiences of Literary Hands

In this article, we consider the experience of the "literary hands" of deaf people—individuals who create cultural values linked to deaf culture—based on research developed in the field of cultural studies in education and Deaf studies. We draw on data collected for Mourão's doctoral research (2016) and describe the sign language literary experiences of the members of the deaf community who, in various ways, work with Deaf literature. Our aim is to analyze deaf people's experience of Deaf literature and the paths that have led to their concept of literary hands. This is a qualitative study, based on the accounts of nine deaf Brazilians and three deaf people from other countries. The experiences and literary training of the interviewees come from the deaf storytellers and environments that enable deaf individuals to come together: literary festivals in sign languages and deaf educational environments that value and provide visibility to the literary hands. Thus, experiences with Deaf literature become part of cultural identification and belonging to the deaf community.

The Shape of Air: American Sign Language as Narrative Prosthesis in 21st Century North American Media

The Shape of Air: American Sign Language as Narrative Prosthesis in 21st Century North American Media

“When I speak people look at me”

AbstractDeaf people’s lives are predicated to some extent on working with sign language interpreters. The self is translated on a regular basis and is a long-term state of being. Identity becomes known and performed through the translated self in many interactions, especially at work. (Hearing) others’ experience of deaf people, largely formed indirectly through the use of sign language interpreters, is rarely understood as intercultural or from a sociocultural linguistic perspective. This study positions itself at the cross-roads of translation studies, sociolinguistics and deaf studies, to specifically discuss findings from a scoping study that sought, for the first time, to explore whether the experience of being ‘known’ through translation is a pertinent issue for deaf signers. Through interviews with three deaf signers, we examine how they draw upon their linguistic repertoires and adopt bimodal translanguaging strategies in their work to assert or maintain their professional identity, including bypassing their representation through interpreters. This group we refer to as ‘Deaf Contextual Speakers’ (DCS). The DCS revealed the tensions they experienced as deaf signers in reinforcing, contravening or perpetuating language ideologies, with respect to assumptions that hearing people make about them as deaf people, their language use in differing contexts; the status of sign language; as well as the perceptions of other deaf signers about their translanguaging choices. This preliminary discussion of DCS’ engagement with translation, translanguaging and professional identity(ies) will contribute to theoretical discussions of translanguaging through the examination of how this group of deaf people draw upon their multilingual and multimodal repertoires, contingent and situational influences on these choices, and extend our understanding of the relationship between language use, power, identity, translation and representation.

Professionals' Experience of Deaf Offenders With Mental Health Difficulties.

Limited research is available on Deaf offenders with mental health difficulties. The present study focused on developing greater understanding of professionals' experiences with this population and the factors that influence its involvement with services. Using a grounded theory approach, the researchers explored the experiences of police officers and mental health professionals through semistructured interviews. The analysis led to development of a theoretical model of factors, represented in five categories. The model suggests that when Deaf offenders with mental health difficulties comes into contact with either the health-care or justice system, there are factors associated with the system they are in contact with, the individual professional involved, and the offender themselves, that are moderated via relational factors. This study offers a tentative theoretical model providing multiple avenues for exploration and supports existing literature on Deaf people's experiences with mental health professionals.