Deaf Research Articles

SIGN LANGUAGE OF THE DEAF PEOPLE: A STUDY ON PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING

Today, when various regulatory documents support sign language research, there is a lack of both teaching materials and research on deaf sign language and public understanding. The study aims to determine the public’s proficiency or competence in the Latvian sign language. The research revealed people’s basic knowledge of Latvian sign language grammar, their ability to communicate and understand deaf people, their attitudes and opinions about the process, and the necessity of learning sign language. Information was studied in four blocks of questions: society’s attitude towards deaf sign language, society’s knowledge of deaf sign language, communication skills with a deaf person, and opinion on the development of deaf sign language and its necessity. The sample of the study is 500 respondents, who represent the opinion of the population between the ages of 16 and 60, observing the socio-demographic parameters of the target group of the study. An empirical research method was used in the study; to collect data, an electronic survey was conducted. In general, the study confirms that society shows a positive attitude towards Latvian sign language as a means of communication for deaf people. At the same time, the data reveal poor knowledge of sign language and its grammar. It was concluded that not only sociological research is needed on public perceptions of deaf sign language, but also various educational events for the rest of society should be promoted, including seminars, courses, and conferences.

Silent struggles to self-manage high blood pressure among deaf sign language users: a qualitative study.

Tailored self-management support of hypertension, considering language and communication, is important for minorities, specifically in the deaf community. However, little is known about the experiences of hypertension self-management in deaf individuals who use sign language. This study aimed to explore the factors and processes of self-management in deaf sign language users with hypertension. Ten men and women who used sign language participated in this study. Data were collected using in-depth personal interviews conducted in the presence of a sign language interpreter between November 2022 and February 2023. All interviews were recorded and transcribed for conventional content analysis. Qualitative analyses identified four categories related to the self-management of hypertension among participants: personal factors (chronic hand pain, unique language and communication, and efforts to turn crisis into opportunities), family and socioeconomic factors (family support and financial burden of living), challenges (limited health literacy and alienation from health education), and desire for health education considering the deaf community. The results of this study suggest that family support, socioeconomic status, hand pain, and health literacy should be considered for the planning and development of health education on self-management of hypertension in deaf individuals. In addition, this health education requires cooperation with qualified sign language interpreters in healthcare settings.

Development of embodied listening studies with multimodal and wearable haptic interfaces for hearing accessibility in music

IntroductionThe intersection of hearing accessibility and music research offers limited representations of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) individuals, specifically as artists. This article presents inclusive design practices for hearing accessibility through wearable and multimodal haptic interfaces with participants with diverse hearing backgrounds.MethodsWe develop a movement-based sound design practice and audio-tactile compositional vocabulary, co-created with a Deaf co-designer, to offer a more inclusive and embodied listening experience. This listening experience is evaluated with a focus group whose participants have background in music, dance, design, or accessibility in arts. By involving multiple stakeholders, we survey the participants' qualitative experiences in relation to Deaf co-designer's experience.ResultsResults show that multimodal haptic feedback enhanced the participants' listening experience while on-skin vibrations provided more nuanced understanding of the music for Deaf participants. Hearing participants reported interest in understanding the Deaf individuals' musical experience, preferences, and compositions.DiscussionWe conclude by presenting design practices when working with movement-based musical interaction and multimodal haptics. We lastly discuss the challenges and limitations of access barrier in hearing accessibility and music.

Multimodal Real-Time patient emotion recognition system using facial expressions and brain EEG signals based on Machine learning and Log-Sync methods

Human Machine Interface (HMI) depends on emotion detection, especially for hospitalized patients. The emergence of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) has heightened the interest in emotional intelligence in human–computer interaction (HCI). This work employs electroencephalography (EEG), an optical flow algorithm, and machine learning to create a multimodal intelligent real-time emotion recognition system. The objective is to assist hospitalized patients, disabled (deaf, mute, and bedridden) individuals, and autistic youngsters in expressing their authentic feelings. We fed our multimodal feature fusion vector to a classifier with long short-term memory (LSTM). We distinguished six fundamental emotions: anger, disgust, fear, sadness, joy, and surprise. The fusion feature vector was created utilizing the patient's geometric facial characteristics and EEG inputs. Utilizing 14 EEG inputs, we used four-band relative power channels, namely alpha (8–13 Hz), beta (13–30 Hz), gamma (30–49 Hz), and theta (4–8 Hz). We achieved a maximum recognition rate of 90.25 percent using just facial landmarks and 87.25 percent using only EEG data. When both facial and EEG streams were examined, we achieved 99.3 percent accuracy in a multimodal method.

THE USE OF SIGN LANGUAGE AS A MEDIA FOR DELIVERING INFORMATION ON NATIONAL TELEVISION NEWS BROADCASTS

Sign language is communication using non-verbal words which are delivered without words but with body movements/body language or facial expressions. Sign language has evolved into a practical mode of communication that forms the basis of deaf communities. It is a visual-spatial language based on positional and visual elements including the shape of digits and hands, position, orientation, limb, and gestures. This signal can be seen in a small box at the corners of television newscasts. This research reviews the use of sign language as media in delivering information (news) in TV broadcasts. This research was library research. The analysis showed that news programs broadcast by television stations become one of the providers of information. The existence of sign language facilities in news programs at this time at least minimizes gaps in the right to access information among persons with deaf disabilities. Several previous studies show that sign language is media information read by the news anchor to the TV audience (viewers) with the intermediary of a sign language interpreter. Sign language plays an active role for deaf people based on three effects of mass communication which provide direct cognitive, affective, and conative effects for deaf people. There is a relationship between the influence of the use of sign language in news programs on deaf people such as attracting the attention of deaf audiences with an easy visualization. A presentation of the news is enough to meet the information needs of the deaf person by continuing to prioritize the latest information. 

Pengaruh Pola Asuh Orang Tua terhadap Penerimaan Bahasa Reseptif Anak Tunarungu

This case study is being conducted after long observation to a child named AB. He is eight (8) years old and he doesn’t being a part of any schools. He has a problem related to the hearing. Doctor has diagnosed him as a deaf person. In his everyday life, he doesn’t do any activities in normal way such as take everything without permission, he is not able communicate with each other, and he can’t express his willing. After doing depth interview to his mother, unfortunately, his mother doesn’t apply the right parenting for him. That is why it becomes a reason that he does such things. All of these are caused by the failure of his receptive language. Normal children will process the information he got and then express it in oral language. AB doesn’t have this ability because there is a problem with his hearing. In other words, his receptive language is not running well. Referring to this condition, every parent should give best and more attention to every child with special need like AB. Some scientists say that a child like AB has the same chance to get good parenting like others. Many stimulus and exercises must given to him in order he can do many thing by himself and he can be accepted by his environment.

The design of the Deaf in Touch Everywhere (DITE)TM mobile application with Deaf and interpreter communities in Malaysia

Background Ineffective communication with Deaf individuals in healthcare settings has led to poor outcomes including miscommunication, waste, and errors. To help address these challenges, we developed a mobile app, Deaf in Touch Everywhere (DITETM) which aims to connect the Deaf community in Malaysia with a pool of off-site interpreters through secure video conferencing. Objectives The aims of this study were to (a) assess the feasibility and acceptability of measuring unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) constructs for DITETM with the Deaf community and Malaysian sign language (BIM) interpreters and (b) seek input from Deaf people and BIM interpreters on DITETM to improve its design. Methods Two versions of the UTAUT questionnaire were adapted for BIM interpreters and the Deaf community. Participants were recruited from both groups and asked to test the DITE app features over a 2-week period. They then completed the questionnaire and participated in focus group discussions to share their feedback on the app. Results A total of 18 participants completed the questionnaire and participated in the focus group discussions. Ratings of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions and behavioural intention were high across both groups, and suggestions were provided to improve the app. High levels of engagement suggest that measurement of UTAUT constructs with these groups (through a modified questionnaire) is feasible and acceptable. Conclusions The process of engaging end users in the design process provided valuable insights and will help to ensure that the DITETM app continues to address the needs of both the Deaf community and BIM interpreters in Malaysia.

From echo chamber to orchestra: Orchestrating job empowerment for deaf employees in Jeddah

Deaf individuals in the Saudi labour market face significant hurdles, adversely impacting their professional integration. This study investigates the reality of job empowerment for Deaf employees from their perspective in Jeddah, aiming to illuminate the nuances of their experiences. A qualitative approach employed interviews with twelve Deaf employees, purposively sampled from the community. The findings paint a complex picture. While overall relations appear positive, a stark gender disparity emerges in workplace power dynamics and opportunities. Deaf males enjoy greater autonomy, wield influence and navigate responsibilities relatively easily. Deaf women, however, encounter discriminatory practices, are often excluded from crucial decision-making processes and professional engagements. This study underscores the urgent need for concrete measures to combat workplace gender bias and empower Deaf females. Business institutions must prioritize equal opportunities for employment, training, and development by fostering inclusive work environments and providing targeted support for Deaf females. Such findings provide an in-depth understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by Deaf employees, particularly navigating the complexities of gender dynamics within the professional sphere. Further research is warranted to explore effective strategies for fostering equitable and empowering workplaces for Deaf individuals of all genders, ultimately promoting their successful integration into the Saudi labour market.

Fatores associados ao escore de ansiedade de mães surdas e ouvintes

ABSTRACT Purpose To associate maternal anxiety with sociodemographic factors, breastfeeding practices, oral habits, and the child’s entry into daycare among deaf and hearing (non-deaf) mothers. Methods This retrospective comparative cross-sectional study included 116 mothers (29 deaf and 87 hearing) of children aged between two and five years. Deaf mothers belonged to a reference center in the city, while hearing mothers were contacted in public daycares where their children were enrolled. Mothers underwent interviews covering socio-economic factors and child development-related aspects. Additionally, they completed the Brazilian Beck Anxiety Inventory, adapted for both deaf and hearing individuals, serving as instruments to assess anxiety. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test, Kruskal Wallis test, Mann-Whitney test, and Poisson Regression were employed for statistical analyses (p<0.05). Results Deaf mothers exhibited anxiety scores one and a half times higher than hearing mothers. Moreover, mothers of children with thumb-sucking habits showed higher anxiety scores, while mothers whose children started attending daycare as infants demonstrated lower anxiety scores compared to mothers of children without such habits and who did not attend daycare. Conclusion Deaf mothers displayed higher anxiety levels when compared to hearing mothers. Children’s behaviors, such as thumb-sucking habits, and early enrollment in daycare during the first year of life influenced maternal anxiety.

Recognition of Wh-Question Sign Gestures in Video Streams using an Attention Driven C3D-BiLSTM Network

Human sign language is a visual and gestural means of communication used by people with hearing impairments to interact with others. It has the potential to enable interaction between individuals who struggle with verbal communication and those who lack the essential proficiency to comprehend sign language. Wh-questions constitute a substantial portion of daily sign language interactions. Automatic recognition of Wh-question words in sign language, encompassing interrogative words, has received limited attention in gesture recognition. In this context, a novel dataset named the American Question Sign Video dataset (AQSVd) has been introduced as a significant contribution. Recognizing Wh-question signs in video streams empowers individuals to effectively convey messages through hand movements and gestures, fostering inclusivity and accessibility in communication for deaf and hearing-impaired individuals. The paper proposes a Deep Convolutional-3D BiLSTM Multi-head Attention network for recognizing American Wh-Question word sign gestures in video streams. Incorporating Multi-head attention in the proposed model enhances its ability to capture intricate spatial and temporal features, essential for accurate gesture recognition. The proposed model is thoroughly evaluated across a range of datasets, such as INCLUDE50, WLASL-100, and our AQSVd dataset, achieving remarkable results. Specifically, our model demonstrated an outstanding 98.91% validation accuracy on the AQSVd dataset. The C3D-BiLSTM MHAttention model outperforms other state-of-the-art models, demonstrating its superiority in sign language recognition tasks. The proposed dataset and C3D-BiLSTM Multi-head Attention model contribute significantly to this field, offering potential benefits in education, human-robot interaction, and overall communication for the hearing-impaired community.

Factors associated with the anxiety score of deaf and hearing mothers.

To associate maternal anxiety with sociodemographic factors, breastfeeding practices, oral habits, and the child's entry into daycare among deaf and hearing (non-deaf) mothers. This retrospective comparative cross-sectional study included 116 mothers (29 deaf and 87 hearing) of children aged between two and five years. Deaf mothers belonged to a reference center in the city, while hearing mothers were contacted in public daycares where their children were enrolled. Mothers underwent interviews covering socio-economic factors and child development-related aspects. Additionally, they completed the Brazilian Beck Anxiety Inventory, adapted for both deaf and hearing individuals, serving as instruments to assess anxiety. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test, Kruskal Wallis test, Mann-Whitney test, and Poisson Regression were employed for statistical analyses (p<0.05). Deaf mothers exhibited anxiety scores one and a half times higher than hearing mothers. Moreover, mothers of children with thumb-sucking habits showed higher anxiety scores, while mothers whose children started attending daycare as infants demonstrated lower anxiety scores compared to mothers of children without such habits and who did not attend daycare. Deaf mothers displayed higher anxiety levels when compared to hearing mothers. Children's behaviors, such as thumb-sucking habits, and early enrollment in daycare during the first year of life influenced maternal anxiety.

How Iranian Deaf Individuals Discuss Domestic Violence and Its Risk Factors

How Iranian Deaf Individuals Discuss Domestic Violence and Its Risk Factors

The Effect of Delayed Language Acquisition on Criminal Behavior of Deaf Individuals Involved in the Criminal Justice System

Research indicates that approximately 90% of pre-lingual deaf children are born to hearing parents. Further, according to the 2021 American Community Survey (ACS), about 3.6% of the U.S. population, or about 11 million individuals, consider themselves deaf or have serious difficulty hearing. For many of those children born to hearing parents, they are not learning or acquiring language from their parents as their parents do not know or use sign language. Often times, these parents have been advised (mistakenly) to not learn and use sign language with their children because of the belief that signing prevents speech and mainstream inclusion. This lack of language skills can have a deleterious effect on deaf children and lead to “an impoverished or distorted relationship between parent and child. This can lead to challenging behavior in adulthood. This paper will explore the nexus between language deprivation/delayed language development and the subsequent risk factors associated with criminal behavior.

Sign Language Recognition using Spiking Neural Networks

In recent years, research in automatic Sign Language Recognition (SLR) has undergone significant progress, serving as a founda-tional base for developing applications that aim to promote the integration of deaf individuals into society. Most of this progress is owed to the recent developments in deep learning. However, the deployment of conventional Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) can be hindered by their requirements in terms of computational power and energy consumption. Therefore, to improve the ef-ciency of current SLR systems, in this work, we propose the use of the increasingly popular Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs), which, on the one hand, provide more energy-efficient computations than conventional ANNs and, on the other hand, are able to process temporal sequences with simpler architectures thanks to their temporal dynamics. To evaluate our method, we utilize WLASL300, the 300-word (300 classes of signs) dataset from Word-Level American Sign Language, and achieve an improvement in accuracy with the SNN (+2.70%) over the previous state-of-the-art, when working with energy-efficient spiking neurons. Furthermore, we construct a non-spiking version of the same network and evaluate it in a similar manner. Our results demonstrate how the SNN has sparser activations (25% less), thanks to the use of spiking neurons, and therefore can be implemented with a lower power requirement than an ANN version of the same architecture. This work thus demonstrates the possibility of performing SLR in a very effective and efficient way, thus opening up the development of applications that span from the automatic real-time translation of dynamic signs to remote control utilizing sign languages.

Metode Pembelajaran Al-Qur’an dalam Metode Iqro’ bagi Penyandang Tunarungu

Learning methods for deaf students who have hearing, and speech impairments require special methods that suit the condition of the deaf person. This article aims to analyze the Al-Qur'an learning method implemented for deaf students at SMPLB-B YPTB Malang through iqra' method. The research was conducted using a descriptive qualitative approach with the type of field study research. The results showed that iqra' method has advantages and disadvantages. The advantages are 1) students learn based on students' language ability through oral and finger spelling of SIBI signs, 2) applying CBSA strategies, 3) Learning is done privately, 4) teaching modules in the form of iqra' books are in accordance with the development of intelligence of students with visual impairments, 5)assistance is available for students, 6)practical, 7)systematic, 8)varied, 9)communicative, 10) flexible, making it easier for users learn. The disadvantages are it requires a long time to complete the whole learning module, students cannot read Qur'an perfectly as the ability of general students and requires more competent assistant teachers to facilitate students' movement in learning Qur'an. The advantages and disadvantages of the application of iqra' method still provide opportunities to apply other methods of learning Qur'an in order to achieve maximum results for students.

Hearing Care, as part of basic care in a senior home.

Background: World wide, 1 in 6 people is hearing impaired. Age-related hearing loss is the most frequent cause. The number of deaf and hearing impaired persons increases as the population is getting older.&#x0D; Unfortunately, the impact on quality of life is underestimated. &#x0D; Hearing is an important part of communication. Several studies of the World Health Organization show the consequences of bad hearing s.a. isolation, frustration, loneliness and even acceleration of the dementia process. A hearing disability is invisible and problems are often not recognized.&#x0D; A great part of the elderly people lives in a senior home. The prevalence of hearing problems there is estimated around 80% as average age is about 87 years. The ringing of the telephone, a knock on the door, the radio, the television, the alarm signals are difficult to hear. This absence of familiar sounds produces a feeling of confusion and anxiety instead of safety and recognition. Communication is often done ‘on the job’ ignoring some special needs of the hearing impaired. Facemasks may make things even more difficult. The elderly hearing impaired, their family and caretakers have often little or no knowledge about the risks of untreated hearing loss, about innovative technologies in hearing aids and other hearing devices and about some interactional adaptations to improve their quality of life.&#x0D; Aim: Installing high-quality hearing care in senior homes in order to stimulate the inclusion and participation of hearing impaired elderly.&#x0D; Method: A team of AHOSA vzw, a Flemish interest group for persons with a hearing loss who communicate in spoken language, developed a project to put into the spotlight the importance of hearing care in senior homes.&#x0D; Basic relevant information is given to all the persons who are involved in the care process, but also to the residents themselves and to their family. &#x0D; Physical and digital workshops include a theoretical approach as well as practical information s.a. how wearing a hearing aid, changing a battery, seeing that the person didn’t understand the message… Tips and tricks are given to improve communication.&#x0D; The workshops use tools such as a PowerPointpresentation, an instruction film and leaflets.&#x0D; We started with a pilot study: a partnership between the association AHOSA VZW and the Senior Home Sint-Jozef, Assenede Belgium, with support of the Artevelde Highschool Ghent.&#x0D; During this trial period, the workshops and tools are adjusted by means of feedback of all participants, and the effects are measured by pre- and post questionnaires.&#x0D; Result: This participatory process with co-creation leads to a workable model of hearing care for all senior homes in Flanders, and can be a national or an international policy recommendation in a later stage.&#x0D; The scoop can be more durable by also aiming at integration of this model in the education programs of schools and departments that prepare students to work with elderly people.&#x0D; Conclusion: A well-developed Hearing Care model as part of basic care in a senior home leads to better quality of life.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Öğretmenlerin İşitme Engelli Öğrencilerin Yabancı Dil Olarak İngilizce Eğitimine Erişimine İlişkin Görüşleri

In Türkiye, K-12 Deaf students often do not learn English as hearing students learn. This paper applies a qualitative approach and uses semi-structured interviews as the data source to analyze the perspectives of nine teachers of Deaf students on Deaf students' access to English as a foreign language education in Türkiye. In analysis, the study applies content analysis and considers Bourdieu's forms of capital, the theory of figured world, and social model of disability as the theoretical framework. The findings show that teachers of Deaf students in Türkiye have an ideology of Deafness as a culture, view Turkish Sign Language as the primary language of Deaf individuals, and support using sign language as a medium in Deaf education. However, teachers of Deaf students prefer postponing English as a foreign language education for Deaf students until Turkish Sign Language is fully acquired. The findings of the study suggest integrating Turkish Sign Language in K-12 Deaf education as a medium and designing education programs to teach English as a foreign language to Deaf students simultaneously without postponing learning any languages.

THE NURSE FACING CHALLENGES IN LIBRAS COMMUNICATION: AN INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

Objective: To identify the main challenges in deaf individuals’ access to healthcare in Brazil and how nurses can take a leading role in potential improvement actions for healthcare assistance to this group. Methods: This is an integrative literature review study, in which electronic data were surveyed on the Virtual Health Library (VHL). Articles with a time frame between 2018 and 2023 were selected to provide theoretical support for the study, based on two search strategies: the keywords "Libras in Healthcare" and "Libras in Nursing Health" were entered into the VHL search field. Results: Fourteen studies were located following PRISMA recommendations. Discussion: The selected studies were divided into four distinct categories - investigative and informative studies on barriers in Libras communication in healthcare, studies discussing the academic training of health professionals related to Brazilian Sign Language, studies highlighting communication barriers with deaf patients from the perspective of healthcare professionals, and studies highlighting communication barriers with deaf patients from the perspective of deaf patients. Based on these found articles, it was possible to verify that most nursing professionals face challenges in providing quality care to deaf patients due to limited knowledge of Brazilian Sign Language (Libras). Additionally, there is a weakness in the training of these healthcare professionals regarding Brazilian Sign Language and low incentive and initiative for autonomous language study. Final Considerations: Effective communication in Libras is vital for inclusion in health. Nurses play a central role, but there is a shortage of studies. It is crucial to train nurses and promote inclusion to ensure quality healthcare for deaf patients.

Language as a border: reflections on the socio-cultural dynamics of deaf and hearing individuals

Este texto discute sobre a necessidade emergente de uma perspectiva psicossocial a respeito das fronteiras encontradas nas relações interculturais entre pessoas e comunidades ouvinte e surda em nosso país. A ênfase se dá a partir do marcador mais evidente que é posto como uma das fronteiras mais palpáveis: a diferença linguística. A partir de uma revisão bibliográfica, utilizando Flávio L. A. da Silveira (2005), António S. Ribeiro (2002) e Gladis Perlin (1998) para iniciar a discussão da ideia de ‘fronteira’, iremos identificar, analisar e discutir as repercussões dessa dinâmica na comunidade surda em sua parcialidade ou totalidade, assim como a língua(gem) como espaço da diferença a partir de seus impactos sociais, políticos e psicológicos. Ao final propomos reflexões práticas para abordar a língua não mais como barreira, mas ponto de encontro e progresso.

Patterns of identity development in ethnic minority/multicultural deaf families

Although the existence of internal ethnic diversity within Deaf communities is recognized by several authors, there has been less analysis of the impact of the ethnicity of marriage partners on the development and transmission of identity within Deaf families. This paper addresses language use and crossgenerational identity transmission in ethnic minority or ethnically mixed families set up by Deaf spouses living in Oradea (Romania). The research conducted in the Deaf community of Oradea is based on a survey of ethnic Hungarian Deaf community members (including ethnic Romanian spouses), lifepath interviews with selected Deaf individuals, and family case studies. The research results denote that in the case of Deaf people living in ethnically homogenous marriages who have graduated from a special school in Hungarian language, the transmission of Hungarian identity, knowledge of Hungarian sign language/oral language tends to be a natural, undisturbed process. However, if one of the spouses is of Romanian ethnicity, the language of communication within the family will probably be Romanian sign language/oral language. On the other hand, in families where both minority and majority ethnic family members, Deaf and hearing, are present, complex, multifaceted patterns of linguistic communication may operate, favoring specific multicultural ways of developing and transmitting identity.