Definitions
Many people in the Deaf community define themselves as deaf but this is usually a social definition, not a scientific definition. There are many different definitions of different levels of deafness, usually how one classifies themselves is a very personal decision. Below, there are different definitions of terms used in the Deaf community.
Deaf: When capitalised, the term ‘Deaf’ refers to members of the Deaf community. Scientifically, ‘deaf’ refers to persons with a lack of sensitivity to sound.
Deaf community: The Deaf community has different practices socially and culturally, the term doesn’t exclude every hearing person, nor does it automatically include every person with a hearing loss.
Hard of hearing: A person with a partial hearing loss. Different levels of hearing are achievable through the use of modern technology, therefore the use of ‘hard of hearing’ is usually a personal choice.
Hearing impaired: This term defines a person who has some degree of hearing loss. However, this term is offensive to some Deaf people, as the word ‘impairment’ has negative connotations. Some Deaf people feel that their hearing loss grants them unique access to the Deaf community, a culture with a rich history and it’s own traditions.
Important information
There are many different socially accepted definitions within different Deaf communities, if you wish to offer an alternative explanation, e-mail us (admin@mydeafcommunity.co.uk) and we may list your definition.
Scientific categories of deafness
The severity of hearing loss is measured by determining the quietest sound a person can detect. This sound is measured in decibels (dB) and categorised into the following:
• Mild:
for adults… between 25 and 39 dB
for children… between 15 and 39 dB
People with mild deafness typically have difficulty localising sounds such as conversation in noisy environments.
• Moderate: between 40 and 69 dB
People with moderate deafness typically have difficulty hearing sounds such as conversation without the use of a hearing aid.
• Severe: between 70 and 94 dB
People with severe deafness typically rely largely on lip-reading even with the use of a hearing aid.
• Profound: 95 dB or greater
People with profound deafness typically rely solely on lip-reading for general conversation and BSL may even be their preferred language.
Unilateral hearing loss (UHL) or Single-sided deafness (SSD)
UHL (or SSD) is where an individual has normal hearing in one ear and impaired hearing in the other ear. This type of hearing loss leads to difficulty in localizing sound and depicting speech in the presence of background noise.
Many people in the Deaf community define themselves as deaf but this is usually a social definition, not a scientific definition. There are many different definitions of different levels of deafness, usually how one classifies themselves is a very personal decision. Below, there are different definitions of terms used in the Deaf community.
Deaf: When capitalised, the term ‘Deaf’ refers to members of the Deaf community. Scientifically, ‘deaf’ refers to persons with a lack of sensitivity to sound.
Deaf community: The Deaf community has different practices socially and culturally, the term doesn’t exclude every hearing person, nor does it automatically include every person with a hearing loss.
Hard of hearing: A person with a partial hearing loss. Different levels of hearing are achievable through the use of modern technology, therefore the use of ‘hard of hearing’ is usually a personal choice.
Hearing impaired: This term defines a person who has some degree of hearing loss. However, this term is offensive to some Deaf people, as the word ‘impairment’ has negative connotations. Some Deaf people feel that their hearing loss grants them unique access to the Deaf community, a culture with a rich history and it’s own traditions.
Important information
There are many different socially accepted definitions within different Deaf communities, if you wish to offer an alternative explanation, e-mail us (admin@mydeafcommunity.co.uk) and we may list your definition.
Scientific categories of deafness
The severity of hearing loss is measured by determining the quietest sound a person can detect. This sound is measured in decibels (dB) and categorised into the following:
• Mild:
for adults… between 25 and 39 dB
for children… between 15 and 39 dB
People with mild deafness typically have difficulty localising sounds such as conversation in noisy environments.
• Moderate: between 40 and 69 dB
People with moderate deafness typically have difficulty hearing sounds such as conversation without the use of a hearing aid.
• Severe: between 70 and 94 dB
People with severe deafness typically rely largely on lip-reading even with the use of a hearing aid.
• Profound: 95 dB or greater
People with profound deafness typically rely solely on lip-reading for general conversation and BSL may even be their preferred language.
Unilateral hearing loss (UHL) or Single-sided deafness (SSD)
UHL (or SSD) is where an individual has normal hearing in one ear and impaired hearing in the other ear. This type of hearing loss leads to difficulty in localizing sound and depicting speech in the presence of background noise.
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