Is Deafness a Disability?

×Child Using Sign Language

If you were deaf, would you consider that a disability?

Many, if not most hearing folks do. As for deaf people born without the capacity to hear (congenitally deaf), most do not. Unfortunately, too many people in my profession are quick to pathologize deafness, believing it increases the odds of developing psychological and social problems.

However, when it comes to the prevalence and severity of mental health issues, people in the Deaf community are no different than those in the hearing world. Those who can hear often assume that the challenges congenital deafness presents, particularly with respect to communication and interpersonal relationships, mess mightily with a person’s overall social adjustment, both personally and in the workplace. But it just ain’