35 misconceptions about deafness…and deafblindness

Here are some misconceptions about deafness, deafblindness, deaf people and communication that I have come across at my deaf and deafblind awareness classes.  Some of them may be obvious, others not.  If you can answer all of these, then congratulations – you are halfway to becoming deaf aware.  If not, then perhaps it would be a good idea to come and find out more. After all, there are 10 million people who are deaf in the UK. I have highlighted the most common misconceptions in bold. Feel free to add any points I may have missed.

1. All deaf people sign:
2.  A hearing aid makes you hear normally, all deaf people have one (or a Cochlear Implant – CI).
3.  The majority of deaf people cannot speak or speak funny
4. A cochlear implant restores hearing
5. All deaf people lipread
6. All deaf people use Interpreters
7. There are no deafblind people round here
8. Deafblind people can’t get out and about
9. Deafblind people cannot communicate, deafblindness means you cannot see or hear at all
10. Presbyacusis only affects older people
11. All deaf people can use a telephone with a hearing aid or cochlear implant
12. A Loop system is suitable for all deaf people who do not sign
13. Hearing dogs can respond to all noises
14. HOH people are all old
15. HOH people do not have the same problems as deaf people
16. Deaf people will follow you better if you shout
17. I don’t need to make by business accessible – I have no deaf customers
18. Deaf people don’t want to talk to me, I couldn’t communicate with them anyway, I would have to learn BSL to do so.
19. A hearing aid user or a CI user can hear me if I shout their name across a crowded room
20. Deaf people only hear (or see)  what they want to” hear”, I think they’re pretending not to understand me
21.  You must use simple English when talking to a deaf person
22.  A sign language user cannot read subtitles
23.  Deafblind people cannot go out by themselves
24.  Deaf people do not lose any more hearing
25.  Deaf people are not allowed to drive
26.  Deaf people are not as intelligent as hearing people
27.  All deaf people want to be hearing
28. Most deaf people have deaf parents
29. All deaf people can communicate with each other
30. All deaf people understand deaf culture
31.  BSL (British Sign language) is the same as ASL (American Sign Language) and AUSLAN (Australian Sign Language).
32. BSL is a collection of gestures and similar to mime
33. BSL users do not have Cochlear Implants
34. Deaf people bring their own interpreters with them
35. Deafness won’t happen to me.

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