In The Loop: Deaf Culture

Deaf Culture

Presented by Sara Kreiling, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division

MN Department of Human Services

Handouts 1

Handouts 2
Handouts 3
Handouts 4
Handouts 5

Services Provided at DHHS

Information and Referral
Direct Client Assistance
Consultation
Trainings/Presentations
Equipment Demonstration
Employment Equipment Loan Program
Telephone Equipment distribution (TED) Program
Mental Health Program
DeafBlind Consumer Directed Services Program

Deaf History

Timeline

200 Years of Deaf Education

Multicultural Considerations

Demographics

There is a whole spectrum of hearing loss, 1 in 5 Americans has a hearing loss (30-50 million. Hearing loss is increasing with noise induced hearing loss caused in part by ear buds which brings music directly into the ear.

Some Causes of Deafness

Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease
Genetic
Hereditary
Ototoxicity
Meningitis
Nerve Damage from Trauma (Head Injury)
Tumors

4 Major Categories of Hearing Loss

DeafBlind
Culturally Deaf-Born info a deaf family, stick to the deaf community
deaf (with a lower case "d")-Hearing loss, but not part of culturally deaf, don't use sign language.
Hard of Hearing-Can refer to degree of hearing loss or to someone who lip reads, enhances hearing

Definitions:

Deaf-The capital "D" refers to people who communicate using primarily sign language and consider themselves member of the Deaf community.
deaf-with a lower case "d" refers to anyone with a hearing loss, whether they have been born deaf or have become deaf during their lives. They primarily communicate like hearing people but may also use sign language.
Hard of Hearing: Having a varying degree of hearing loss, may benefit from hearing aids or other assistive listening devices, depends primarily upon spoken or written English.
Late Deafened-Hearing loss after childhood when language has been established. Often do not learn sign language.
DeafBlind: Combined hearing and vision loss that affects a person's ability to communicate with others, get information about the environment, participate in the community and maintain independence.

Terminology to Avoid:

Hearing Impaired
Deaf and mute
Deaf and dumb

Find out more from the person with a hearing loss about his/her preferences. Ask "How do you identify yourself?"

Hidden Aspects of Hearing Loss:

Communicative
Social
Linguistic
Psychological
Economic
Vocational
Educational
Cultural

Culture: A Set of Learned Behaviors of a Group of People

Usually learn language at home from parents and from media, if grow up in hearing family, may be learning culture more from Deaf school, which can be an opportunity to learn Deaf culture, communicate, perfect signing. (Metro Deaf School-charter school for Deaf and Hard of Hearing).

Every Culture Has Four Main Elements (Language, Values, Norms, Traditions)

Deaf Cultural Tenents

Language-American Sign Languag (ASL)
Values, Hands/Fingers, Eyes
Norms: Getting attention (tapping on shoulder, waving a hand), Deaf Applause (waving hands in air)
Traditions-Deaf Clubs, mass community meetings, Residential Schools for Deaf

Passing of Ethnic Cultures (Happens Vertically throughout generations from Great Grandparents to Grandparents, to Parents, Aunt, Uncles to Child)

Horizontal Passing of Deaf Culture, comes from side from the Deaf Community, Deaf Social Worker, Deaf House Parent (if living in residential school), Deaf Teacher, Deaf Community Members, Deaf Peers)

90-95% of deaf children have hearing parents
Many don't learn Deaf culture from passing down through generations but from community and assistants, peers, teachers.

Misunderstandings may occur because of cultural differences

Deaf people will pound on tables or tap on people to get attention. May also flicker lights.
They can't hear themselves and probably can't tell that they are noisy when they do things like set something down.
For someone who is DeafBlind they will have tactile signing, sign in hand or possibly on back, to show where things are.
Deaf people may ask a lot questions like where someone is from because this can help establish ties to the community, may know someone who knows someone.
Deaf people may ask questions about where someone is going because they can't hear when they are leaving and won't know when they are coming back.
Deaf people may ask a lot of questions because they can't hear environmental cues and need more information to determine what is happening.
Deaf people may watch pets respond to sound as this is a cue that something is happening.
At concerts some Deaf people may hold balloons to help feel vibrations.
Some Deaf people may play music too loudly, they are feeling the vibrations, but can't tell how high the volume is.

What is Viewed as Rude in Deaf Culture

Signers not signing when another signer is present
Walking between two signers (ok, but try to move quickly and don't need to duck)
Turning room lights off/on when only trying to get one person's attention and not the whole group.
Staring at a person with a hearing loss.
Grabbing a signer's hands to force him/her to stop signing and pay attention to you.
Waving your hand right in front of a Deaf person's face.

Deaf Cartoons: There are lots of Deaf cartoons that reflect Deaf Culture.

Myths Busted and Faux Pas:

But she speaks well (for a deaf person)
She can't learn if she doesn't speak.
All Deaf people know sign language.
All Deaf people lipread well.
Deaf people can't talk.
She can hear me if I shout.
She's Hearing if she has a cochlear implant.
She can hear me. She's just bluffing.
All persons with hearing loss benefit from hearing aids/assistive listening devices.
Hearing aids can cure deafness. (Some may wear to hear environmental sounds but can't discern speech. )
She can read so there's no barrier to communication.
She's not bright or educated because her English grammar (grammar in sign language is different) is poor.
If a Deaf child is taught to sign, he/she won't learn to speak.
Deaf people can't raise kids.
Deaf people can't drive a car.
Deaf people can't pilot airplanes.
Deaf people can't use the phone.
Deaf people can't read.
Deaf people read Braille. (Speaker said she had been brought a Braille menu in a restaurant. People trying to help but not knowing how may sometimes offer a wheelchair or a cart in an airport.)

English vs. ASL

English:

Word order: subject-verb-object (svo)
Grammar is acquired through incidental learning
Tenses "ed", "ing"
Articles "a", "the"
Conjunctions "and" "but"
Prepositions "under" "in"

ASL

American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual-spatial language.
ASL is a language with its own unique rules of grammar and syntax. When Deaf people write notes it may be with ASL syntax so it may seem oddly worded.
The palm orientation, hand shape, placement, and movement of the hands, as well as facial expressions and body movements, all play important parts in conveying information.
ASL is not English, pantomime, iconic (meaning the form or shape of signs don't always represent the word's meaning.).

ASL Grammar

Topic-Subject-Verb-Object
Does not use the "to be" verb
Does not use articles "the", "a"
More use of rhetorical questions
Example of word order , typed Hospital John hates (literally Hospital-John hates it), English translation John hates the hospital.
Time sequenced ordering: Typed-Yesterday lunch finish, boss give me work big stack, night class late me. English translation: I was late to class last night because my boss handed me a huge stack of work after lunch yesterday.

"Finish" in ASL

The word/sign "finish" is used frequently to establish past tense or as a completive matter.

Meanings:

done, all done
already
it's over
did it
got it done
yes it is finished
(rarely used in typing) stop it or cut it out
Example: typed My cut bleed finish, English translation-My cut has stopped bleeding.
Example: typed Finish call nurse. English: I called the nurse already.

Examples of Negation in ASL

Blood I have none (English translation: I am not bleeding.)
Ambulance I no want. (English translation: I don't want an ambulance.)

WH and Rhetorical Questions

Typed: You saw what?, English translation: What did you see?
Typed: What Juan do you what? English translation: What did Juan do to you?

The question word is often at the end.

Syntactic word order (adjectives and numerals commonly placed after nouns)

Typed: Eye black I have. English translation: I have a black eye.
Typed: 9:00 morning hospital I go. English translation: I will go to the hospital at 9 a.m.

Like its French origins, ASL has adjectives coming after the noun it describes.

Characteristics of ASL used in English

Flipped words, usually for brand names, for example: Bell Taco, Hut Pizza, cheese cream, water sparkling, loss vision, tea iced
Incorrect use of present tense: Typed: I am interesting in go to hospital, English translation: I'm interested in going to the hospital. Typed: I'm scaring. English translation: I'm scared.
People who are Deaf think in the present tense, but may not change the tense when writing/speaking because they didn't learn how it sounds.

Some signs are iconic and look at least somewhat like the word represented. Some signs are arbitrary and don't look at all like what they mean.

Toolbox:

General Communication tips:

Introduce one idea or fact at a time
Use basic sentence construct (avoid passive or if/then clauses)
Use commonly used words (doctor vs. physician, ambulance vs. EMS)
Be ready to use substitutions or to rephrase
Try to match the level the person with hearing loss uses
Eliminate or minimize background noises when possible (this includes visual noise too-bright colors, patterns can seem overstimulating, interpreters usually wear solid colors like black).
Speak normally
Don't exaggerate lip movements, shout, or over enunciate.
Use common gestures to help with communication.
Relax and be patient with yourself.
Get the person's attention before speaking .
Announce topic changes or mention context.
Make sure whenever possible that the person with a hearing loss can see your face. (need eye contact to signal that are talking)
Ensure lighting is good and there isn't any glare.
One person speaks at a time. This still applies if there is a sign language interpreter or someone providing captioning services (CART) because you need to be able to look at the person speaking to follow the conversation.

Written Communication:

Computers/Tablet/Mobile phone, e-mail, texting
Real time captioning
TTY/TDD, not used much with less use of landlines (more use of e-mail and texting)
Pen/paper-used more by older people
Faxing, not used much any more.
English can be like a 2nd language if ASL was learned first. Itmcan help to get a transcript, have real time captioning, interpreter, note-taker.

Social situations:

Feelings of isolation can be common in school, work, community activities, family settings. Conversations change quickly in mixed (ASL/English) environments and people with hearing loss can get left out if they can't experience things the same way (if aren't kept in the loop about what is going on.)

Deaf people can be overprotected:

May end up learning to be helpless.
Don't have an opportunity to practice problem solving.
Can't anticipate consequences, etc.
May lack the skills to take care of themselves.
Can be worse off when "protector" is no longer around.

Signer vs. Interpreter

Signer

Knows some sign language
Hasn't necessarily taken formal sign language or interpreting courses.
Not required to follow professional Interpreter Code of Conduct
May not meet legal mandate of qualified interpreter

Interpreter

Communication link between hearing and deaf or hard of hearing people
Trained professional facilitator of communication and cultural mediation
Extensive knowledge of ASL and Deaf Culture, English, Other modes of communication, interpreting process
Interpreter National Certifications, most common credentials, NIC, OTC, NAD certifications -NAD III, NAD IV, NAD V, Educational settings ED K-12, Deaf Interpreters CDI, Legal settings, SC:L and CDI

Assistive Technology:

Pocket talker
Phone (amplified) signaling
Alarm (plug into lamp), visual signaling
Tactile signaling (vibrate)
Some people may have service dogs
Telecommunication devices, web camera, mobile phone, IP Relay, videophones and video relay services, instant messaging, texting

Video relay services (free service), Deaf person usess software that connects to VRS and then signs to the interpreter, interpreter speaks to the hearing person, hearing person speaks to the interpreter,

etc.

Video Remote Interpreting-may also have interpreter remotely who can help with interpreting via video.

UbiDuo: Face to Face Communication Device, can type back and forth, , usually about $1,000.00

Tried and True Communication Solutions:

Writing
Email
Interpreting/signing (esp helpful if longer, 1 hour or more)
Sign Language classes
Technology: video phones, video relay service, captioning, CapTel, texting, CART (computer assisted real time translation)

What most deaf people want:

YOU to understand THEM
To be treated as individuals
To be treated as equally as their hearing peers
To be allowed equal educational and employment opportunities
YOU to be aware of deafness and hearing loss and variety/diversity within deaf community

"Deaf people can do anything hearing people can do except hear."

Resources:

Sound and Fury (movie), SPPL owns

ASL websites