American deaf culture includes the art and theatre of the deaf community. Hearing people may be unaware of the popularity of deaf theatre. Some special film festivals are dedicated to deaf culture.

American Sign Language plays a vital role in deaf culture. This language is unique to the American deaf culture and not merely a manual version of English. Storytelling in American Sign Language is part of American deaf culture. Humor is common in deaf storytelling.

Deaf schools are fundamental to deaf culture. Most deaf children are part of hearing families. The children are informally initiated into deaf culture in the deaf schools. It is in the residential deaf schools that the children learn to build a healthy identity of being deaf.

There are some social activities that are common in the deaf community. Deaf clubs are social clubs exclusively for deaf people. Like hearing people, many deaf people enjoy sports. Deaf athletic organizations promote deaf sports.

Another common social activity among deaf people is referred to as signing suppers, silent suppers, or ASL dinners. A similar social activity is called deaf coffee or a small, social gathering of deaf people at a coffeehouse.

Deaf and hearing people closely linked to the deaf community often view deafness as a difference, not a disability. Deaf people have cultural pride for being deaf. The acceptance and pride of being deaf is sometimes referred to as deafhood.

The deaf people in American deaf culture do not readily accept hearing people. Some hearing people have difficulty understanding this and often view deaf people as rude. Even hard of hearing people often have difficulty being accepted by the deaf community.

However, if a hearing person was to consider how the deaf community are treated by hearing people and the personal histories of the deaf people with whom the hearing person is in contact, the hearing person may gain understanding as to why deaf people are hesitant to trust hearing people.

American Sign Language began with Abbe Charles Michel de l’Epee who was a teacher of the deaf in France. This beginning sign language was a system of signing French.

Martha’s Vineyard was the location of a deaf community since families with hereditary deafness were residents of the area. An early version of sign language called Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL) was developed and commonly used there during the seventeenth century.

American Sign Language was thought to develop from a combination of the manual English taught in deaf schools and signs that the deaf children had already been using at home. Therefore, Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language as well as individual signs that had been used by deaf families influenced what developed into American Sign Language.

Schools dedicating to educating deaf students are an integral part of the history of deaf culture in America. In 1861, the Kansas School for the Deaf was established. Abraham Lincoln dedicated Gallaudet University in 1864. Schools for the deaf were not only important for educational purposes, but the schools helped unify deaf culture.

Many people may be unaware that Alexander Graham Bell taught deaf students at schools for the deaf. The telephone and microphone that Bell invented were designed to help people who have hearing loss.

Early hearing aids were in the form of trumpets and horns to direct sound into the ear. The slight amplification through horns was replaced with more effective body-worn hearing aids. As the technology improved, the hearing aids become smaller, behind-the-ear hearing aids.

The history of deaf culture includes the involvement of the deaf community in art and the media. In addition to deaf theatre, people with deafness have shown the hearing community glimpses of what it is like to be deaf by being in the hearing media. Hellen Keller offered a glimpse of the personal side of being deafblind. Deaf actors and actresses have made appearances on television and in films.

The deaf culture is the art, politics, attitudes, shared language, and common activities of the deaf community. Some deaf culture facts can provide insight into what it really means to be deaf.

Some hearing people believe that people who are deaf would like to hear if they could. This is not necessarily true. Some deaf people do seek medical treatment for their hearing loss. Some receive cochlear implants. But, many deaf people have no desire to be hearing.

Parents of deaf children may share the advantages that their children have demonstrated even at an early age. If a deaf child does not want to hear what their parents are saying, the child only needs to close their eyes or turn their heads away from their signing parents.

Some deaf culture facts that hearing people may find surprising is that deaf people often consider positives of being deaf. A hearing person may have difficulty understanding that there are any advantages of being deaf until they think of noise pollution, noisy work environments, or that American Sign Language is never interrupted by noise.

Deaf culture has interesting art in the realm of painting, drama, and many other areas that is unique to deaf culture. Some deaf actors and screenplay writers focus on writing and performing plays and movies specifically for deaf audiences.

American Sign Language (ASL) is the language of the deaf in the United States. The development of American Sign Language includes the manual English that was taught in deaf schools for the deaf and the signs that deaf children had been using at home.

One little known deaf culture fact is that Alexander Graham Bell intended his inventions of the telephone and microphone to be used to assist people with hearing loss. Alexander Graham Bell taught at deaf schools. His wife and mother both had hearing impairments.

Age-related deafness can be caused by exposure to noise or by an impairment of the ability of the tiny, bony structures of the middle ear. These small bones can become rigid and therefore less able to pass the sound vibrations from the outer ear to the inner ear.

The symptoms of age-related hearing loss are a decreased ability to hear speech clearly and hearing loss of sounds in certain ranges or frequencies. Similar speech sounds may become difficult to distinguish. Background noise can make this even more difficult. Because the hearing loss is usually gradual, friends and family may notice the hearing loss before the person with the hearing loss does.

Age-related deafness can affect one or both ears. If the age-related deafness affects one ear, the condition is described as unilateral. If the hearing loss affects both ears, it is called bilateral hearing loss. Unilateral hearing loss can make it difficult for the person to identify the source of sounds.

The severity of the age-related deafness is measured by a hearing test. A person may have lost the ability to hear sounds beneath the threshold determined by the hearing loss. The louder the threshold of the person’s hearing ability, the more severe the hearing loss is. If someone has lost the ability to hear high-frequency sounds, the hearing loss may be called high-frequency hearing loss.

Tinnitus may also be a symptom of age-related hearing loss. Tinnitus us hearing sounds like ringing, buzzing, or crackling that are not present in the person’s environment.

Hearing aids are a common treatment for age-related hearing loss. The hearing aids amplify sound so that the person can hear better. Many types of hearing aids are available and many can be personalized to meet the specific needs of the individual. Hearing aids may also help reduce the presence of tinnitus.

Noise-induced hearing loss can occur suddenly due to a loud noise, also called auditory trauma. Examples of an auditory trauma are noises from an explosion, firecrackers, or gunshot. Sometimes, the trauma caused by an explosion or other sudden loud noise causes deafness that is not due to the noise itself, but due to the sudden change in air pressure. Auditory trauma can rupture the eardrum. A perforated eardrum often heals without medical treatment. Severe cases may need to be surgically repaired.

Hearing loss from noise rarely happens suddenly. Usually, there is a gradual loss of hearing. Noise-Induced hearing loss can also occur gradually due to lifetime exposure to noise. Age-related hearing loss is a gradual decrease in hearing ability often due to lifelong noise exposure.

Industrial hearing loss is noise-induced hearing loss caused by noise in an industrial setting. This type of hearing loss is most common in people who work in industrial settings with excessive noise. Protective gear such as earplugs are strongly recommended to protect the hearing of people who work in noisy environments.

Workers in other fields are at risk of noise-induced hearing loss. Occupational hearing loss is common among firefighters and musicians. Some manufacturing settings have excessive noise that can put the workers at risk for hearing loss.

Some people may not realize the danger of loud noise. Loud music as is common at rock concerts has been known to cause hearing loss. Considering that even a long exposure to normal noise levels can cause age-related hearing loss, habits or activities that cause exposure to loud noise can increase the risk or severity of the hearing loss that the person may experience later in life. The onset of hearing loss in someone who participates in activities in a noisy environment can be sooner than the onset of common age-related hearing loss.

Deafness from disease can happen any time during life, even before birth. Deafness can result from being exposed to rubella, influenza, or mumps before birth. Rubella is German measles. After birth, a severe cause of jaundice can put the baby at risk of hearing loss.

Some diseases classified as childhood diseases can cause deafness or hearing loss. Deafness from diseases of childhood can usually be prevented with proper vaccinations, however, this type of deafness remains fairly common in developing countries. Meningitis, mumps, cytomegalovirus, and chicken pox are examples of diseases that can cause deafness. Meningitis causes deafness if the inflammation around the brain causes the inner ear to also become inflamed.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus that can be passed from mother to newborn during birth. CMV can cause progressive, permanent hearing loss. The extra mucus from the common cold can also cause temporary hearing loss. Fevers can be a cause deafness from disease.

Ear infections are the most common causes of hearing loss in children. A middle ear infection may cause muffled hearing in the effected ear. The hearing loss can become more severe and permanent if the ear infection is left untreated. Swimmer’s ear, also called an external ear infection, can cause temporary hearing loss due to swelling of the ear canal.

Otosclerosis is a disease of the ear that causes bony projections to develop. These growths can interfere with hearing. Otosclerosis can affect the middle ear, inner ear, or both.

Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other autoimmune disorders have been associated with a risk of hearing loss. With these autoimmune diseases, hearing loss occurs if the immune system attacks the cells of the cochlea. Demyelinating diseases like MS can cause deafness.

Diabetes can cause hearing loss or deafness if the nerves or the blood supply of the ears is compromised. Nerve damage and damage to the circulatory system are symptoms of diabetes.

A perforated eardrum can be caused by inserting something into the ear canal or even by a loud, sudden noise. Ruptured eardrums due to a loud noise is said to be caused by auditory trauma. With some instances of loud noises causing deafness such as near an explosion, the sound may not be the cause the hearing loss. The hearing loss may be due to the sudden change in air pressure. Perforated eardrums often heal on their own without medical treatment. If there is considerable damage to the eardrum, surgery may be required to fix the eardrum.

A fractured skull can damage the structure of the ear and cause hearing loss. The ear has many tiny structures that are necessary for normal hearing. If these structures become damaged, hearing loss or deafness is likely. In some cases, the damage can be surgically repaired.

Head trauma can sometimes cause the jaw to become misaligned. This misalignment can cause temporomandibular joint disorder, commonly called TMJ or lockjaw. TMJ can cause hearing loss by interfering with the functioning of the Eustachian tubes or damage to the nerves of the ear.

Trauma is a possible cause of Meniere’s disease. Meniere’s disease is caused by a fluctuation in the amount of fluid in the inner ear. The inner ear is normally filled with fluid. A change in the level of fluid impairs hearing. Meniere’s disease can also impair the person’s sense of balance. This condition can also cause dizziness and tinnitus, or ringing in the ear. There is no cure for Meniere’s disease.

Injury to the cochlea or auditory nerve can cause sensorineural hearing loss. Injury to the inner ear can result from head trauma from car accidents or fights. This type of hearing loss is not able to be repaired surgically.

There are two ways of becoming deaf due to noise. How you become deaf from sudden noise is if the noise ruptures the eardrum. This type of deafness is usually temporary. A perforated eardrum heals naturally unless the damage is severe. The other way to become deaf from noise is through long-term exposure. The noise-induced deafness may occur from normal noise throughout one’s lifetime or from prolonged exposure to a noisy environment like working in an industrial setting.

Age-related deafness can be caused from noise exposure of a change in the flexibility of the bony structures of the ear. Age-related deafness is a common condition called presbycusis.

Exposure to certain diseases can cause deafness. Rubella, influenza, mumps, and meningitis can cause deafness. There are also diseases of the ear that can cause hearing loss or deafness. Otosclerosis is a disease of the ear characterized by growths in the middle ear, inner ear, or both. Otosclerosis can cause deafness.

Ear infections, if left untreated, can cause deafness or hearing loss. Severe ear infections are the most common cause of deafness that develops during childhood. If promptly treated, ear infections rarely cause permanent hearing loss.

Trauma can cause deafness if the trauma damages the ear. Skull fractures, blows to the head, or blows to the ear could damage the structure of the ear and cause deafness. Swelling of the brain due to head trauma can cause the pressure of the swelling to damage the ear.

Exposure to some environmental toxins causes deafness. Some medications can cause deafness by damaging the inner ear. Deafness or hearing loss from toxic substances or medications is called ear poisoning or ototoxicity.

The cause of the deafness is often unidentified. Idiopathic hearing loss is hearing loss for which the cause is unknown. Sudden hearing loss is often idiopathic.

This condition can cause hearing loss, deafness, and problems in maintaining balance and posture. Ear poisoning can also cause tinnitus. Tinnitus is hearing a sound that is not there. The sound could be ringing in the ear or a variety of other sounds. The symptoms of ototoxicity may be temporary or permanent. The person may develop symptoms of ear poisoning after one exposure or after prolonged exposure to the toxin.

Many different medications can cause hearing loss. Loop diuretics, aminoglycoside antibiotics, and even aspirin can be a cause of ototoxicity. Quinine is an anti-malaria medication that can cause ototoxicity. Some cancer-treating drugs have a risk of ototoxicity. Hearing loss due to medications is often temporary. People should not stop taking prescribed medication before discussing the risk of ear poisoning with their doctors.

Exposure to chemicals that can cause hearing loss often causes permanent damage. Carbon monoxide, mercury, carbon disulfide, manganese, tin, and lead are examples of substances that pose a risk of ototoxicity. Exposure to these substances can cause permanent hearing loss and permanent impairment of balance.

When the patient experiences hearing loss, the physician will ask a series of questions regarding the onset of the hearing loss and exposure to any substances that can cause ear poisoning. There is no specific test for ototoxicity. The diagnosis of ototoxicity is based on the patient’s history of exposure to possible causes and by ruling out other possible causes of hearing loss.

There is no cure for permanent damage caused by ototoxicity. Treatment is focused on decreasing the symptoms and helping patients cope with the hearing loss or other symptoms. Hearing aids and cochlear implants are sometimes used as part of the treatment for ear poisoning. Physical therapy is sometimes used to treat balance impairments due to ototoxicity.

The frequency of congenital deafness is approximately one out of every one or two thousand births. Bilateral hearing loss is hearing loss affecting both ears. Unilateral hearing loss only affects one ear. Bilateral congenital hearing loss is more common than unilateral congenital hearing loss.

Congenital deafness can be caused by a heredity, genetic condition, or deformity of the ear. Genetic deafness through the normal heredity of genes is the most common cause of congenital deafness. The parents who are deaf or carry recessive genes that cause deafness have a high risk of having infants with genetic deafness. The deafness may have been passed down through numerous generations of the family.

Not all genetic hearing loss is inherited from the parents. Mutations of the genes can cause a syndrome that was not inherited from the parents. About twenty percent of congenital hearing loss is caused by syndromes caused by genetic mutations or gene abnormalities.

The genetic syndromes that can cause deafness are usually unexpected. Families of children born with these syndromes rarely have any other children with that syndrome in the family’s medical history. Many of these non-hereditary syndromes cause several birth defects including hearing loss or deafness. Usher syndrome, CHARGE syndrome, Mohr-Tranebjaerg syndrome, Jervell and Lange-Nielsen Syndrome, and Waardenburg syndrome are examples of syndromes that can cause congenital hearing loss.

Numerous hospitals across the world routinely test newborns for hearing loss. If the infant has not had a hearing screening or the test failed to detect a congenital hearing loss, a hearing loss may be suspected if the infant has a pattern of failing to react to auditory stimuli. Infants have a natural startle reflex which causes jerky movement in reaction to loud noise. The absence of the startle reflex can mean that the infant is not hearing noise that would otherwise cause the startle reflex.