Can I say "deaf people"?
If you thought this term was offensive, you are mistaken. It is the
way they prefer to be called. On the other hand, using deaf-mute is
wrong, deaf people have a voice and muteness is a different
disability.
Is Sign Language made up of "Signs" or "Gestures"?
At some point you must have come across the term “gestures” when
referring to ASL, right? While signs are how people communicate in
Sign Languages, gestures are just movements people often use as part
of their communicative act.
Is there a difference between Deaf and Hearing Impaired people?
From a clinical point of view, what differentiates the deaf from the
hearing impaired is the depth of the hearing loss. However, taking
into consideration only the clinical perspective is not enough, since
the different terms also carry an important cultural component:
American Sign Language.
Can deaf people hear at all?
Deafness varies; some may have residual hearing or use hearing aids,
while others rely solely on sign language and visual communication.
Do all mute individuals use sign language?
Not necessarily; some may communicate through writing, gestures, or
assistive technology, depending on their preferences and abilities.
Is sign language universal?
No, there are different sign languages worldwide, like American Sign
Language (ASL) in the US and British Sign Language (BSL) in the UK.
Are all deaf individuals proficient in lip-reading?
Lip-reading abilities vary, and not all deaf individuals rely on
lip-reading as their primary means of communication; some may prefer
sign language or other visual communication methods.
Are all mute individuals born mute?
Muteness can be congenital or acquired due to various factors such as
injury, illness, or trauma.
