Are deaf people in the world increasing or not?

Question

I have been working with the deaf for more than 15 years now. I am also a training director of a school for the deaf here in the Philippines. Based on my experience, deaf people studying in our school is constantly increasing. Was is because of increasing number of deaf people or their awareness is increasing that there are schools for them so they are coming out?

Answer 1

Many factors: The ability to keep a seriously ill infant alive is greater, which is not to say the child may have some disability- years ago they may have died, now perhaps hearing impaired.
Meningitis is prevelent in varying parts of the world. Leading disease of deafness.
Of course deafness brought on by age or injury: as people live longer, there may appear to be more deaf persons.
Earlier diagnose: some deaf were labled retarded years ago and like the other person said they would be in an institution.
As deafness is not seen as such a stigma, many deaf families are having kids so it may seem like there is an increase.

A Brief Summary of Estimates for the Size of the Deaf Population
in the USA Based on Available Federal Data and Published Research:
http://gri.gallaudet.edu/Demographics/deaf-US.php

About 2 to 4 of every 1,000 people in the United States are "functionally deaf," though more than half became deaf relatively late in life; fewer than 1 out of every 1,000 people in the United States became deaf before 18 years of age.

However, if people with a severe hearing impairment are included with those who are deaf, then the number is 4 to 10 times higher. That is, anywhere from 9 to 22 out of every 1,000 people have a severe hearing impairment or are deaf. Again, at least half of these people reported their hearing loss after 64 years of age.

Finally, if everyone who has any kind of "trouble" with their hearing is included then anywhere from 37 to 140 out of every 1,000 people in the United States have some kind of hearing loss, with a large share being at least 65 years old.

Answer 2

I dont know about in the Philippines, but in the US, I dont know that the numbers of Deaf are on the rise (well, I suppose technically they would be as the baby boomers age and lose their hearing), but I do know that the awareness has increased.

For decades upon decades many many deaf people were diagnosed as MR and placed in asylums, because the "tests" for hearing were so flawed (it was usually banging something loud behind the child's head, and when the child turned because either he/she heard it because it was so loud, or felt it the doctor said "Well, there is nothing wrong with his/her hearing")that they thought many children that couldnt hear, could.
Now, there are increasing tests on infants. In my state, hearing tests must be done on infants before they are 3 days old to test for babies born deaf. Pediatricians perform hearing tests on routine well-baby check ups. There is a knowledge about it that there never was before. And more and more people are learning that early intervention is key. As you probably know, the earlier you diagnose the deafness, the better for the child, and now that there is that awareness of it, it seems like there are more cases of it.
Also, today there is a greater acceptance of "differences". For a long time, those that were hard of hearing, even profoundly, hid their "disability" if they could. Today, more and more what were once "disabilities and handicaps" are now seen as traits that make a person unique.

I think it may just seem as though there is an increase in deafness, when really it can be chalked up to an increase in awareness and acceptance.

Answer 3

Yes. Well, I'm not sure about 'deaf' pople but the amount of people with damaged hearing is definately on the rise.

From 1971 to 1990, there was 17% rise with 18-44 year olds and a 26% increase with 45- 64 year olds. This is because of people listening to very very loud things. Any sound over 105 dB is harmful and a disco is usually 110dB, mp3's on loud are actually louder at 112dB, rock concerts reach 120dB and a car stereo can go up to 125dB.

Cold water also isn't good.

Answer 4

In addition to increased noise factors, many countries still have very little healthcare or pre-natal care. In the Phillipines along 60-70% of births occur outside the hospital. Illnesses not taken care of can lead to deafness as well as untreated ear hygeine.

Answer 5

Did you see the report regarding cell phone use & deafness? According to a video clip, hearing loss/impairment has increased 20% since walkmans started being used to today's cell phone use. If you go to yahoo news video stories it is in there for personal viewing. I saw it just today.I

Answer 6

your point may be correct,but take into consideration that there's more noise,music and extra noise being created by construction,builders and cars, around us and that alot of young people think they need to hear music so loudly, thus causing deafness and construction builders and some others do not wear protective ear plugs when working.

Answer 7

probably not...
maybe parents are now becoming open to their child's condition...unlike before