DEAF COMMUNITY

Deaf and Non-Deaf Community

[Name of the Institute]Abstract

This paper examines the difference between the quality of life of a person belonging to deaf community and quality of life of a person belonging to non-deaf community. As a by-product we have also analysed the differences in quality of life of a person belonging to either community on the basis of gender. This study uses quantitative mode of enquiry. We have used level of consumption as a proxy of quality of life. Level of income is the control variable used in the study. In our sample the quality of life of a deaf is found to be lower than the quality of life of a non-deaf. Moreover, a male deaf has a lower quality of life than a female deaf and inversely, a female non-deaf has a lower quality of life than a male non-deaf. A cross-sectional data of 100 subjects is used in estimating a model using dummy variables. The significance of the estimated parameters is further tested using t-tests. The OLS estimates of the dummy variables in our model are found to be insignificant suggesting that there is no statistically significant difference between the consumption level of a person belonging to the deaf community and the consumption level of a person belonging to the non-deaf community. Future researches may use other indicators of quality of life and also the impact of deafness can be differentiated over the demographic characteristics.

Abstract1

ii

Introduction3

Sociocultural model versus pathology/disability model of deafness3

The deaf community versus the hearing community4

Methodology8

Results9

Discussion and Conclusion12

Reference14

Introduction

This paper investigates the quality of life of deaf community and compares it with the quality of life of non-deaf community. Human rights are same for every human being belonging to either community. Facts are usually opposite of these written statement s that what ought to be done. In this paper we try to analyze the meaning of deaf community, what the early studies found in this subject and then we develop the model for this research paper. At the end the results and findings are discussed.

Sociocultural model versus pathology/disability model of deafness

In scientific literature, two opposing perspectives have been reported for conceptualization of deafness in contemporary society over the past few years (Jacobson 1995, Torres 1995, Reagan 1995, Rose 1995, and Hoffmeister 1996). One defines deafness as cultural identifier while the other regards deafness as a pathological condition. Consequently, the ways recent researches are conducted on deafness (Woodward & Allan 1993) are conditioned in both models. The effects on education and social view of deaf people are determined significantly by these models.

Failure of hearing mechanism is focused in the pathology perspective. Compensation and correction are remedies of deafness when regarded as a medical condition. For study, using this model, groups of profoundly and moderately hearing impaired people can be analysed together (Woodward & Allen 1993). Moreover, assuming that the only means of cognitive development in child is the competency in spoken language, this model emphasises the need to encourage lip reading and speech (Hoffmeister ...