Globally, the Deaf community experiences similar exclusions. It is what both unites and isolates the community as a whole.
A Canadian filmmaker wrote about her experiences as a Deaf person in a hearing world experiencing audism (discrimination against Deaf people) daily in an article on an online news site, Nadja. Her frustration is palpable. From phone calls to doctor visits, ignorance in others abound.
Dinner Table Syndrome is also an occurrence happening around the world. DTS is “the exclusion [of Deaf persons] at family gatherings or events” and “in Asian households, hearing family members usually speak more than one language. While getting carried away during the events, they will not converse in the language the Deaf adult is fluent in, which can also lead the Deaf adult to be excluded from the conversation” (insightintothedeafworld.com). But DTS also happens in the native tongue of a Deaf person as well.
Cochlear implants have long been an issue of both contention and elation for the Deaf community around the world. A 2021 study in Spain looked at the psychosocial impact of hearing assistance technology, including cochlear implants, traditional hearing aids, and text applications for computer and mobile devices. While the study is considered preliminary with further analysis needed, the overall conclusion is that hearing assistance is welcome and used for most study participants.
More education about the Deaf community cannot hurt the hearing majority. The more awareness and insight brought to light can only enhance interactions with our Deaf community members.
Boivin, M.-A. (2020). Discrimination against deaf people happens every day, even within the deaf community. https://www.nadja.co/2020/11/09/discrimination-against-deaf-people/
Jiménez-Arberas, E., & Díez, E. (2021). Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices and Other Technologies on Deaf and Hard of Hearing People. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(14). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147259
Naleer, H. (2020, July 29). Dinner table syndrome. Insight into a Deaf World. https://www.insightintothedeafworld.com/post/dinner-table-syndrome
This description of Dinner Table Syndrome is heartbreaking! As a member of a large Asian family who’s mealtimes are often loud and multi-lingual, this post gives a lot of humbling insight into the information needs of deaf family members. Thank you for raising this awareness!
Thank you for your comment, Junelle! I wish I’d had more time to dig into the global side of the Deaf community.
Kim