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Mental Health Treatment for the Deaf

Four in every 1,000 people in the U.S. are functionally deaf, and as many as 22 in 1000 have a severe hearing impairment, according to estimates by the Gallaudet Research Institute. Of course, deafness is not a mental illness and not all deaf people need mental health treatment.

  1. Mental Health Concerns

    • Deaf people can suffer from the same psychological disorders as hearing people, such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. Deaf people often experience significant amounts of stress related to their condition. They can have trouble communicating with hearing family members and co-workers, or face discrimination in society.

    Communication

    • Some deaf people are able to speak and read lips, but many rely on sign language to communicate. Ideally, mental health services would be provided by a doctor or therapist who signs, but this is not always possible. Then a registered interpreter should be provided.

    Language Difficulties

    • Language difficulties can be detrimental to a mental health assessment for a deaf individual. Some of the standard questions do not translate well. Asking a deaf person if he hear voices, for example, isn't going to make much sense.

    Cultural Differences

    • There is a deaf culture that is separate and distinct from hearing culture. For instance, deaf people frequently stomp their feet to get someone's attention. In the hearing community, this might be interpreted as aggressive or inappropriate. In the deaf community, it is normal behavior. A clinician should know that in order to make an accurate assessment of a deaf person's behavior.

    Where to Get Mental Health Treatment for the Deaf

    • Community mental health centers can provide treatment for the deaf and should provide registered interpreters if needed, but there is no guarantee service providers there will be knowledgeable about deaf culture. In some large cities there are agencies that specialize in providing mental health services to the deaf, and there are a few hospital inpatient units that provide services to the deaf.

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