deaf

Deaf is a term used to describe people with little to no functional hearing, typically a severe to profound hearing loss. Some people identify as Deaf with a capital D to reflect membership in the Deaf community and a shared cultural and linguistic heritage, while others describe themselves as deaf as a medical condition or sensory attribute. The term encompasses both a medical condition and a cultural identity.

Sign languages are the primary languages of many Deaf communities. They are complete natural languages with their own grammar and lexicon, distinct from the surrounding spoken languages. Not all Deaf people use sign language, and methods of communication vary, including sign language, spoken language, lip-reading, and written forms. Deaf culture emphasizes community, accessibility, and pride in sign language.

Education and services emphasize accessibility, including sign language interpretation, captioning, and assistive technologies such as hearing aids and cochlear implants. Deaf education ranges from mainstream classrooms with accommodations to dedicated schools for the Deaf and bilingual approaches that include sign language as a primary language. Rights and policies in many countries require reasonable accommodations for Deaf individuals in education, employment, and public life.