Deaf People
People who are born deaf, or children who become deaf before they learn to speak come to depend much more heavily on their sight than hearing people.
Their natural language is sign language. Although they are taught English as a second language it is difficult for them to learn and it is extremely difficult for them to develop clear speech.
As their deafness can't be expected to get better they see their problem as one of communication, rather than a medical problem. However, with the deaf community the communication problem disappears.
When deaf people talk to hearing people they use English words (if known) and talk more slowly. When talking among themselves their signing is fast and fluent.
Facial expressions, eye contact and gestures are very important in a visual language. Hearing people might find deaf people 'over the top' with their expressions and gestures. Deaf people often think hearing people are dull and unresponsive.
Deaf people like to sit or stand slightly further away when talking to another person to give themselves room to sign.
Communication between deaf and hearing people works far better when the hearing person makes an effort to adapt to the deaf person's communication needs.
Hearing Impaired People
Hearing impaired people are more likely to rely on spoken language than deaf people. In most cases they have clearer speech and better access to the hearing world but still need hearing people to make an effort.
Hearing impaired people can often find solutions to some of the problems created by their hearing loss with the use of hearing aids and other assistive devices. However, in other situations, such as in a court room, at a conference or at lectures when more than one person is speaking or the speaker is a long way away, additional assistance will be required.
People choose the culture to which they feel they belong. Many people whose hearing loss isn't severe don't consider themselves part of the hearing impaired community. Others who are severely hearing impaired may feel more at home in the deaf community.
New Zealand Sign Language
Deaf people of New Zealand have their own culture. The thing that makes them different from other groups is their language:
New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL)
- NZSL is a visual, gestural language that uses hand and facial expressions. It has its own grammar, like all spoken and signed languages throughout the world.
- NZSL allows the expression of all thoughts, ideas and feelings.
- NZSL is the most common language in the deaf community and has been passed on from person to person over the years, changing through time. NZSL and sign languages in other countries are now recognized as true languages in the same sense as spoken languages.
- NZSL is precious to deaf people because it allows them to communicate freely with each other. It is the link which brings deaf people together and gives them access to information about the world.
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