The last week of September coincides with the International Week of the Deaf and Dumb, and this week aims to bridge the gap and spread awareness about the deaf community and celebrate their presence, success and cultures. times now news
What are the psychological effects of hearing loss?
The lack of communication with others through traditional means makes it difficult for deaf people to communicate with other individuals. This often affects their minds and psychological state and leads to misery and frustration..
Ignorance of deaf culture: The attitude of the masses towards deaf culture may become ignorant and pathetic under certain circumstances. This can leave individuals feeling invisible, isolated, and depressed.
Inaccessibility or unavailability of resources: The challenges associated with deafness and its impact on mental health may require professional attention. However, due to lack of help or lack of accessible resources, it may lead to further deterioration of mental health..
How you can be an ally to the deaf community:
Educate Yourself: Teach Yourself About Deaf Culture And What You Can Do To Contribute And Improve Their Lives Staying ignorant will only lead to inequality and miscommunication..
Learn Sign Language: Bridging the communication gap between you and the deaf community by spending some time learning sign language.
Be patient: people with different abilities have a unique way of communicating while one person may use sign language, another may use visuals to communicate but what you have to do is be patient, observe and understand.
Don’t Show Compassion: Not everyone you feel is suffering requires empathy, and the deaf community are individuals with the power to lead. Put yourself in their shoes and you’ll understand how empathy and compassion can be offensive to some people..
Try to be helpful: the various help resources are often in formats that may not be accessible to the deaf community Offer to help you in any way you can to make sure that people in need are getting the help they need.