deaf community
Hearing-impaired social group
The deaf community is the social and cultural group of people who are deaf or hard of hearing, along with their families, interpreters, and allies.
It centers on shared experience and often shared language—particularly sign languages like ASL.
She became active in the deaf community after losing her hearing.
The term emphasizes cultural identity over medical condition, distinguishing those who embrace Deaf culture from those who simply have hearing loss.
- hearing lossReduced ability to perceive sound
- lip readingVisual speech interpretation
- sign languageVisual-gestural communication system
- closed captioningOn-screen transcription of audio
- hard of hearingReduced auditory ability
signing · hearing aids · interpreter · cochlear · inclusion · accessibility · implant · TTY · audiology · speech therapy · subtitle · visual communication · visual learner · assistive technology · caption · disability rights · barrier · advocacy
- Deaf Resourcessign language books
- disability groupswheelchair users, amputees, guide dog users
- hearingear, cochlea, hearing loss, hearing test, hearing aid
- social groupsdemographic groups, clan, ethnic groups, age groups, minority groups
- support groupssupport groups, support group, self-help groups, group therapy, peer support
- DeafnessAmerican Sign Language, sign language interpreters, hearing aids, lip reading, Gallaudet
deaf communitydominant culture
Society's prevailing belief system