Being deaf and in prison is a horror. The main fear of prison inmates, whether Deaf or hearing, is that they will be raped, killed, or subjected to other forms of violence. Such fears are based in reality. The recent overcrowding of jails and prisons has increased these problems significantly. A major reason for this situation is the blatant…

An orientation to autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), also known as autism, is provided, and the specific syndrome of autism and deafness is addressed. The two conditions have in common a major problem: communication. Case histories are provided, the development of treatment for autism is discussed, and the separate disorders that make up ASD are…

The issue of mental health services available to adults and children in the United States who are deaf is addressed. Included is a historical perspective on the changes in these services over the last 50 years. Within this scope, the current status of services is described in some detail. Psychological research on children who are deaf is…

Discussion of issues involved in sexual abuse of deaf youth in schools considers characteristics of pedophiles and hebephiles and how sexual offenders are dealt with in the criminal justice system. It suggests ways to prevent sexual abuse of children who are deaf and what to look for in identifying deaf children who are being victimized. (Contains…

A study compared 58 patients who were deaf and 168 hearing patients at a facility serving youth with psychological disturbances. All of the children who were deaf and admitted at age 12 or younger had strong or confirmed indications of sexual abuse and 85 percent of the adolescents. Residential facilities are described. (Contains references.)…

This paper examines expectations and stresses placed on sign language interpreters in mental health settings within a framework of demand and control theory. Translations of some specific psychological screening instruments and issues related to the Code of Ethics of the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf are considered relative to…

Analysis of published studies of deaf mentally ill inpatients indicates a greater overall prevalence of mental illness in the deaf population than in the general population. Characteristic symptoms leading to hospitalization of deaf people tend to be different from those of hearing patients. For both hearing and deaf patients, dual diagnosis…

Data from 22 cases of individuals with deafness suffering from pedophilia indicate a number of factors that distinguish them from hearing pedophiles. Differences include a prevalence of Primitive Personality Disorder, a high rate of brain damage, illiteracy, poorer communication skills, and psychiatric illnesses. Legal issues, prevention, and…

The authors discuss the incidence of impairments diagnosed among children with congenital rubella syndrome. Approximately 73 percent are hearing impaired, at least 35 percent have congenital heart disorders, and 33 percent have visual defects. (Author)

The article reviews the literature on the relationship of certain viral diseases to hearing loss with emphasis on its implications for professionals who work with hearing impaired children and adults. The data describe both the serious pathology recently discovered to be present in some rubella deafened youth and the potential dangers of several…

Fifty-seven gifted individuals with deafness or hearing impairments were analyzed in terms of educational, career, and mental health status. Thirty-nine percent had experienced mental illness requiring therapy. Of the 49 old enough for postsecondary schooling, 43% had graduated from a 4-year college. Thirty-three percent were working in…

This article provides guidelines on diagnosing learning disabilities in deaf or hard-of-hearing children and adults, evaluates major tests in terms of their use with deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals who may have a learning disability, and suggests a battery of tests found to be useful. (Author/JDD)

This paper raises concerns about use of cochlear implants with prelingually deaf children. It presents evidence questioning whether implants actually assist such children to acquire English as a Second Language and finds minimal differences in hearing improvements achieved with implants compared to conventional aids. Use of critical stage theory…

This article documents the wide variation in terminology used by the U.S. Department of Education and the 50 states in gathering data on deaf and hard-of-hearing children and in determining eligibility for services. Recommendations for achieving uniformity in defining and applying the terms "deaf" and "hard of hearing" are offered. (Author/DB)