Mental Health and the Deaf Community

Most of the literature regarding mental illness and deafness is based on studies conducted overseas.

Conflicting data exists in relation to the prevalence of mental illness in deaf people. Some studies suggest that the incidence of mental illness is higher for deaf people than for the general population. Other studies suggest the incidence is similar to the hearing population and that the disproportionately higher number of deaf people within mental health services is accounted for as a result of communication difficulties and misdiagnosis of behaviour and communication disorders.

Case Example
I didn't know what schizophrenia was. I had to read about it myself. I went to the library and borrowed some books and read them. It was terrible.
My parents know more than me, they know everything about my illness, they're always on the telephone to my psychiatrist, meeting with him, always talking about me.
Participant - Deaf discussion group (Dwyer 1994)

"The stigma of mental illness is stronger in the Deaf community than among hearing persons (Robinson 1978). Lack of awareness in the deaf community about mental health and mental illness contributes significantly to this experience. Dwyer (1994) found some deaf people felt so stigmatised by their illness, they withdrew from the Deaf community. However, little education about mental health and mental illness has specifically targeted the Deaf community in Australia" (p.4 Final Report for Snakes and Ladders. A mental health education project for the Deaf community)

"Minimal research into the mental health needs of deaf people has been carried out in Australia (Briffa, 1998: Dwyer, 1994) with major concerns relating to:

• communication difficulties,
• mental health professionals' lack of awareness of issues related to deafness,
• and access to information and services being inequitable and inappropriate for deaf people."

(Briffa, 2001).

Deaf people experience "severe disadvantage in accessing mental health services. Hearing service providers are usually unaware of deaf issues and deaf culture. This can result in misdiagnosis, fragmented treatment, prolonged hospital stays and increased risk of relapse. In turn, this can decrease the chance of the person voluntarily accessing services during subsequent periods of need" (Victorian Deaf Society and Australian Youth Foundation, 1996; Dwyer, 1994; Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, 1993; Kitson and Fry, 1990.) [cited in Final Report for Snakes and Ladders, p.4 ].

"Many people in the Deaf community have little awareness and understanding of mental health and mental health problems" (Briffa, 2001). A recent health study conducted by the Queensland University of Technology School of Nursing found that Deaf female participants would like to access more information about mental health, (Judy Wollin, 2002).

Deafness and Mental Health assessments

A hearing loss should not become the focus of any mental health assessment; it may minimise the presenting problem or lead to a misdiagnosis.

In Queensland 5.2% of the population (185,962 persons) have a hearing impairment.

For the 3-year period of July 1997 to June 2000, Queensland Health client information data identifies 438 persons as being admitted to a mental health inpatient facility with a psychiatric disability, and coded as having a hearing impairment (using ICD codes 9 and 10).

Many studies have identified that hard of hearing people frequently hide their problem from the broader community, which leads to poor communication and behaviours, which are seen as strange by the people around them. "Unfriendly, stupid, rude, uncooperative, snobbish, socially unskilled, no personality," are all judgements frequently made of the hard of hearing person.

Those who have sensorineural hearing loss have difficulty with both clarity and volume issues when listening. This means that different voice modulation and sounds will be heard. This problem invites irritation from the unaware. 'She hears when she wants to' - 'he just refuses to listen' - 'he won't make an effort', are all common responses to the problem.

Being mindful of the prevalence of adult Australians who are hard of hearing (22 per cent), staff of mental health services should examine indications of hearing loss as an initial step in understanding the meaning and causes of a client's behaviour.

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Modified: 13 May 04