Deaf Culture

I had expected to learn a little more than I did about the deaf culture.  I found it very hard to find good information that expounded further than what I did find.  I learned that throughout the deaf community, they do not belief that being deaf is a disability.  They promote vision as a primary focus and their primary sense due to not having hearing and then from there they have created their own world of literature, music, art, etc.  I learned that ASL is the primary language and there are dialects of signing throughout the world, which I found to be interesting.  I learned that there are all sort of resources for the deaf community such as libraries, churches, dating forums, social outlets, etc.  I have treated a few deaf patients and is has been a very difficult.  Until a interpreter gets there communicating is almost impossible.  I have in instances used a pen and paper to communicate until interpreters have arrived.  It is hard to not talk to the patient and feel like you are talking to the translator.  It is vital that we remember to include the patient and make them feel as if they are the one that we are talking to and not the translator.  I feel privileged to be able to care for patients that are part of the deaf community and see how it is that they make themselves fit into everyday life and the cultures around them.  THey are not a specific culture but a community as many of the deaf website stated.  And we as healthcare professionals should treat them as such.