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STATISTICS

Individuals are often curious about statistics involving Deafness. Although statistics are constantly changing, and only a limited amount of surveys have been done on Deafness, we have gathered many of the commonly accepted statistics. Statistics are sited in [ ] when possible. 

 

 

 

 

 

GENERAL STATISTICS REGARDING DEAFNESS

 

  • An estimated 1 in 1000 babies is born Deaf.

  • Deafness is the number one birth defect in the U.S.

  • 12 out of every 1000 person's under the age of 18 is Deaf. [NCHS]

  • 30 out of every 1000 children have hearing loss. [HLAA]

  • 20% of individuals in the U.S. has some form of hearing loss. [HLAA]

  • Approximately 4,000 new cases of sudden deafness occur each year in the United States. [Deafandhoh.com]

  • More than 400 forms of hereditary deafness have been identified.

  • Between 20 - 40% of individuals with an unknown source of hearing loss are deafened by the CONNEXIN 26 gene.

  • More than 50% of deafness in children is hereditary deafness. [NIH/Gallaudet Stat]

  • 360 million people worldwide have a disabling hearing loss (a loss over 40 dB). [WHO]

  • 3% - 6% of Deaf children have Ushers Syndrome. [Deafnadhoh.com]

  • Only 4% of Deaf children attend college. [UNC]

 

MEDICAL STATISTICS REGARDING DEAFNESS [WHO]

 

  • Half of all cases of hearing loss are avoidable through primary prevention. [WHO]

  • Congenital causes of Deafness:

    • Maternal Rubella, Syphilis or certain other infections during pregnancy

    • Low birth weight

    • Birth Asphyxia (a lack of oxygen at the time of birth)

    • Inappropriate use of ototoxic drugs (such as Aminoglycosides, Cytotoxic drugs, Antimalarial drugs and Diuretics) during pregnancy

    • Severe jaundice in the neonatal period.

  • ​Aquired causes of Deafness:​

    • Infectious diseases such as Meningitis, Measles and Mumps can lead to hearing loss, mostly in childhood, but also later in life.

    • Chronic ear infection, which commonly presents as discharging ears, can lead to hearing loss. In certain cases this condition can also lead to serious, life-threatening complications, such as brain abscesses or meningitis.

    • Collection of fluid in the ear (otitis media) can cause hearing loss.

    • Use of ototoxic drugs at any age, such as some antibiotic and antimalarial medicines for example, can damage the inner ear.

    • Head injury or injury to the ear can cause hearing loss.

    • Excessive noise, including working with noisy machinery, and exposure to loud music or other loud noises, such as gunfire or explosions, can harm a person’s hearing.

    • Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is caused by degeneration of sensory cells.

    • Wax or foreign bodies blocking the ear canal can cause hearing loss at any age. Such hearing loss is usually mild and can be readily corrected.​

 

 

 

 

 

STATISTICS REGARDING ABUSE OF DEAF INDIVIDUALS

 

  • Deaf children are 5x as likely to be abused as Hearing children. [UK Study]

  • Deaf children are 3x more likely to be abused in the U.S.

  • Deaf prisoners are abused at 3 times the rate of Hearing prisoners.

  • 1 in 4 deaf women are victims of domestic violence. [ADWAS]

  • 1 in 3 deaf women are the victims of sexual assault. [ADWAS]

  • 2 published statistics for abuse of girls rate between 55% and 91% of Deaf girls faced sexual abuse and reported the abuse.

  • 50% of Deaf children are sexually abused. [UNC]

  • 41.6% of Deaf children are physically abused. [UNC]

  • 26% of Deaf children are neglected. [UNC]

  • One study reported 54% of Deaf boys were sexually abused (CAPS stat) in comparison to only 10% of Hearing boys.

  • Incidence of maltreatment, including neglect and physical and sexual abuse, is more than 25 percent higher among deaf and hard-of-hearing children than among hearing youths. [RIT]

  • Most abuse of Deaf children occurs at home. [UNC]

    *These abuse statistcs are considered to be low as much abuse is not reported.*

DRUGS & ALCOHOL

  • 1 - 7 Deaf individuals have abused drugs and/or alcohol.
     

SEXUALITY

  • Individual assessments rate between 40 - 70% of Gallaudet students define themselves as Gay/Lesbian/BiSexual.

  • An estimated 10% of the Deaf population overall is homosexual.

  • An estimated 4.3% of the deaf population in Maryland has AIDS. [CAPS]

  • An estimated 7,000 - 26,000 Deaf individuals in the U.S. have AIDS. [CAPS]

  • Between 8,000 - 40,000 Deaf individuals are living with HIV/AIDS. [HRSA]

  • One study showed Deaf students 9 - 12 grade could only answer 8 out of 35 questions about AIDS correctly due to the lack of Deaf education.

 

CHRISTIANITY

  • 93% of the Deaf in America have no contact with a church.

  • Less than 2% of the Deaf have an active relationship with Jesus.

  • The Deaf Community is the 3rd (sometimes considered 4th) largest unreached people group with the gospel of Christ.

  • Less than 300 individuals are serving in full time Deaf Ministry worldwide.

  • In 2005 42 out of 65 Deaf churches in America did not have a pastor. [CCC]

  • Less than 5% or churches in the US offer Deaf outreach. [Silent Blessings]

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