Signs of Arthritis

Perhaps you or your deaf child (or a hearing child of deaf parents) have just been diagnosed with arthritis and the basic terms need to be explained. You need to explain about the pain of arthritis, how it affects the bones, and how to manage it. Here are the sources of signs for basic words associated with arthritis, and other resources on diabetes for deaf people. (The word list is courtesy of Robert Goodwin, my boyfriend who has severe arthritis).

Common Arthritis Words

arthritis ASLPro

blood test sign for blood: ASLPro, Handspeak *, ASL Browser, ASL University, ASL Video Dictionary and Inflection Guide * and the sign for test: ASLPro, Handspeak *, ASL Browser, ASL University

chronic Handspeak *, Signing Online *, ASL Browser, ASL University, ASLPro, ASL Video Dictionary and Inflection Guide *

diagnosis ASLPro, ASL Browser

diet ASL University, ASLPro

disability ASLPro, Handspeak *

disease ASLPro

exercise ASLPro, Handspeak *, ASL Browser, ASL University

flare ASLPro

joint damage sign for joint: ASL Browser and sign for damage: ASLPro, ASL Browser, Handspeak *

medication Handspeak *, ASL Browser, ASL Video Dictionary and Inflection Guide *, ASL University

mobile ASL Browser, ASLPro

pain ASLPro, ASL University, ASL Browser, Handspeak *

surgery ASL Video Dictionary and Inflection Guide *, ASLPro, ASL Browser, Handspeak *

therapy Handspeak *, ASL Video Dictionary and Inflection Guide *, ASLPro, Signing Online *

Signed and Captioned Arthritis Videos

For a signed explanation of arthritis, DeafMD.org has three videos on arthritis: arthritis, arthritis (degenerative), and arthritis (osteo). The videos also have a text transcript below the video.

The Described and Captioned Media Program (registration required) has a captioned program about arthritis, The Body Invaders: Arthritis, available as a DVD or streamed.

Keep up with developments in arthritis with the About.com guide to Arthritis.

* = pay site