Deafness: Most Popular Articles

Cochlear Implants
Cochlear implants, fast gaining popularity, can restore some sound for deaf people of all ages.

Sign Language Dictionaries
Sign language dictionaries are available online.

Audiology - Ear Wax
Ear wax removal and treatment of deep wax are explained in this article.

Famous & Historic Deaf People
Articles on well-known figures in the deaf/hard of hearing community both contemporary and past.

Sign Language - I Love You
The I Love You handshape, perhaps the most recognized sign.

Sign Word Reference Guide
A reference guide for the signs to words and phrases.

Sign Language - Baby Signing
Signing with babies, whether hearing or deaf, has proven to be beneficial.

Baby Sign Language Books
Books for teaching sign language to your baby.

Hearing Tests Online
Links to online hearing tests, with descriptions wherever possible.

Hearing Aid Prices
Hearing impaired people whose hearing losses are not severe enough for cochlear implants must use hearing aids. The problem is, hearing aids are not usually covered by health insurance plans. Learn more about the high cost of hearing aids.

People - Helen Keller
Helen Keller was a remarkable deafblind woman whose appeal endures.

Sign Language - Classes
How to find a sign language class in your area.

Deaf History - Sign Language
History of sign language.

Sign Language Alphabet
The sign language alphabet (fingerspelling) in photographs.

Top Sign Language Articles
The most popular sign language articles at About.com:Deafness.

Internet Relay Services
A comparison of internet relay services for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Sign Language - Religious
Resources for religious sign language and songs or prayers, Christian and Jewish.

Sign Language - Sexuality
Sources of sign language words for common human sexuality terms.

People - Louis Frisino
A look at the career of Louis Frisino, a deaf artist.

Sign Language Clip Art
Answers the question where sign language clip art and digital tools can be found.

Sign Language - Songs Pledges
Deafness.about.com forum members answer a question about the signs for common songs and pledges.

Before You Get Hearing Aids
Before you get hearing aids, you need to learn about different types of hearing aids, financing, care, and more.

Sign Language - Careers
Forum members discuss careers involving sign language.

I Love You Handshape Example
Example of how to make the I Love You sign handshape.

Sign Language 101
Sign language resources for new and experienced signers.

Learn Sign Language
Sign language learning e-course for people new to sign language.

Sign Language - Signed English
A look at one form of communication and instruction, the use of Signed Exact English.

Sign Language - Colors
Signs for different colors. Colors included are red, blue, yellow, green, orange, brown, purple, black, and white.

Deafness Articles by Topic
Articles on deafness and hearing loss organized by topic

Sign Language - Animals
Signing the words for animals, and resources online and in books, videos, and flashcards for animal signs.

Deaf History - Milan 1880
Milan 1880 was a historic event in deaf education that nearly led to the death of sign language.

Sign Language - Spanish Sign
Spanish speaking countries such as Mexico have their own Spanish sign languages.

Cochlear Implant Surgery
What happens in a cochlear implant surgery.

People - Thomas H. Gallaudet
Thomas H. Gallaudet is the father of deaf education in the United States.

Cause - Meniere's Disease
Meniere's disease is a common disorder of dizziness and hearing loss.

People - Kenny Walker
A look at the career of a deaf professional football player named Kenny Walker.

People - Heather Whitestone
Heather Whitestone was Miss America for one year but has a permanent place in deaf history.

Deaf Literature - Stories Poem
Stories, poems, and autobiographies by About Deafness visitors.

Deaf Culture 101
Aspects of American deaf culture.

Sign Language - ABC Stories
ABC stories are a fun way to express and practice the sign alphabet.

Hearing Aids - Financial Aid
Financing hearing aids and cochlear implants due to their high prices can be challenging. Here are some sources of help.

Employment and Deafness
Articles on employment within the deaf and hard of hearing community.

People - Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison not only was a great inventor, he was hearing impaired too.

Deaf History - Martha Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard island was a place where it was normal to be deaf.

Sign Language Facts
Basic Facts on American Sign Language.

Signing - Fingerspelling
Don't have time to learn sign language? Try learning the manual alphabet, or fingerspelling, instead.

People - Lou Ferrigno
Lou Ferrigno, a hard of hearing actor and bodybuilder.

People - Curtis Pride
Curtis Pride, a professional and minor league baseball player, happens to be deaf.

Deaf Movies
These are the best movies about deafness that I have seen, or that are recommended by About:Deafness/HOH visitors.

Sign Language - ASL Poetry
ASL poetry is the telling of poems, usually original poems, in sign language.

Recycling Used Hearing Aids
What to do with used or unwanted hearing aids. Information on recycling programs with domestic and international objectives.

Top Cochlear Implant Articles
Most popular cochlear implant articles at About Deafness.

People - Marlee Matlin
Actress Marlee Matlin, Academy Award-winning actress and star of the 2008 cast of Dancing With the Stars, is perhaps one of the more well-known deaf individuals. Read more about Marlee Matlin.

Sign Language Games
Games and puzzles, in books, board games, and online games for learning and practicing sign language either alone or with friends.

Deafblind Triplets
Profile of a family with deafblind triplet daughters.

Jobs - Employment Resources
Resources for finding jobs in the deaf community.

Deaf Community - New York City
The Deaf and Hard of Hearing community of the New York City area, and the social opportunities, social services, interpreting agencies and captioning services in the New York City area.

Cochlear Implants 101
Suggestions and guidelines for people considering a cochlear implant for themselves, or for their children.

History of Hearing Aids
Hearing aids through the years.

Sign Language - Hand Gestures
Are common hand gestures used by hearing people also found in ASL?

People - Alexander G Bell
Alexander Graham Bell and his connection to the deaf community.

Total Communication
Total communication, or simultaneous communication, is a popular communication and educational option for deaf and hard of hearing.

Hearing Loss - Demographics
The demographics or statistics of hearing loss. How many people are deaf or hard of hearing?

Buying Hearing Aids
Buying hearing aids is an expensive proposition, but there are guidelines and options available.

Sign Language - Sign Names
Forum members answer a question about the use of sign names.

Deaf and Music
Music can be enjoyed by and plays an important role in education for deaf people.

People - Douglas Tilden
Profile of the famous deaf sculptor Douglas Tilden.

Hearing Loss - Communication
With a few simple changes to their behavior or the communication environment, hearing people can communicate confidently with deaf and hard of hearing people even if they do not know sign language.

Deaf Literature - Poetry
Poetry is a medium for expressing feelings about hearing loss.

Cause - Sudden Deafness
More people lose their hearing suddenly than you might think.

Interpreting Jobs
After completing training to become a sign language interpreter, the newly trained interpreter needs to find a job interpreting. Suggestions on sources of employment for interpreters.

People - Samuel Heinicke
Samuel Heinicke developed oral deaf education and opened the first oral school for the deaf, in Germany.

Robert Weitbrecht
Profile of deaf inventor Robert Weitbrecht, who invented the telphone typewriter (TTY).

Jobs - Become a Captioner
With captioning being mandatory, there has been increased interest in the captioning field. Information and resources for hearing people interested in careers in captioning.

Abbe De l'Epee
Who was the Frenchman Abbe Charles Michel De L'Epee and what is his role in deaf educational history and sign language?

Wireless Communication
A look at the different features of some of the competing wireless text communication and paging services available to the deaf community.

Cause - Ototoxicity
Ototoxic drugs can cause hearing loss, both temporary and permanent.

Insurance and Aids
Insurance coverage for hearing aids, or the lack thereof.

Deaf Culture - Deafness Movies
Deafness in theatrical and television movies.

Top 10 Causes Deafness in Kids
Top ten causes of deafness and hearing loss

People - Dummy Hoy
Dummy Hoy was a deaf baseball player who may belong in the Hall of Fame.

Sign Language - Australia
Auslan is the sign language of Australia. Resources for learning Auslan.

People - Andrew Foster
Andrew Foster is a deaf African American who started schools for the deaf in Africa.

Scholarships for Deaf Students
Deaf college students can get financial aid and scholarships. Similar scholarships are available for hearing students majoring in deaf-related fields.

Deaf History - CI
A history of the cochlear implant, a surgically implanted device that helps deaf people to hear.

Cause - Connexin 26
Connexin 26 is a known genetic cause of hearing loss. The hearing loss occurs because the mutation disrupts potassium flow in the inner ear.

Deaf Culture - Audism
Audism as it is defined in the deaf community, and resources on audism.

Unilateral Hearing Loss
A type of hearing loss that gets relatively little attention is unilateral hearing loss.

Deaf Culture - Deaf Art
What deaf art is, and where it can be found online.

Hearing Aid Care
How to care for hearing aids properly.

How to Become an Interpreter
How to become an interpreter for deaf and hard of hearing people.

Sign Language Gifts
With the increased popularity of sign language, more and more gifts and novelties are available.

Hearing Aid Manufacturers
Companies that manufacture hearing aids. Most companies make digital hearing aids, and a few still make analog or body worn hearing aids. Still others make hearing aids that can resist water and sweat.

Hearing Loss - Types, Degrees
Understanding the type and degree of hearing loss you or your child may have.

People - Juliette Low
Juliette Low is a deaf founder of the girl scouts.

Hearing Aid Batteries Q and A
Hearing aid batteries are the topic of this guest article.

Cause - Autoimmune Inner Ear
Autoimmune inner ear disease is one of the lesser known causes of hearing loss.

Hearing Loss - Tinnitus
Tinnitus, or ringing in the head, sometimes occurs with hearing loss.

Deaf Event Calendars
It can be difficult to keep track of all the social and professional events in the deaf community. This FAQ page refers resources for finding and tracking deaf community events.

People - Laurent Clerc
Laurent Clerc is one of the most-honored deaf men in history.

Sign Language - Begin BabySign
Guest article on starting to communicate with your baby in sign language.

Hearing Aids - Types
A wide variety of hearing aids are available.

People - Erastus (Deaf) Smith
Erastus Smith was a deaf man who played a major role in early Texas history.

Jobs - Search Discrimination
Job Searching can be frustrating for deaf and hard of hearing people.

Jobs - Careers in Deafness
Careers for hearing people wanting to work with deaf people.

Better Hearing Speech Month
Every May, attention is focused on hearing loss throughout Better Hearing and Speech Month.

Deaf Community - China
China has a large deaf population, plenty of schools, does research, and more.

Deaf History - Silent News
The Silent News was THE national deaf newspaper from 1969 to 2002.

audiograms
Resources on understanding audiograms

Deaf Culture - Comics Cartoons
Deaf people write and draw their own comic strips, some of which have become extremely popular.

Sign Language Books
Top sign language books and dictionaries, from your About.com Guide.

Sign Language - Signing Games
Forum members answer a question about sign language games for learning sign language.

Deaf History - TV 50s to Today
Deaf people have appeared on television since the 1950s.

Deaf Community - Los Angeles
A look at the deaf community of Los Angeles, California.

Cause - Waardenburg Syndrome
Waardenburg Syndrome is one of the more unusual causes of deafness and hearing loss.

Cause - Genetics
Genetics and hearing loss and resources for more information including websites, books, and organizations doing research.

FM Listening Systems
FM systems are an essential educational listening tool for deaf and hard of hearing children.

Hearing Loss - Mild
Mild hearing loss may not appear that serious, but it does have its effects.

Deaf Culture - Disabled? Not?
Do deaf people consider themselves to be disabled or only deaf? Forum members debate the question.

Sign Language - Pidgin Sign
Pidgin Sign(ed) English is a form of sign language that is between ASL and English.

People - Vinton Cerf
Vinton Cerf is known as the 'father of the internet' and he is hard of hearing.

Cause - Mondini Syndrome
Mondini syndrome is a fairly common hearing loss condition, sometimes correctable with a cochlear implant.

Sudden Loss - Rush Limbaugh
Sudden hearing loss has affected Rush Limbaugh.

Deaf Timeline
Selected articles at About Deafness/HOH, organized in a timeline.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Gays
The deaf and hard of hearing gay community.

Audiology - Screening Babies
Newborns' hearing is being tested before they leave the hospital.

Deafness - South Africa
South Africa has a well-established deaf community, well-served by schools, organizations, service agencies, and more.

Deaf Culture - Deaf Theatre
Deaf theatre past and present, education in deaf theatre, resources on deaf theatre, and deaf playwrights.

Audiology - ABR versus OAE
Auditory brainstem response (ABR) and otoacoustic emissions testing (OAE) are compared in this article.

People - Frelich and Bove
Two of the most respected actresses in the deaf community, Phyllis Frelich and Linda Bove.

Hearing Aids - Why Love Them
Happiness and satisfaction with hearing aids.

Sign Language - Older Kids
Sign language can be used to help preschoolers learn to read.

Deaf Community - Rochester, NY
Rochester, New York has one of the largest deaf populations per capita.

Dummy Taylor
Profile of Luther "Dummy" Taylor, a deaf player in the baseball major leagues in the early 20th century.

Deaf and Learning Disabled
Resources for parents and teachers of deaf children with learning disabilities.

Deaf Community - India
Deafness information for India, including schools and nongovernmental organizations.

Sign Word Reference A1
A comprehensive sign language glossary based on all the online sign language dictionaries.

Cause - Meningitis
Meningitis is one of the most dangerous illnesses and victims that survive are often deafened.

Adoption - Deaf/HOH Children
Adoption of deaf and hard of hearing children internationally and domestically.

Deaf Parents Hearing Children
Resources for deaf people parenting hearing children.

People - King Jordan
I. King Jordan was the first deaf president of Gallaudet University.

People - C.J. Jones
C.J. Jones has a long record as an deaf and African-American actor/comedian.

People - Christy Smith
Christy Smith, a deaf woman, was on the 'Survivor' reality show.

Sign Language - Xmas Songs
Sign language translations of Christmas songs and carols.

Cochlear Implants - Facts
Basic facts on cochlear implants.

Deaf People With Autism
Some deaf children are also autistic.

People - Deanne Bray
Deanne Bray, a deaf actress, stars in Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye, on the Pax channel.

People - Bridgman and Brace
Laura Bridgman and Julia Brace, two deafblind girls, preceded Helen Keller.

Children's Sign Language Books
The top children's sign language books, for young and elementary school-aged children.

Sign Language - Food Signs 1
A mini-glossary of signs for food.