Violence in Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing People: A Review of the Literature

• NCJ Number: 178381
• Journal: Aggression and Violent Behavior Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: Fall 1999 Pages: 259-272
• Author(s): McCay Vernon; Sheldon F. Greenberg
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Literature Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The few available studies on the relationship of hearing loss to violence show disproportionate aggression, violence, and hostility in the population of deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

Abstract

Although seemingly tangential to the survey of the literature on hearing loss and violence, one of the most important findings of this study was the high incidence of hearing loss among inmates of correctional facilities. Hearing-impaired youth often leave school poorly educated and ill-prepared for the world of work and life in general. Their frustrations mount, and their anger toward society and themselves increases. The overwhelming majority of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals cope with their frustrations nonviolently. They internalize their anger and aggression. This may manifest itself in underachievement, substance abuse, domestic problems, etc. Many deaf people accept their condition and adjust reasonably well; however, not all deaf or hearing-impaired people internalize their frustrations, which may account for the significantly larger percentage of hearing-impaired persons in correctional facilities than among the population at large. Too often, chronically increasing frustration breeds hostility that, in turn, leads to antisocial behavior, including violence. In addition to chronic frustration as a factor in violence among deaf and hearing-impaired people, brain damage may also be a factor; many of the major causes of hearing loss are also etiologies of brain damage. Research has shown that brain damage and related neurological and biochemical factors are known to cause violence. A third factor that contributes to violence among hearing-impaired persons is the high prevalence of learning disability in this population. Learning disability is associated with an increased rate of imprisonment. The most important finding of the literature review is the paucity of data on the disproportionate occurrence of violence in this segment of the population (22 million people across all racial and ethnic groups and socioeconomic levels). This paper concludes with suggestions for increasing research in this area. 4 tables and 86 references