1. People who are
deaf
or hard of hearing
Facts, figures and ways
of communicating

2. People who are deaf or hard of hearing
We’re RNID, the charity
working to create a world
where deafness or
hearing loss do not limit
or determine opportunity,
and where people value
their hearing.
www.rnid.org.uk
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3. People who are deaf or hard of hearing
This leaflet tells you about people who are deaf
or hard of hearing in the UK today.
There could be lots of reasons why you want to know more about
people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Maybe a colleague is
deaf. A member of your family, your friend or partner may be hard
of hearing. Perhaps you teach students who are deaf. You may
have clients or customers who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Whatever your reason, this leaflet gives a brief introduction to
deaf and hard of hearing issues. You should read it if you want
to know about:
• how deafness is described and facts and figures
• what causes deafness
• hearing aids
• communicating with people who are deaf or hard of hearing
• equipment for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
You can find details of other information you can get from us.
Contact the RNID Information Line (see back page) to find
out more.
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4. People who are deaf or hard of hearing
How do we describe deafness?
Being deaf or hard of hearing can mean very different things to
different people. Some people will feel more comfortable with
particular words to describe their own deafness. They might
feel strongly about terms they don’t like. At RNID, we use the
following terms:
• People who are deaf. We use this term in a general
way when we are talking about people with all degrees of
hearing loss.
• People who are hard of hearing. We use this term to describe
people with a mild to severe hearing loss. We quite often use it
to describe people who have lost their hearing gradually.
• People who are deafened. People who were born hearing and
became severely or profoundly deaf after learning to speak are
often described as deafened.
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5. People who are deaf or hard of hearing
• People who are deafblind. Many people who are deafblind
have some hearing and vision. Others will be totally deaf and
totally blind.
• The deaf community. Many people who are deaf whose first or
preferred language is British Sign Language (BSL) consider
themselves part of the deaf community. They may describe
themselves as ‘Deaf’, with a capital D, to emphasise their
cultural identity.
Some facts and figures
Deafness and hearing loss may be more common than you
thought. For example:
• There are an estimated 9 million people in the UK who are deaf
or hard of hearing. This figure is rising as the number of people
over 60 increases.
• In the UK, there are about 20,000 children aged 0-5 years who
are moderately to profoundly deaf. Many more have temporary
hearing problems in early childhood.
• There are an estimated 123,000 people in the UK aged 16 and
over who are deafened.
• There are about 23,000 people in the UK who are deafblind.
• It is difficult to say how many people in the UK use BSL as their
first or preferred language – current estimates vary between
50,000 and 70,000.
• Most of the 9 million people in the UK who are deaf or hard of
hearing developed a hearing loss as they grew older. About 2%
of young adults are deaf or hard of hearing. Around the age of
50, the proportion of people who are deaf begins to increase
sharply and 55% of people over 60 are deaf or hard of hearing.
For more information, see our factsheet Facts and figures on
deafness and tinnitus.
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6. People who are deaf or hard of hearing
What causes deafness?
There are many reasons why some people are born deaf or hard
of hearing – or lose their hearing later. Sometimes people may lose
their hearing temporarily and it comes back when they receive
medical treatment. For others, deafness and hearing loss are
permanent.
Causes of permanent deafness and hearing loss include:
• Presbycusis – also known as age-related hearing loss. It is the
most common type of deafness and affects many older people
• certain diseases such as mumps or meningitis
• certain drugs, in particular aspirin in high doses, or antibiotics
called aminoglycosides
• frequent exposure to loud noise
• serious head injury
• if a mother has rubella (German measles) while she is pregnant,
her baby may be born deaf
• if a baby is born prematurely or the mother has a difficult labour
• medical conditions such as Ménière’s disease
• repeated infections in the middle ear (behind the eardrum) –
particularly if they continue for a long time and are not treated.
Are there different types of deafness?
Yes – there are two main types of deafness:
• Conductive deafness – where sound has difficulty passing
through the outer or middle ear.
• Sensorineural deafness – where the cause of deafness is in the
cochlea or hearing nerve.
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7. People who are deaf or hard of hearing
Some people may have the same type and degree of hearing loss
in each ear, or it may be different in each ear.
A hearing test will identify what type of deafness a person has.
For more information, see our leaflet Is your hearing going?
Hearing aids
About two million people in the UK have hearing aids, but at least
five million others would benefit from them.
Hearing aids make sounds louder and clearer so that users are
able to hear them. They are battery-operated and are usually worn
in or behind the ear. In the UK, you can get hearing aids free of
charge on the NHS. Some people choose to buy them privately.
For more information, see our leaflet Getting hearing aids.
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8. People who are deaf or hard of hearing
What are the different ways that deaf people
communicate?
People who are deaf or hard of hearing choose to communicate in
different ways, depending on their level of deafness.
• Some people with a mild hearing loss might use hearing aids
or find lipreading helpful.
• People with a moderate hearing loss will have difficulty hearing
what is said without hearing aids, particularly somewhere noisy.
• People who are severely deaf may have difficulty following what
is being said even with hearing aids. Many lipread and some use
sign language or need other communication support.
• Some, but not all, people who are profoundly deaf may find that
hearing aids are of little benefit to them. British Sign Language
(BSL) may be their first or preferred language.
For more information, see our leaflet Communication support
services.
Lipreading
Everyone lipreads to some extent, especially in noisy situations.
When you speak to someone, their facial movements will give you
information to help you understand the meaning of what they are
saying. Many people who are hard of hearing use lipreading too.
If you are talking to someone who relies on lipreading, remember
that it requires a lot of skill and concentration and can sometimes
be tiring. Many words look similar on the lips. Some sounds are
pronounced at the back of the throat and have no visible lip shape.
Go to www.lipreading.org.uk/about_atla/classes.htm to find
a local class or contact our Information Line (see back page).
If there is no class in your area, ask your local adult education
centre or college to provide one.
For more information, see our leaflet Watch this face.
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9. People who are deaf or hard of hearing
Sign language
British Sign Language (BSL) is the most widely used method
of signed communication in the UK. Some people use Sign
Supported English (SSE). SSE is not a language in its own right,
but a kind of English with signs.
BSL develops naturally, as do spoken languages. It uses a range
of communicative methods – hand shapes and movements, facial
expressions, and shoulder movements. BSL is structured differently
to English and, like any language, has its own grammar.
For more information, see our leaflet Sign language or contact the
RNID Information Line (see back page).
Fingerspelling
People who use BSL also use fingerspelling. Certain words, usually
names of people and places, are spelled out on fingers. For
example, each finger represents one of the five vowels: a,e,i,o and
u. Fingerspelling alone is not sign language but it can be very
useful when communicating with BSL users who are deaf.
Contact the RNID Information Line for one of our fingerspelling
cards (see back page).
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10. People who are deaf or hard of hearing
What equipment is available for people who are
deaf or hard of hearing?
A range of equipment is available for use in the home, car,
workplace and when socialising. It includes:
• equipment to alert someone to different sounds, such as an
alarm clock, doorbell or smoke alarm
• equipment to help someone use the telephone better
• listening equipment – to help someone have a conversation,
watch television or hear music.
For more information, see our leaflet Products to make life easier.
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11. People who are deaf or hard of hearing
Where can I get further information?
You might find some of our other factsheets or leaflets useful:
• Is your hearing going? (leaflet)
What to do about it – and how we can help.
• Getting hearing aids (leaflet)
What to expect at a hearing test and how hearing aids work.
• Communication tips card
A double-sided card with tips on one side if you’re deaf or hard
of hearing, and tips on the other side if you’re hearing and
speaking to someone who’s deaf.
• Watch this face (leaflet)
How lipreading can help if you are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Sign language (leaflet)
What British sign language is, and how to learn it.
• Fingerspelling alphabet (bookmark, card or poster)
• Products to make life easier (leaflet)
Equipment to make life easier if you are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Solutions
Our catalogue of products for people who are deaf or hard of
hearing or who want to protect their hearing.
• Communication support services (leaflet)
Information on the range of communication support services
available for people who are deaf.
• Facts and figures on deafness and tinnitus (factsheet)
Please contact the Information Line (see
back page) for free copies of these. And
let us know if you would like any of them
– or this leaflet – in Braille, large print or
audio format.
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12. We’re RNID, the charity
working to create a world
where deafness or hearing
loss do not limit or determine
opportunity, and where
people value their hearing.
There are a number of ways
to support us. To find out more:
Go to
www.rnid.org.uk
Information line
Telephone 0808 808 0123
Textphone 0808 808 9000
SMS 0780 0000 360
(costs vary depending on your network)
Or write to us
informationline@rnid.org.uk
19-23 Featherstone Street
London EC1Y 8SL
Fax 020 7296 8199
3486/0509 Photography Stuart Freedman, Philip Meech
The Royal National Institute for Deaf People. Registered office 19-23 Featherstone
Street, London EC1Y 8SL. A company limited by guarantee registered in England and
Wales number 454169. Registered charity numbers 207720 (England and Wales) and
SC038926 (Scotland).