Deaf ASL users are more obese, have more family violence, and a higher rate of suicide than the general population, according to a survey by the National Center for Deaf Health Research (NCDHR) at the University of Rochester Medical Center. The questionnaire was presented by video in sign language to 339 deaf adults. Nearly nine of ten participants said they have become deaf before the age of four. The results from this video survey was compared to the results of a random telephone survey conducted five years ago in the Rochester metropolitan area. Not all the findings were negative. The deaf community smokes at a lower rate than the general population (9% instead of 18%).
Here are some of the specifics:
Deaf general population
Obesity: 34% 26%
Suicide risk* 2.2% .4%
Partner violence 21% 14%
*attempted suicide in the past year
Details are in the American Journal of Public Health which you will find here.
