The health of deaf people: communication breakdown

The deaf are twice as likely to have mental health problems as the general population, according to a report in the journal Lancet. At same time, the EU researchers say deaf people have a harder time getting mental health care - and when they do get it, the quality is lower. Deaf girls are twice as likely as hearing girls to report sexual abuse. For boys, the figure is three times greater. Deaf children, both boys and girls, are four times more likely to have mental health issues if their family does not understand them. The researchers recommend offering specialist services with professionals trained to directly communicate with deaf people and with sign-language interpreters. Read more about the findings in The Lancet here.