New research released by the National Deaf Children’s Society found one in five people have felt nervous when talking to deaf people because they do not know what to do, while 10 per cent have pretended to understand something a deaf person said instead of asking for clarification.
The organisation said a reluctance to speak to deaf people has contributed to feelings of isolation and loneliness among the UK’s 50,000 deaf children, affecting happiness, mental health and communication skills.
The results of the YouGov survey, conducted for this year’s Deaf Awareness Week (6-12 May), also suggested that many people do not understand a number of aspects of deafness.
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