Deaf T/F

90% of the deaf population can read lips fluently.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False. Most deaf people are not fluent at lipreading. Only about 1/3 of the English language can be lipread.

The deaf population accepts the terms of calling themselves "deaf & mute" or "deaf & dumb."

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False. "Dumb" and "mute" both mean that a person cannot speak. Deaf people can speak; however, some of them choose not to.

The majority of the deaf population cannot read or write.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False. Deaf people can read and write. There is nothing wrong with their eyes or their hands. (or their brains.)

Deafness is definitely hereditary (passed down from family member to family member.)

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False. Deafness CAN be hereditary, but it's usually not. Most people become deaf either because of something that happened when they were inside the womb or because they got an illness when they were an infant that caused a high fever which lead to them becoming deaf.

Deaf people's IQ's are lower than hearing people's.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False. Deaf people, when given a test in ASL, score just as high as hearing people on IQ tests.

The deaf are excellent at reading braille.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False. Braille is for blind people to read. Has nothing to do with deafness. (Unless the person is deaf and blind.)

Since deaf people have low IQ's, they cannot go to college.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False. Deaf people do not have low IQs and many of them go to college. (I had a deaf girl in my college history class.)

American Sign Language is a universal language (used in every country.)

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False. Most countries have their own versions of sign language.

British Sign Language (BSL)

Chinese Sign Language (CSL)

Mexican Sign Language (MSL)

German Sign Language (GSL)

Etc...

Some employers refuse to take on any deaf workers because they do not understand them or are afraid to trust them.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

True. Many employers are intimidated by deaf people because they usually have never had to work with a deaf person before. That can be scary for a lot of people.

A deaf person wearing hearing aids wants you to talk lauder so that they can hear you.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

False. Hearing aids have volume switches on them. If you are talking in your regular voice and a deaf person cannot hear you, they can turn their hearing aids up to increase the volume. If you automatically talk louder and they already have their volume at a normal range, then it is like you are standing right next to them and yelling in their ear.