Defining terminology used in reference to deafness can be complex as deafness has a different meaning to different people.  The following descriptions are those understood and used at Deaf Services Queensland.

Deaf or deaf

Lowercase deaf is used when referring to the audiological condition of not being able to hear. The uppercase Deaf refers to people who are linked by a sense of community and share a culture, both of which are strongly unified by the use of Australian Sign Language (Auslan). The use of Auslan is the most distinct differentiation in identifying those who are Deaf.

Deaf people who use Auslan do not view themselves as impaired people in any sense, rather as a linguistic minority group in much the same way as people from a non English speaking background do. It has its own grammar, syntax and idioms quite different from that of English.

Hard of Hearing

In general terms, hard of hearing usually refers to a population of people who are in some way audiologically impaired. This includes those who have experienced an early onset of loss of hearing, and those who for a variety of reasons, have lost their sense of hearing. Those who identify as hard of hearing, use what residual hearing they have, usually in the form of some amplification technology such as hearing aids. They communicate orally using lip reading for receptive communication and speech for expressive communication, and often identify with the dominant hearing culture.

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Hearing Impaired

Hearing impairment is the term that encompasses the fact there are different degrees of hearing loss. Hearing impaired is a full or partial loss of the ability to detect sounds. The inability to hear sounds, or distinguish among different sounds, will result in problems with speech and language development.

Deafened

People who were born with hearing and became severely or profoundly deaf after learning to speak are often described as deafened. This can happen suddenly or gradually.

Deafblind

The term deafblindness refers to a combination of vision and hearing losses but not necessarily complete deafness and complete blindness. Most individuals who are deafblind have some useful vision and/or hearing. Because deaf-blindness is a combination of vision and hearing losses, no two individuals who are deaf-blind have the same profile.

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Industrial Deafness

Occupational Deafness, Industrial Deafness or Noise Induced Hearing Loss as it is sometimes referred to, is a loss of a person’s hearing over a prolonged period of time as a result of their working environment.

Industrial deafness is considered in the Workers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 and defined as 'the permanent loss of hearing caused by exposure to industrial noise in a worker's employment'. Section 73 of that Act sets out specific compensation requirements. A worker may have an entitlement to compensation for industrial deafness if their employment was a significant contributing factor causing the loss of hearing.

For more information please contact WorkCover between 8 am and 5 pm Mon to Fri on 1300 362 128 or visit their website http://www.workcover.qld.gov.au

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