Learn About Deafness and BSL

Deafness affects approximately 10 million people in the UK, which is roughly one in six of the population. This means there’s a significant number of people who face daily challenges due to hearing loss. The 10 million individuals are not a homogenous group, and deafness can manifest in different forms. It’s important to understand these variations as they shape the experiences of those affected by hearing loss.

Deafness is often categorised into different types:

• Profoundly Deaf/Pre-Lingually Deaf – this refers to individuals who are born deaf or who become deaf at an early age, typically before they acquire spoken language. These individuals often rely on visual communication methods like British Sign Language (BSL) to interact with others.
• Partially Deaf – this group includes individuals who have some hearing but would struggle to follow speech without the aid of a hearing aid or in noisy environments. They may still rely on spoken language to some extent but often need additional support for clearer communication.
• Deafened – this term refers to individuals who lose their hearing later in life due to illness, injury or an accident. These individuals may have had previous exposure to spoken language and may still rely on it for communication, but may face challenges as their hearing deteriorates.
• Hard of Hearing – generally, this refers to individuals whose hearing has naturally deteriorated with age. This can vary widely from person to person, and some may use hearing aids or other devices to support their hearing.

No matter the type of deafness, it can be isolating 

People with hearing loss often face barriers to communication in everyday situations, whether it’s navigating public services, socialising, or even engaging in basic tasks like shopping or visiting a doctor. The isolation that accompanies hearing loss can lead to frustration, and it’s vital that people with hearing loss are not forced to deal with these barriers on their own. 

Everyone deserves equal access to services, and no one should have to worry about whether they’ll be able to communicate when they leave home.

Here are just a few of the challenges that people with hearing loss may face regularly:

• Difficulties accessing everyday services – whether it’s going to the supermarket, visiting the doctor, or interacting with service providers, communication can be a constant hurdle.
• Feelings of isolation and frustration – it can be incredibly isolating when someone is unable to communicate with others effectively, leaving them feeling disconnected and excluded from normal social interactions.
• Lack of confidence – many deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals face uncertainty when approaching others, hoping they will be understood, or that they will be able to understand the other person. This can lead to missed opportunities for social interaction or accessing important services.

How BSL helps people

Of the 10 million people with hearing loss, British Sign Language (BSL) is the first or preferred language of over 70,000 deaf people in the UK. It’s a visual-gestural language, which uses handshapes, facial and bodily expressions, gestures and lip patterns to express meaning. It has a vocabulary, grammar and structure distinct from English, and, as with all languages, is constantly evolving.

BSL has many regional variations, much as English has accents and colloquialisms.

In March 2003, the UK Government officially recognised British Sign Language as a language in its own right, granting it the same status as other minority national languages like Welsh and Gaelic. This recognition was an important milestone in acknowledging the cultural and linguistic significance of BSL and its value to the deaf community.