Psychosocial Aspects of Deafness: Implications for Rehabilitation Counselors

Negative societal attitudes toward people with hearing loss can be handicapping. Because of their deafness, people face a multitude of external barriers which become their handicap. The primary barriers or handicaps to this underserved population are two fold, inaccessibility to appropriate services during important milestones in their lives and a misunderstanding of Deaf culture. Rehabilitation counselors are advised to become aware of the types of interventions their Deaf consumers had as children through their education and socialization for in sight to appropriate services. Also discussed is the importance of communication and employer involvement in reducing societal stereotypes