It is estimated that there are currently 1.9 million deafened
people living in North America - individuals who could once hear
naturally or with amplification but have become deaf and are now
unable to rely on hearing to comprehend spoken information. Despite
this vast number, until now there have been few books that
specifically address the process of adjustment to, and acceptance
of, deafness as an adult. Kathryn Woodcock and Miguel Aguayo have
addressed that situation with their unique look at deafness in
Deafened People: Adjustment and Support.
The authors demonstrate that deafness is not merely a medical
condition; it is a social disability that affects the individual,
the family, the social circle, and the work group. By describing
the psychosocial experience of acquired deafness as a process of
adjustment, Woodcock and Aguayo demonstrate that acceptance of
deafness is a process involving practical, social, and emotional
implications. To assist in that process, the authors have provided
a guide to self-help techniques of proven value to deafened
people.
Drawing on their own experiences as deaf professionals, Woodcock
and Aguayo explore such questions as how deafness occurs, how
relationships (professional and personal) can be affected by
progressive deafness, and how and where to find peer support.
Section 1 describes the process of adjustment, while section 2
offers a practical guide to a successful method of establishing a
self-help support network, with reference to such organizations as
the Association of Late-Deafened Adults. Written in a lively,
engaging style, the book combines medical background, professional
advice, information on resources, and personal examples.
Deafened People: Adjustment and Support will be invaluable
for medical professionals and lay readers alike.