Deafness and Speech: Breaking Myths About ‘Dumb and Deaf
Deafness affects millions of people around the world and causes a variety of communication and life problems. In the past, different approaches have been tried, some of them outlandish. In this piece, we explore what other cures exist for deafness, the medical history of leeches, and contemporary ethical issues. In addition, we’ll discuss the mental health implications of deafness, social barriers and stereotypes, and dispel popular assumptions about deaf people’s intelligence.
The treatments for deafness had remained both natural and experimental. Contemporary medicine has pushed technology forward with things like cochlear implants and hearing aids. Yet a continuing interest in alternative treatments remained: acupuncture, chiropractic manipulation, even herbal medicine were investigated for their ability to restore auditory function. There are so few studies and so many different outcomes, it’s hard to say if it works for everyone. Researchers continue to study what kind of biological signatures these treatments might modify – trying to maximise their effect and reduce risks.
The use of leeches as medicine dates back to ancient times, and reached its zenith in the Middle Ages. This therapy, hirudotherapy, grew out of the idea that disease arose from ‘bad blood’, and that bloodletting was a way to balance and heal it. The blood extracted through leeches was thought to cure all manner of ailments, including deafness, although no science could prove it for deafness.
As medical science advances, the morality of using animals that could live like leeches to treat a disease is called into question. Contemporary medicine admits that leech therapy can work in small niche cases, but not in deafness. Ethical issues include the well-being of the leeches, and whether and how it is appropriate or okay to apply this kind of treatment to vulnerable patients, and involve carefully screened debates about efficacy and humane treatments.
Having to be deaf is a very personal experience in psychological terms. There are also experiences of isolation and frustration as a result of lack of communication. Social stigma and exclusion can result in lower self-worth and psychiatric disorders. Recognition and assistance through counselling, community programmes and technology can help to significantly mitigate these impacts, making inclusive social policies vital.
Deafness, for all its enlightenment, is still teeming with illusions. Most assume it’s a one-size-fits-all experience without understanding the sheer range of levels of severity and pathology. These assumptions take the form of institutional barriers, ranging from a lack of educational support to racial bias in the workplace. We need work toward more social understanding and policies that ensure access and equality.
Intolerance can make it possible to construct myths about the intelligence of the deaf. Deaf people were historically treated unfairly as cognitive imbeciles. Science has repeatedly disproved these myths, pointing out that intelligence has nothing to do with listening. Society keeps its head above the water when stereotypes are busted, and the wide-ranging abilities of the hearing impaired recognised and celebrated.
Scientists and empathy play a critical role in dealing with the complexities of treatment for deafness and how society understands it. Alternative cures are historical and speculative, but real progress lies in incorporating inclusion technologies, psychological horizons and abolishing racist silos. By acknowledging the wide range of experiences of deaf people, we create an inclusive culture.