Deafness vs. Blindness

Paper Summary:

In this article the writer reviews and contrasts two physical impairments, blindness and deafness, using scholarly research on the subject of blindness and visual impairment as well as Nora Ellen Groce's "Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language: Hereditary Deafness on Martha's Vineyard". The writer maintains that most people believe that to see is to perceive acutely and hence to understand, while to hear without seeing leaves one left to conjure up pictures in the mind's eye as to what likely is there making the sound. Further, the writer points out, not only are people uninformed about eyesight during aging, but they tend to be ignorant of local resources available to them. The writer maintains that according to a study, the most effective tools for informing people about eyesight issues are newspapers for adults and the Internet for younger people.

Outline:
Introduction
Blindness, Low Vision, and the Search for a Model
Deafness on Martha's Vineyard
Deafness in Two Swedish Counties
Blindness - "Promoting a Message on Vision Loss..."
Works Cited

From the Paper:

"To be deaf, or blind; if a hundred people were given that choice, hypothetically, how many would choose deafness over being sightless? Ninety? Ninety-five? All one hundred? It would likely be most, if not all, one hundred, because vision offers so much to the brain, the senses, and the heart."
"That is not to discount the impact of serious hearing loss, but clearly, most people believe that to see is to perceive acutely and hence to understand, while to hear without seeing leaves one left to conjure up pictures in the mind's eye as to what likely is there making the sound. Approaching a train crossing in reckless fashion without the aid of auditory support is potentially suicidal, of course; but approaching a train crossing with no auditory abilities and yet using keen eyesight for oncoming train traffic is making the best of an impaired situation - and also it is just the use of good sound human judgment."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Carlsson, Per-Inge; & Danermark, Berth; & Borg, Erik. (2004/2005). Martial Status and Birthrate of Deaf People in Two Swedish Counties: The Impact of Social Development in Terms of Deaf Community. American Annals of the Deaf, 149(5), 415-420.
• Cimarolli, Verena R.; & Stuen, Cynthia; & Sussman-Skalka, Carol J. (2006). Promoting a Message on Vision Loss to Diverse Groups of Adults. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 100(4), 235-239.
• George, Anne L.; & Duquette, Cheryll. (2006). The Psychosocial Experiences of a Student with Low Vision. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 100(3), 152-163.
• Groce, Nora Ellen. (1985). Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language: Hereditary Deafness On Martha's Vineyard. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.

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