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Statistics

It is difficult to estimate the size of the deaf population in the United States because studies use different definitions of deafness. The Gallaudet Research Institute offers this summary of estimates for the size of deaf populations in the United States:

A Brief Summary of Estimates for the Size of the Deaf Population in the U.S.A. Based on Available Federal Data and Published Research

• About 2 to 4 of every 1,000 people in the United States are "functionally deaf," though more than half became deaf relatively late in life; fewer than 1 out of every 1,000 people in the United States became deaf before 18 years of age.
• However, if people with a severe hearing impairment are included with those who are deaf, then the number is 4 to 10 times higher. That is, anywhere from 9 to 22 out of every 1,000 people have a severe hearing impairment or are deaf. Again, at least half of these people reported their hearing loss after 64 years of age.
• Finally, if everyone who has any kind of "trouble" with their hearing is included then anywhere from 37 to 140 out of every 1,000 people in the United States have some kind of hearing loss, with a large share being at least 65 years old. ¹

Number of Culturally Deaf

The number of people who are culturally Deaf in the United States is also difficult to determine for a number of reasons.

1. Identifying as Deaf is not based on a specific level of hearing ability. Instead, it is based on identification with a specific culture and language. There are people with varying levels of hearing that identify as Deaf, and there are people with the same levels of hearing that do not identify as Deaf, but as deaf or hard of hearing.
2. No major federal survey activity inquires about special language use or social identification among those who are deaf (or hard of hearing). That is, there are no questions about American Sign Language (ASL) or any other signed language use on federal surveys.

According to Gallaudet University, there has only been one study conducted that attempted to measure the language use of deaf people in the United States. But, the study was conducted in 1972. According to this study, which was part of the National Census of the Deaf Population, in 1972, a little more than 1 of every 1,000 people in the United States was a deaf person who reported s/he was a "good" signer. ²

If this proportion remained the same today, although there is no way of knowing that it has, a rough estimate of the number of deaf signers would be somewhere in the hundreds of thousands (360,000 to 517,000).

While the number of Deaf people in the United States may seem small, Deaf survivors experience significant barriers to accessing safety and other services/supports in the community and have unique needs, many of them cultural, which must be met to create an accessible and welcoming environment. Deaf people are at risk for experiencing increased levels of violence for longer periods of time because their access to services in their local area is limited.

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