Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of the Scottish public about the Deaf: A qualitative study

Deaf individuals who rely on sign language form a linguistic minority and often experience economic, medical, and social exclusion from living in a predominantly hearing world. Understanding how the hearing population perceives the Deaf community and their challenges is crucial to provide insights into the current gaps in accessibility and inclusivity for Deaf people. This study explored the knowledge, attitude, and perception of the Scottish public of the Deaf community. Eight one-on-one interviews were undertaken (four men and four women). Interview transcripts were thematically analysed revealing three themes: (1) Negotiating understandings of Deafness: between difference and deficit; (2) Perceptions of the Deaf experience: awareness of barriers but limited depth; (3) Limited knowledge and reliance on indirect learning. Issues were raised around communication difficulties with the Deaf population and uncertainty regarding their disability status. Written communication and lip-reading were reported as the main communication modality when interacting with Deaf people. Overall, there was limited knowledge and awareness regarding the Deaf community; however, their views were free of any stigma and discrimination. Educational interventions on Deaf culture could potentially alleviate any negative attitudes relating to how the Deaf community are treated and improve awareness of effective communication with this subgroup.