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A Swedish prevalence study of deaf people using sign language: a prerequisite for deaf studies

Werngren-Elgström, Monica LU ; Dehlin, Ove LU and Iwarsson, Susanne LU (2003) In Disability & Society 18(3). p.311-324
Abstract
A widely used estimate claims that one per thousand individuals is deaf, but few recent studies exist on the actual prevalence. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of deaf people, defined as deaf individuals who use sign language as their main mode of communication, in the county of Scania, Sweden. To achieve high validity, data were collected from a large variety of sources including both public institutions and voluntary associations, working with deaf people. The study demonstrates a prevalence of 0.7 per thousand inhabitants, a figure considerably lower than the traditional estimate. One interpretation of this finding is that the prevalence of deafness is on the decrease. Another interpretation reflects the problem... (More)
A widely used estimate claims that one per thousand individuals is deaf, but few recent studies exist on the actual prevalence. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of deaf people, defined as deaf individuals who use sign language as their main mode of communication, in the county of Scania, Sweden. To achieve high validity, data were collected from a large variety of sources including both public institutions and voluntary associations, working with deaf people. The study demonstrates a prevalence of 0.7 per thousand inhabitants, a figure considerably lower than the traditional estimate. One interpretation of this finding is that the prevalence of deafness is on the decrease. Another interpretation reflects the problem to define deafness. As prevalence figures vary with the definition used, one single estimate valid for the prevalence of deafness is not possible to make. We therefore question the traditional one-per-thousand estimate of deafness. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Disability & Society
volume
18
issue
3
pages
311 - 324
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • wos:000184071600004
  • scopus:0038261844
ISSN
0968-7599
DOI
10.1080/0968759032000052888
project
Quality of life among older deaf sign language users
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Division of Occupational Therapy (Closed 2012) (013025000), Department of Health Sciences (013220000)
id
a3dcc4a2-715e-4d2b-90c8-373391a2e0a8 (old id 900183)
alternative location
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/routledg/cdso/2003/00000018/00000003/art00004
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:01:00
date last changed
2022-01-26 21:34:04
@article{a3dcc4a2-715e-4d2b-90c8-373391a2e0a8,
  abstract     = {{A widely used estimate claims that one per thousand individuals is deaf, but few recent studies exist on the actual prevalence. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of deaf people, defined as deaf individuals who use sign language as their main mode of communication, in the county of Scania, Sweden. To achieve high validity, data were collected from a large variety of sources including both public institutions and voluntary associations, working with deaf people. The study demonstrates a prevalence of 0.7 per thousand inhabitants, a figure considerably lower than the traditional estimate. One interpretation of this finding is that the prevalence of deafness is on the decrease. Another interpretation reflects the problem to define deafness. As prevalence figures vary with the definition used, one single estimate valid for the prevalence of deafness is not possible to make. We therefore question the traditional one-per-thousand estimate of deafness.}},
  author       = {{Werngren-Elgström, Monica and Dehlin, Ove and Iwarsson, Susanne}},
  issn         = {{0968-7599}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{311--324}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{Disability & Society}},
  title        = {{A Swedish prevalence study of deaf people using sign language: a prerequisite for deaf studies}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0968759032000052888}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/0968759032000052888}},
  volume       = {{18}},
  year         = {{2003}},
}