Understanding the Link Between Diseases and American Sign Language
Deafness and hearing loss can lead to significant issues as the affected individuals may find it challenging to communicate with those around them. With the help of American Sign Language (ASL), these individuals can still communicate with others, but understanding the links between diseases and ASL is crucial.
Introduction
Deafness can result from many causes, including genetics, injury, exposure to loud noises, or illness. Deafness impacts over 5% of the global population, with an estimated 466 million people experiencing hearing loss. American Sign Language is arguably the most commonly used sign language in the United States, with over 500,000 users. In this article, we will explore the connection between diseases and American Sign Language.
Diseases and American Sign Language
Deaf individuals can develop distinctive sign languages to communicate depending upon their experience and the people they communicate with. However, some diseases can impact their ability to produce or comprehend ASL. Here are some diseases that pose a challenge in understanding and producing ASL:
1. Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s Disease affects the neurons in the brain that are responsible for controlling movement, leading to tremors, stiffness and balance issues. These motor symptoms affect sign language, making it challenging for Parkinson’s patients to coordinate fluent and accurate hand movements required to produce ASL.
2. Stroke
A stroke can cause damage to the brain, limiting the individual’s motor functions and cognitive abilities. Depending on the severity of the stroke, ASL may become more challenging for stroke survivors. If they had a dominant hand prior to the stroke, the fine motor control of their dominant hand could be affected, which can impact their ability to produce signs accurately.
3. Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
MS affects the central nervous system and can lead to muscle weakness and spasticity. This can make it challenging for MS patients to create and maintain signs accurately, as well as impacting their ability to read and understand ASL.
4. Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s Disease is a degenerative brain condition that mainly affects memory and can potentially impact language comprehension. This can manifest in ASL as difficulty recalling signs or understanding what was signed to them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the links between diseases and American Sign Language can be useful for healthcare providers and those working with the deaf and hard of hearing. A clear understanding of the impact that these diseases can have on sign language use can lead to better care for patients. ASL plays a significant role in the lives of deaf and hard of hearing individuals and is a critical aspect of their identity. Therefore, knowing the challenges that specific diseases can have on ASL is essential to provide a more holistic approach to healthcare.
As we’ve demonstrated, Parkinson’s Disease, Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s Disease are just some examples of the diseases that affect the ability of an individual to use or comprehend American Sign Language. By understanding the connection between these diseases and ASL, healthcare providers can develop customized care plans that prioritize effective communication and address the needs of deaf or hard of hearing patients more comprehensively.
