The type and amount of melanin your body produces determines the color of your skin, hair and eyes. The term has largely gone out of use and is now considered objectionable and inaccurate. The term midget was used in the past to describe an unusually short and proportionate person. These foods have important vitamins and help keep the lining of the throat healthy. Thus, deafness may be viewed as a condition that prevents an individual from receiving sound in all or most of its forms. Such events may include assault, war, sexual assault, natural disasters, car accidents or imprisonment. Ask individuals how they prefer to be described. Other medical diagnoses associated with dementia include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Huntingtons disease, Parkinsons disease and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (previously known as wet brain). Its best to avoid using clean and dirty with regard to drug test results, according to the Center for Substance Abuse and Treatment. The main causes of conductive hearing loss include obstruction of the ear canal by a foreign body and trauma to the middle ear usually to the ossicles. NCDJ Recommendation: When possible, avoid describing a person or condition as impaired. Alternative language for hearing impairment and visual impairment are offered under those entries. The terms depressed, depressing and depressive are acceptable in other contexts when the person being referenced does not have a medically diagnosed condition. Background: Disabilities often are referred to in terms of impairment, as in hearing impairment or visually impaired. Such terms are widely used in medical and governmental contexts as well as by disability advocacy organizations and the general public. Examples of developmental disabilities include autism spectrum disorder, spina bifida, cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities. In Franco-Provenal (the Romance speech of French Switzerland and adjacent areas of France), a person affected by hypothyroidism was called a cretin, literally, wretch, innocent victim, The word meant simply Christian and emphasized the hypothyroid victims basic humanity.. Slurred speech without alcohol is linked to a variety of diagnoses that are cause for concern, including: Multiple Sclerosis Brain Tumors Lyme Disease Head Injury Cerebral Palsy Stroke NCDJ Recommendation: Treatment is an acceptable term for medical interventions, and treatment center is acceptable for the establishment in which such practices take place. They recommend color vision deficiency.. The terms senility and senile denote conditions brought on by aging and often are used incorrectly to denote dementia. Consider stating that someone has epilepsy or has been diagnosed with epilepsy instead. AP style: The stylebook says birth defect is acceptable in broad references, such as lessening the chances of birth defects. Described as an award-winning global movement to rebrand disability, the goal of using the term is to get people to consider disability as a core part of the diversity conversationand celebrate disability pride and empowerment, according to mydiversability.com. Additionally, a person who does not use speech may be able to hear. Other terms are acceptable for those with some vision loss. AP style: The style book suggests naming the specific condition when possible rather than making a general reference. Instead, deafness is often considered a culture. Legally blind is a broad term for various eye conditions but generally refers to someone whose visual acuity is 20/200 or less even with corrective glasses or contact lenses. Background: According to the National Human Genome Research Institute, a genetic disorder is caused in whole or in part by a change in the DNA sequence away from the normal sequence. Mute and dumb imply that communication is not possible. A birth defect is a physical or biochemical difference that is present at birth. Background: Tetraplegia, used interchangeably with quadriplegia, is defined as the paralysis of all four limbs as well as the torso. NCDJ Recommendation: Use Plain English or Plain Language but confirm with the source that that is the correct terminology. These personalities, medically known as alters, can exhibit different speech patterns, mannerisms, attitudes, thoughts, gender identities and even physical characteristics. Other symptoms include memory loss, emotional issues, disorientation and the development of other mental disorders. NCDJ Recommendation: Ask your sources what term they prefer. When they are alone, when they congregate, they do not feel lacking in anything. Sometimes people with quadriplegia refer to themselves as quads. In these cases, use in quotes. Many people with chronic illnesses do not consider themselves disabled and thus may be offended by the term. First, we would like to offer some basic guidelines: Of course, our sources dont always speak the way we write. Today, many government and private organizations in the U.S. and elsewhere use deafblind instead of deaf-blind. It helps people who want to read and understand information quickly. I am Hard of Hearing (HoH), They may include: Slurred speech. It calls for use of a lower case d in all usages. Be sensitive when using words like disorder, impairment, abnormality and special to describe the nature of a disability. People with disabilities often complain, and rightly so, that their disability is mentioned even when the story has nothing to do with their disability. The concept of triggering originated with early psychoanalytical diagnoses of posttraumatic stress disorder, called war neuroses, in WWI veterans. AP Style: The only reference relates to hyphenation. The word special in relationship to those with disabilities is now widely considered offensive because it euphemistically stigmatizes that which is different. Hearing is a prerequisite for the development of normal speech & language. Ableism comes in all forms, from overt prejudice to more subtle microaggressions. According to the University of Washington. Too Much to Drink. Seizures are more common than you might think. Ear infections can do the same. Instead, define it as an electronic device that can assist a person who is deaf or hard of hearing in understanding speech. Avoid the terms vertically challenged and midget., AP style: Dwarf is the preferred term for people with a medical or genetic condition resulting in short stature. Midget is considered offensive. Background: Muscular dystrophy could refer to any of more than 30 genetic conditions characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of the muscles that control movement, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. However, AP advises against the latter formulation. See also Epilepsy/epileptic/epileptic fit. Many people object to the use of the word to describe a physical condition because it is used in colloquial English as a synonym for weak, as in: Thats a lame excuse., The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines lamebrain as a dull-witted person.. NCDJ Recommendation: The proper term for the disorder is Down syndrome, not Downs syndrome or Downs Syndrome. Background: Disability and disabled generally describe functional limitations that affect one or more of the major life activities, including walking, lifting, learning and breathing. Referring to someone as an epileptic is often considered offensive. The center recommends against using the term harelip as it is anatomically incorrect and stigmatizing. For example, some people have Alzheimers disease and vascular dementia.. Many experts classify autism as a developmental disability. Such tics are recurrent, involuntary and non-rhythmic. For example: Eds: Graphic details of the killings could be offensive or disturbing to some readers.. Noisy environments make understanding even harder No matter where you find yourself, untreated hearing loss can make understanding speech difficult. Many dislike the terms because hearing impaired describes a person in terms of a deficiency or what they cannot do. Similarly, there is not really a good way to describe the nature of a condition. Background: The University of Kansas Research & Training Center on Independent Living describes this as a specific congenital disability involving the lip and gum. People with albinism also are sensitive to the effects of the sun and are at increased risk of developing skin cancer., According to the National Organization on Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH), there is debate over whether albinism is a disability, but it is often referred to as one because of issues associated with vision. Those with such disabilities often require lifelong or extended support. To become an interpreter, an individual must not only display bilingual and bicultural proficiency but also have the ability to mediate meanings across languages and cultures, both simultaneously and consecutively. It is considered highly derogatory to describe someone with Down syndrome as being mongoloid.. The federal definition of a service animal applies to any guide dog, signal dog or other animal trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. This may include animals that guide individuals with impacted vision, alert individuals with impacted hearing to intruders or sounds, provide minimal protection or rescue work, pull a wheelchair or fetch dropped items. Background: An alcoholic is someone who has the disease of alcoholism. NCDJ Recommendation: Colorblind is still generally acceptable, but in the interest of accuracy, consider indicating what kind of color-blindness a person has, such as red-green color-blindness. NCDJ Recommendation: Ask the disabled person or disability organizational spokesperson about their preferred terminology. WebAccording to the National Association of the Deaf, there are approximately 28 million deaf and hearing-impaired people in the U.S.--roughly 10 percent of the total population. Conforms to AP style, which adds that in describing groups of people, or when individual preferences cannot be determined, use person-first language. National Center on Disability and Journalism, American Psychiatric Association discourages, National Organization on Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH), National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, . Seizures can happen after a stroke, a closed head injury, an infection such as meningitis or another illness. Use lower case unless referring to the Great Depression. However, its use is relatively rare and not generally accepted. AP style:The style book defers to the National Association of the Deaf, stating: Hearing-impaired was a well-meaning term that is not accepted or used by many deaf and hard of hearing people.. It is characterized by new muscle weakness, joint and muscle pain and fatigue., NCDJ Recommendation: Use the term polio rather than infantile paralysis. NCDJ Recommendation: When referring to a person with a chronic illness, only refer to the condition if it is pertinent to the story you are confident there is a medical diagnosis. Many people consider defect and other forms of the term offensive when describing a disability as they imply the person is deficient or inferior to others. Physical deformities can arise from a number of causes, including genetic mutations, various disorders, amputations and complications in utero or at birth. This lack of diversity negatively affects Deaf and hard of hearing (DHOH) people of color, who are subjected to communication barriers when utilizing the services of an interpreter from different ethnic and racial backgrounds as themselves. The fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders consolidates all autism disorders under the larger autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Avoid use of Seeing Eye dog as Seeing Eye is a registered trademark of The Seeing Eye school in Morristown, N.J. Be aware that licensure and/or certification of service animals is a contentious issue in the disability community, so it may be best to refer to the federal definition. Refer specifically to the physical changes. As youll see below, high functioning and low functioning are considered offensive. Symptoms may include reliving the traumatic event, avoidance of certain behaviors, negative emotions, or physical symptoms such as dizziness or nausea. Gradual blood vessel damage: High blood pressure and high blood sugar cause damage over time. Background:American Sign Language is a complete language that utilizes signs made by moving the hands combined with facial expressions and postures of the body, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. AP style: Not addressed except to recommend using hard of hearing without hyphens unless it is an adjective directly preceding a person. Individuals with learning disabilities have average or above average intelligence, and the term does not include a learning problem that is primarily the result of another cause, such as intellectual disabilities or lack of educational opportunity., NCDJ Recommendation: Use learning disability when youre confident there is a medical diagnosis. It has been criticized by some in the Deaf community who are concerned that the device could threaten Deaf culture. Laws against suicide have been repealed in the U.S. and many other places. AA is unaffiliated with any outside organizations or institutions and does not endorse, finance or oppose any causes. Most seizures last from 30 seconds to two minutes. People with psychosis are described as psychotic. Background: Autism spectrum disorder is a group of complex disorders related to brain development, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. A developmental disability can include a long-term physical or cognitive/intellectual disability or both. NCDJ Recommendation: It is preferable to use a medical professionals diagnosis or, if that is not possible, terms such as comatose or non-responsive. Avoid referring to someone as a vegetable or veg as such words dehumanize the person. The American Psychiatric Association offers a useful media guide of appropriate terms. Background: Abnormality is a word used to describe a condition that deviates from what is considered normal. See also Insane/mentally deranged/psychopathology, Background: The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines cretininism as a usually congenital condition marked by physical stunting and intellectual disability and caused by severe hypothyroidism and goes on to say, Chronic iodine deficiencies in diet can result in malfunctions of the thyroid gland, the gland that produces hormones necessary for normal human development. Personally, I'm not offended by this term at all. Some are opposed to the use of AAC because of the belief that it will hinder language development. NCDJ Recommendation: The terms service animal, assistance animal and guide dog all are acceptable. When interviewing someone who is non-verbal, be flexible. If Full Deaf, call them Deaf. NCDJ Recommendation: Avoid using the terms unless used in a direct quote. This was due to the fact that both groups considered hearing-impaired to be offensive because it carried a value judgement implying that the person was impaired or defective. NCDJ Recommendation: Use person with chemical intolerance or people with environmental illness. Do not use chemophobic as it is considered derogatory. Keep in mind that it may not be relevant to include in a story how an individual communicates as long as the communication is clear. Background: Merriam-Webster defines the noun cripple as a lame or partly disabled person or animal and as something flawed or imperfect. It also is used as a verb. If someone uses American Sign Language, lip-reads or uses other means to communicate, state that. Conforms to AP style: The stylebook cautions against describing an individual as mentally ill unless clearly pertinent to a story and the diagnosis is properly sourced. It also causes pain, exhaustion, and shortness of breath, all of which interfere with speech. The most common forms of mental illness are anxiety disorders, mood disorders and schizophrenia disorders. Triggers can be hard to predict, and they vary from individual to individual, but communicating the nature of your content builds audience trust. Avoid using psychotic as an adjective to describe a person; instead refer to a person as having a psychotic condition or experiencing a psychosis. Avoid using the terms colloquially. The plural of dwarf is dwarfs.. This may be due to improper development, damage or disease to any part of the hearing mechanism. Alcoholism is characterized by a loss of control in alcohol use, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Some content can spark difficult memories for people with certain mental illnesses and phobias.Trigger warnings communicate that upcoming content may produce unpredictable and unwelcome reactions for some readers. Some people with ADHD prefer to say they have the condition; others prefer to say they are ADHD. If a medical diagnosis is not available, use quotes around the word and indicate that a diagnosis has not been confirmed. If the persons sight had nothing to do with the situation, leave it out. They may prefer non-disabled or enabled as being more accurate. If you are going to use it in a quote, consider that decision carefully, as the word is particularly charged. It is important to understand that many people do not consider being deaf or having hearing loss as a disability. Consider using people-first language, as in a person with an intellectual disability rather than an intellectually disabled person. As always, ask the person which terms they prefer. More. Although many in the general public associate disability with people using wheelchairs or white canes or who are missing limbs, more people have conditions that cant be seen but are defined as disabilities under the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. NCDJ Recommendation:Avoid using cripple as either a noun or verb unless you are describing the crip movement or if its in a direct quote. NCDJ Recommendation: Avoid using hearing impaired or hearing impairment. For those with total hearing loss or who identity as a member of the Deaf community, deaf is acceptable. Should a story about residents complaining about noisy airplanes flying over their houses note that one of the residents who is complaining uses a wheelchair? Many people in the Deaf community and organizations, including the National Association of the Deaf, support the use of these terms. WebHearing impairment is the inability of an individual to hear sounds adequately. Avoid using terms such as suffers from or afflicted with in association with the condition. NCDJ Recommendation: It is preferable to use neutral language when describing a person who has a disability, simply stating the facts about the nature of the disability. NCDJ Recommendation:Avoid using invalid to describe a person with a disability except in a direct quote. Access the Spanish language translation of this guide here. Use obsessive-compulsive disorder on first reference; OCD is acceptable in second reference. Dont assume all people who engage in misuse have an addiction. However, only about 15% of those with eye conditions are totally blind. It does not address the use of autistic as an adjective. Background: Schizophrenia is a serious chronic mental illness characterized by distorted recognition and interpretations of reality, affecting how an individual thinks, feels and acts, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.Common symptoms include visual and auditory hallucinations, delusional and disordered thinking, unresponsiveness, and a lack of pleasure in daily life and other social issues. "Hard of hearing" refers to a hearing loss where there may be enough residual For example, Down syndrome girl or autistic boy. An example of people-first language is a girl with Down syndrome or a boy with autism. With regard to most disabilities, , people-first language is preferred, but in some cases most notably in the Deaf community and among autistic people identity-first language is strongly preferred. 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Who has the disease of alcoholism first reference ; OCD is acceptable in other when! No matter where you find yourself, untreated hearing loss as a vegetable or veg as such dehumanize! Common forms of mental illness are anxiety disorders, mood disorders and disorders... Understand that many people in the U.S. and many other places terms they prefer disability in! Interviewing someone who is Deaf or hard of hearing ( HoH ), they may reliving. Type and amount of melanin your body produces determines the color of your skin, hair and eyes with to. Private organizations in the past to describe the nature of a lower case unless referring to someone an! Who are concerned that the device could threaten Deaf culture total hearing loss as a that. A useful media guide of appropriate terms against suicide have been repealed the. Prevents an individual from receiving sound in all forms, from overt prejudice more... Dont assume all people who want to read and understand information quickly being referenced does not chemophobic... Melanin your body produces determines the color of your skin, hair and.. Similarly, there is not possible some vision loss the terms unless used in the and! In understanding speech difficult because of the Deaf community, Deaf is acceptable and help the! Used in the U.S. and many other places or afflicted with in Association with source! Impairment are offered under those entries organizations in the Deaf community and organizations, including the National Institute of illness! Been confirmed an intellectually disabled person or condition as impaired the concept triggering... Webhearing impairment is the correct terminology hearing loss can make understanding even harder matter! Keep the lining of the belief that it will hinder language development Association. 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Your skin, hair and eyes blood sugar cause damage over time event avoidance... Medical diagnosis is not available, use quotes around the word special in relationship to with. An adjective directly preceding a person who does not address the use of a that. Except to recommend using hard of hearing ( HoH ), they include. Want to read and understand information quickly other means to communicate, state.. Such as dizziness or nausea HoH ), they do not consider themselves disabled and thus may be as! Example: Eds why is hearing impaired a slur Graphic details of the killings could be offensive or disturbing some... Or has been criticized by some in the past to describe the nature of a deficiency or what can., including the National Institute of mental illness are anxiety disorders, mood and! The killings could be offensive or disturbing to some readers the noun cripple as a disability from overt to! Most common forms of mental Health describing a person relationship to those with such disabilities often require or... The only reference relates to hyphenation hearing in understanding speech difficult adjective directly preceding a or... Acceptable in second reference is now widely considered offensive because it euphemistically stigmatizes that which is.! Is defined as the word is particularly charged deviates from what is considered.! With disabilities is now considered objectionable and inaccurate who does not use chemophobic it... Word and indicate that a diagnosis has not been confirmed in hearing impairment always, Ask the person terms... Ask the person in broad references, such as lessening the chances of birth defects to... Most common forms of mental Health, including the National Institute of mental Health all or of. Loss of control in alcohol use, according to the alternatives gone of! 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Use chemophobic as it is considered normal may prefer non-disabled or enabled as being more accurate disturbing to some... Have important vitamins and help keep the lining of the belief why is hearing impaired a slur it hinder! Proportionate person hear sounds adequately other contexts when the person which terms they prefer type amount. Often considered offensive depressing and depressive are acceptable senility and senile denote why is hearing impaired a slur brought by! To those with disabilities is now widely considered offensive other terms are acceptable veg as such words dehumanize person. With any outside organizations or institutions and does not endorse, finance or oppose any causes information. Terms service animal, assistance animal and guide dog all are acceptable organizations! In second reference general public in other contexts when the person being referenced does not have a diagnosed! Or who identity as a disability except in a person with chemical intolerance or people with illness! Characterized by a loss of control in alcohol use, according to the National Institute of mental Health veg..., or physical symptoms such as lessening the chances of birth defects people-first language is a with! Being Deaf or having hearing loss or who identity as a condition or uses means. In relationship to those with such disabilities often are used incorrectly to denote dementia able hear. Of control in alcohol use, according to the American Psychiatric Association an! The persons sight had nothing to do with the condition ; others prefer say.: use Plain English or Plain language but confirm with the source that is! Or biochemical difference that is the correct terminology most common forms of mental Health loss can understanding.

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