Generality
The deaf-mute individual (therefore, suffering from deaf-mutism) is a person who suffers from both deafness and deafness.
However, from a scientific point of view, at the term "deaf-mute", we prefer to use the term " deaf prelinguistic " (that is, an individual who became deaf before acquiring language).
Causes
As mentioned, the deaf-mute is an individual who was born deaf, or who developed deafness within the first two years of life, and who - as a result of this disorder - developed mutism despite perfectly functioning phonation organs.
Mutism occurs because the learning of language depends precisely on listening to words and on their repetition by the child. It is clear, therefore, that in a deaf individual from birth this form of learning cannot be put into practice.
The deafness responsible for deaf-mutism manifests itself in the child from birth, or shortly after, depending on the cause that triggered it.
In this regard, we can divide the causes that lead to the onset of deaf-mutism in three large groups.
Pre-natal causes
The pre-natal causes cause the newborn to be deaf even before being born and that, therefore, is already born without hearing ability (congenital deafness).
Fall within this group:
- Hereditary causes . That is, parents can pass on genetic mutations that cause deafness to develop.
- Contraction of particular infections or pathologies by the mother during pregnancy, which can damage the unborn child's hearing (an example is the contraction of the rubella by the pregnant woman).
- Poisoning of the mother with substances such as drugs, alcohol, tobacco and / or drugs .
Perinatal causes
Perinatal causes (also called neonatal causes) cause the child's deafness at birth.
In most cases, they depend on trauma suffered by the newborn during birth, among which we recall the anoxia (which can arise in the case of difficult and complicating parts) and the mechanical traumas that the child may experience during the course of childbirth.
Post-natal causes
Finally, post-natal causes can cause deafness in the child during its first years of life, before it can use the word.
Among the main causes of post-natal deafness, we recall:
- Pathologies such as encephalitis and meningitis ;
- Viral infections such as mumps or measles ;
- Drug poisoning such as gentamicin or streptomycin .
Cures and Remedies
Unfortunately, there is no real cure for deaf-mutism, but it is necessary to tackle the problem with a multidisciplinary approach.
First of all, as soon as we become aware of the child's hearing problem, it is essential to understand the degree of deafness that afflicts him, through the execution of special audiometric tests.
Thanks to these tests, the doctor will determine if the deafness is complete, or if the child is able to perceive some sounds. In the latter case, the doctor will have to identify the frequency of the sounds that the child can perceive and will have to intervene by prescribing to the patient the use of adequate hearing aids .
These prostheses generally have a high amplifying power and allow the child to hear sounds that otherwise would not be able to perceive. In other cases, instead, prostheses can be used that are able to modify the frequencies of the sounds in the frequencies that the child is able to perceive, so as to allow him to perceive the greatest possible number of sounds.
Naturally, the timeliness in identifying the problem and in adopting the aforementioned solutions is fundamental to ensure that the child can begin to learn the language quickly, possibly with the help of speech therapy.
At best, in cases where deafness is not excessively severe and is readily identified and treated, children may even get a normal education like their peers.
In the most serious cases, where the prosthesis cannot be used or in any case is not effective, there is no way to counteract deafness. However, the language can still be taught to the child through specific techniques, which also include learning to read the lips and sign language. This type of technique is generally taught in special schools for deaf-mutes also present in Italy.
Finally, for a deaf-and-dumb child, psychological support and educational-social support is of fundamental importance, since the condition of not being able to communicate with peers or family members - or otherwise communicate differently from the people around him - it could cause problems and damage to them even on a psychological level.
