Deafness, loss of hearing, tinnitus and the social model of disability

[JackMatthams]

What

We propose to add guidance on the use of 'deafness', 'loss of hearing' and 'tinnitus' to the Inclusive language page and A to Z of NHS health writing.

We also propose to add references and an explanation of the social model of disability to the Inclusive language page.

Why

It is important to be clear and accurate when using language on disability. We currently do not have much guidance on talking about deafness, loss of hearing and tinnitus.

It is also important to make sure out content designers are fully aware of the social model of disability.

[sarawilcox]

Recommendation after February Content Style Council meeting and further discussion with NHS.UK content designers:

Deaf people

If you're creating content for or about people who are Deaf and use British Sign Language to communicate, bear in mind that their needs will be different from those of people who have a hearing loss or tinnitus.

We use a capital D when we’re talking to or about people who are Deaf and use British Sign Language to communicate because many Deaf people prefer it.

We recognise that this doesn’t apply to everyone who comes to the NHS for information about deafness and so, as always, we check with the people we’re creating content for how they want to be described.

We use "deafness" (with a lower case d) in our health content when we're writing about it, for example, as a symptom. But we prefer the term “hearing loss”.

hearing loss

If you're creating content for people who have a hearing loss, or about hearing loss, bear in mind that their needs may be different from those of people who are Deaf [link] and people who have tinnitus.

[Waiting for clinical approval.]

[sarawilcox]

Signed off by clinicians.
Changes made: nhsuk/nhsuk-service-manual#603
Waiting to go live.

[sarawilcox]

It looks like there's some confusion between our entries about:

• Deaf people
• deafness

In the case of BSL, we would use Deaf with a capital D, not hearing loss.

For July Style Council meeting?

[sarawilcox]

See discussion on NHS.UK Slack channel: https://nhsuk.slack.com/archives/C0J8BULHY/p1638526394351200. It referred to NHS Digital's guide to writing about disability and difference which says to avoid "hard of hearing". One NHS.UK user researcher said: "We had some concerns about the term 'hard of hearing' based on previous UR." Better to talk about "having hearing loss".

To go to a Style Council meeting for agreement - and to make style guide clearer about "deaf" versus "Deaf".

[XelaAl]

It is good that you think about disabled people. Good project!