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Careers in Deafness
"I have a deaf friend who has taught me some sign language, and I
think I might be interested in a career working with deaf people."
"My aunt is hard of hearing. It's hard for her to communicate sometimes.
Now I'm thinking about a future job working with people who have a hearing
loss."
"My neighbor's baby is deaf. I have been babysitting for them for
a year. I enjoy taking care of this baby and would like to know more about
what it means to be deaf and about a career in the field."
"I have a severe hearing loss and would like to work with others
who have hearing losses. Can you send me information on careers that would
enable me to work with people who are deaf and hard of hearing?"
However you became interested in a career working with deaf or hard of
hearing people, you'll find exciting opportunities await you. You'll work
with an interesting and varied group of people. According to current estimates,
one in 11 people in our society have some degree of hearing loss. Careers
in this field offer the chance to work with a wide range of people in
a variety of settings.
As a first step, you may want to ask yourself some basic career-related
questions:
Do you want to continue your education beyond high school? Through college?
Through graduate school?
Do you enjoy working with people? What ages? Individuals? Groups?
Do you enjoy working with machines? With numbers?
If teaching appeals to you, would you rather teach very young children
or older students?
Does a scientific/medical setting appeal to you?
Careers in deafness encompass all these areas--and many more. You will
have to make choices based on likes and dislikes, interests and aptitudes,
and your willingness and ability to continue your education and training.
You can work within a professional area such as social work and concentrate
on clients who are deaf or hard of hearing. Or you can choose a career
area that is specific to deaf people such as sign language interpreting.
Career options include:
- Audiologist
- Counselor
- Dormitory/residence program counselor
- Interpreter
- Linguist
- Social worker
- Speech-language pathologist
- Teacher
- Parent/infant specialist
- Combined specialties
Work settings include:
- Colleges and universities
- Community hearing and speech agencies
- Consumer associations
- Government agencies
- Health departments
- Hospitals and clinics
- Industry and businesses
- Legal settings
- Mental health clinics
- Private practices
- Private and state schools
- Public school systems
- Rehabilitation centers
- Research centers
- Social service agencies
If you are interested in any of the career options above, read on for
more detailed descriptions. For each career option, under the heading
How to prepare, you'll find the most common degree and certifications
requirements. For many of these careers, the required credentials may
vary from state to state, so check state requirements carefully.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW
The careers identified above involve demanding responsibilities and knowledge
of special modes of communication. General preparation can start in high
school, even before you've narrowed down your career choice.
Learn sign language. Classes are often offered through community
colleges and continuing education programs. Some high schools offer elective
courses in American Sign Language.
Develop your English skills. A strong background in English lays
the groundwork for the communication skills required in any professional
specialty in the field of deafness.
Do some investigating. Talk to people already working with deaf
and hard of hearing people. Ask if you can observe them on the job.
Volunteer. Get experience in a setting that serves people in general,
or in a setting specifically serving deaf and hard of hearing people.
Any and all experience will help you make progress on your career.
AUDIOLOGIST
What to expect
An audiologist is a trained professional who specializes in preventions,
identification, and assessment of hearing loss. In clinical practice,
an audiologist determines the type and degree of loss, assesses the effect
of the loss on ability to communicate, and designs an appropriate habilitation
program for the individual who is deaf or hard of hearing. In addition
to fitting hearing aids and training clients in the use of aids and other
assistive listening devices, an audiologist offers such services as auditory
training, training in lip-reading techniques, and counseling.
How to prepare
- Bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology or related field.
- Master's degree in audiology.
- A doctorate in clinical audiology (Au.D.) will be the required credential
by the year 2007.
- Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-A) is required.
- Many states also have licensing requirements.
COUNSELOR
What to expect
Counselors working with deaf people can choose from a variety of specialties-rehabilitation,
community, school/guidance, and mental health counselor. In general, counselors
assist deaf or hard of hearing clients to become more fully functioning
members of the community.
The vocational rehabilitation (VR) counselor works directly with
deaf or hard of hearing clients to determine career training opportunities
and appropriate job placements. In addition to personal and vocational
counseling with deaf clients, many VR counselors coordinate services among
agencies serving deaf citizens and advocate for clients accessibility.
Many VR counselors work for state agencies, but others work in nonprofit
and private agencies.
The community counselor works with deaf adults in community settings
and provides assistance to individuals who experience developmental issues
or concerns. The focus of a community counselor's work is on prevention
rather than remediation. Community counselors are generalist counselors
who have multiple roles including outreach, advocacy, and case management,
in addition to counseling.
The school counselor guides students in their search for career
opportunities and may also help students work out personal concerns through
individual counseling. By educating students about careers and self-awareness,
and by helping students develop general career and interpersonal skills,
school counselors promote confidence and self-esteem in students. In addition,
the school counselor develops appropriate career educational resources
for students and functions as a liaison with the VR counselor assigned
to graduating students, when appropriate.
The mental health counselor works with deaf people of all ages
and their families, providing individual, group, and couples therapy.
A mental health counselor's primary role is the diagnosis and treatment
of mental and emotional disorders. The goal of mental health counseling
is to promote a client's optimal mental health while dealing with normal
problems of living or during the treatment of psychopathology.
How to prepare
- Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, education or related
field.
- Master's degree in counseling with specialization in rehabilitation,
community, school or mental health area
DORMITORY/RESIDENCE PROGRAM COUNSELOR
What to expect
Private or state schools for deaf students may have residential programs.
Like boarding schools, these schools provide a living environment as well
as an educational environment for their students. Dormitory counselors
are responsible for the children who live at school, supervising them
between and after classes, helping with studies and activities, and establishing
a supportive atmosphere for their students. A related career option is
that of the residential counselor who works in an independent living
center or group home for adults.
How to prepare
- High school diploma
- Bachelor's degree in education, counseling, psychology, social work,
or related field may be required in many states
INTERPRETER
What to expect
Professional sign language interpreters function similarly to foreign
language interpreters. They often serve as the communication link between
deaf and hearing individuals in a variety of settings--the classroom,
the office, the hospital, the courtroom, or the town meeting. Some interpreters
work as full-time, paid staff members; others are self-employed freelancers.
Interpreting demands more than superior sign language skills. Interpreters
learn specialized techniques and ethical considerations for interpreting
in a variety of settings with people of various ages.
How to prepare
- High school diploma or bachelor's degree with a strong English background
and American Sign Language coursework.
- Associate, bachelor's, or master's degree from an interpreter training
program. More programs are requiring bachelor's or master's degrees.
- Certification by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
LINGUIST
What to expect
Focusing on communication, the linguist who works with people who are
Deaf uses highly specialized skills to analyze language and its uses.
These skills may be used in research or applied linguistics. Current research
in the field includes studies of the grammar of American Sign Language,
the history and development of American Sign Language, comparative sign
languages, and language development of deaf children. Applied linguistics
is especially valuable in a career teaching American Sign Language or
in the school setting where a linguist uses theoretical tools to analyze
the language patterns of individual students and to determine some strategies
for helping these students develop new language skills.
How to prepare
- Bachelor's degree in linguistics, psychology, sociology, anthropology,
or related field.
- Master's degree and, usually, Ph.D., in linguistics also required.
PSYCHOLOGIST
What to expect
Psychologists work with deaf people in a variety of areas. Clinical and
counseling psychologists provide psychological services for deaf people
of all ages in mental health clinics and hospitals. School psychologists
work in a school system either at a residential school for deaf students
or a public school with a mainstream program. Experimental psychologists
work in universities and research facilities.
Clinical psychologists provide assessment, therapy, and counseling for
deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing people in mental health settings. School
psychologists give diagnostic tests and work with teachers, parents, and
students to prepare programs that meet the special needs of each student.
Clinical, school, and experimental psychologists conduct research on topics
related to psychology, mental health, and deafness. Areas such as sign
language, cognition, personality, social psychology, child development,
and perception provide exciting opportunities for psychological research
in deafness.
How to prepare
- Doctorate or specialist degree usually required
- All states and the District of Columbia also have licensing and certification
requirements for psychologists.
SOCIAL WORKER
Social workers provide a broad range of services to deaf and hard of
hearing people and their families. The knowledge and skills they develop
prepare them for career opportunities in diverse settings such as family
service and child welfare agencies, schools, mental health and addiction
programs, health care organizations, programs serving senior citizens,
the justice system, adoption and foster care services, and private practices.
Social workers also acquire skills for advocacy in the community and for
the development of programs and services to assist people who are deaf
and hard of hearing. Social work is a profession that focuses on empowerment
and social justice. Social workers identify and work with people's strengths
and abilities. They are committed to providing professional services to
deaf and hard of hearing people and ensuring that services are made available
to them.
How to prepare
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited program in social work, M.S.W.,
or D.S.W./Ph.D., depending upon the type of work. All states have licensing
requirements for the M.S.W. many also have licensing requirements for
the B.A. level.
SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
What to expect
Speech-language pathologists are professionals who evaluate and treat
children and adults with communication disorders. They work in schools,
private practices, hospitals, clinics, and other health and educational
settings. People seeking the services of a speech-language pathologist
may experience problems with hearing, voice and sound production, swallowing,
language comprehension, and verbal, sign, or gestural expression. These
difficulties may be associated with hearing loss, stroke or neurological
injury, cerebral palsy, genetic disorders, or other learning and developmental
disabilities. Speech-language pathologists teach people communication
strategies, foster academic achievement, social adjustment, and career
advancement, and help individuals and their families understand and cope
with communication issues.
How to prepare
- Bachelor's degree in speech or related field.
- Master's degree in speech-language pathology.
- Certificate of Clinical Competency (CCC-S) is required.
- Many states also have licensing requirements.
TEACHER
There are many teaching specialties available. Brief descriptions follow.
TEACHER--PARENT/INFANT SPECIALIST
What to expect
The parent/infant specialist conducts individual sessions for deaf
children (birth to 4 years) and their parents in clinics, school, or in
the home. Guiding parents to an understanding of deafness, specific communication
approaches and a realistic awareness of what the child can or cannot hear,
the parent/infant specialist trains family members to assist actively
in the child's development. Parents' feelings about deafness in their
families are important topic in the sessions.
How to prepare
- Bachelor's degree in education, early childhood education, or related
fields
- Master's degree in deaf education, with certification in parent/infant
specialty often preferred
TEACHER--PRESCHOOL
What to expect
Because hearing loss impedes language acquisition, and because language
acquisition is the foundation on which later education rests, an early
educational start is essential for deaf and hard of hearing children.
At the age of 3, most deaf children attend special nursery and kindergarten
classes in schools, clinics, or hospitals. Teachers in these settings
have specialized training at the preschool level. Classes often involve
intensive language and vocabulary development, social interaction activities,
and motor skills development. Teachers of preschool deaf children may
also work closely with parents.
How to prepare
- Bachelor's degree in education, early childhood education, or related
field.
- Master's degree in deaf education.
TEACHER--ELEMENTARY LEVEL
What to expect
In elementary grades, teachers of children who have a hearing loss use
special techniques to teach English, reading, mathematics, science, and
social studies. They focus on language and communication skills and teach
children to use these skills in studying other subjects. Teachers who
are trained for this level may teach in a public or private schools for
deaf children or in public school programs with classes for deaf children.
How to prepare
- Bachelor's degree in education or related field
- Master's degree in deaf education
TEACHER--SECONDARY LEVEL
What to expect
At the high school level, teachers specialize in a particular academic
area such as art, biology, English, home economics, history, mathematics,
physical education, or vocational training. Teachers working with deaf
students may teach in schools for deaf children or in public schools in
which deaf students are mainstreamed.
How to prepare
- Bachelor's degree in specific subject areas such as history, art,
English, or biology.
- Master's degree in deaf education
TEACHER--POST-SECONDARY LEVEL
What to expect
Teachers in the postsecondary setting may teach at a university, college,
community college, or in adult education or continuing education classes.
Teachers have a subject area specialty such as literature, physics, business,
or computer science.
How to prepare
- Bachelor's degree in specific subject area such as art, English, biology,
or mathematics.
- Teaching at the postsecondary level usually requires a master's degree
and, more often, a Ph.D. in the specific subject area to be taught.
TEACHER--ITINERANT/RESOURCE ROOM
What to expect
Itinerant teachers are specially trained to work with a variety of students,
teaching different grade levels and subject areas. In an area with few
deaf students per school, for example, an itinerant teacher might travel
from school to school teaching a specific number of classes each week
to a special group of students in each school. A resource room teacher,
like an itinerant teacher, is specially trained to work with a group of
students on specific content areas. For example, deaf children who are
mainstreamed in a public school might meet once a day with a resource
room teacher for additional work on reading skills.
How to prepare
- Bachelor's degree in education or related field
- Master's degree in deaf education.
TEACHER-TEACHER AIDE/DORMITORY AIDE
What to expect
Responsibilities vary depending on classroom or dormitory situations.
Generally, however, the aide-under the supervision of a teacher or counselor-works
with deaf children or adults individually or in small groups. The teacher
or counselor structures and assigns the aide's tasks.
How to prepare
- High school diploma with some college course work
- College degree not necessarily required.
- Knowledge of various sign language systems used in schools
COMBINED SPECIALTIES
The opportunity to work with people who are deaf or hard of hearing is
not limited to the careers described above. Anyone who is willing to learn
about the special communication and psychosocial needs of those with a
hearing loss can interact with this group. This interaction may be social
or it may occur in the context of a service relationship. Doctors, dentists,
lawyers, librarians, and teachers at all levels are among the service
professionals who have frequent contact with people who are deaf and hard
of hearing. Staff in social service agencies, hospitals, clinics, and
other settings may also work with deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
As the demand and their interest warrant, some agencies and private practitioners
may offer services specially designed for deaf and hard of hearing people.
For example, a number of medical clinics within large hospitals offer
special services to patients who are deaf or hard of hearing. Libraries
may offer special access programs for deaf and hard of hearing patrons.
In some agencies, secretaries/interpreters work with deaf or hard of hearing
professionals or have contact with deaf and hard of hearing clients served
by the agency or office in which they work.
Whatever your interest, talent, or career goals, you can work with people
who are deaf and hard of hearing. Whatever your choice, we wish you every
success in your future career.
For additional information on the specific careers described here
and lists of training programs, contact these organizations:
ADARA: Professionals Networking for Excellence in Service
Delivery to People Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing
(formerly American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association)
P.O. Box 727
Lusby, MD 20657
Voice/TTY: (650) 372-0620
ADARAorgn@aol.com
http://www.adara.org
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
10801 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
Helpline/V/TTY (800) 638-8255
actioncenter@asha.org
http://www.asha.org
Convention of American Instructors of the Deaf
P. O. Box 377
Bedford, TX 76095-0377
Voice/TTY: (817) 354-8414
caid@swbell.net
http://www.caid.org
Publications and Information Dissemination
Info to Go
Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center
800 Florida Ave. N.E.
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 651-5051
http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu
National Association of Social Workers
750 First Street NE, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20002-4241
(202) 408-8600
http://www.naswdc.org/
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf
8630 Fenton Street, Suite 324
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Voice/TTY: (301) 608-0050
membership@rid.org
http://www.rid.org
For information about careers in special education, contact:
National Clearinghouse on Professions in Special Education
1110 North Glebe Road, Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201-5704
(866)-915-5000 Toll Free TTY
(800)-641-7824 Voice
ncpse@cec.sped.org
http://www.special-ed-careers.org/
Gallaudet University is an equal opportunity/educational institution
and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin,
religion, age, hearing status, disability, covered veteran status, marital
status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities,
matriculation, political affiliation, source of income, place of business
or residence, pregnancy, childbirth, or any other unlawful basis.
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