ABSTRACT
The psychological and psychiatric professions have long pathologized the characteristics and life experiences of deaf individuals, frequently advancing erroneous or exaggerated theories of causal relationships between hearing loss and mental disorder (Lane, 1992; Pollard, 1992b). Yet, mental disorders (psychopathology) certainly do affect deaf and hard-ofhearing persons, just as they do the rest of the population. This chapter addresses the identification, diagnosis, incidence, and treatment of psychopathology when it happens to affect deaf and hard-of-hearing people. It also touches on topical issues in treatment and examines recent service and legislative initiatives.
