ABSTRACT
This chapter is based on the experiences of two deaf academics; one a profoundly deaf, oral lip-reader and hearing aid user based in the United Kingdom and the other a culturally Deaf sign language user based in the United States. The form of academic discourse adopted within a study carries with it particular consequences for thinking about theoretical and methodological issues. Byrne also has experience in conducting interviews and focus groups with young deaf people and young people with visual impairments who are students. Recording of interviews and focus groups are critically important for deaf researchers. Both authors are unable to decipher audio material. Consent for recording data must be routinely sought. While this is generally unproblematic, particularly when explained, there is always a risk in any project of a voluntary nature that consent may not be provided. Qualitative research methodologies are resoundingly ‘deaf’ to the needs of their users, rendering silent the limitations of existing research tools.
