Sexuality of people with deafness: Application of a sex education program Chapter uri icon

abstract

  • The sexuality of the deaf and other disabled groups is thrown into taboos, false beliefs and fears, caused mainly by lack of knowledge on the subject. The limited literature on these issues limit opportunities to offer such services to the deaf groups from various disciplines. Deaf people are able to interact sexually with others in the same way hearing people do, their ability to manifest sexually is not affected at most levels through which the deaf can experience their sexuality. The reaction of the deaf to the discovery of their sexuality and their reaction to sex does not have specific characteristics as a result of hearing impairment. However, when talking about sexuality, both deaf people as well as listeners, we are talking not only of an independent, but a specific part of the overall structure of the individual, seen as a unit, and sexuality comes from pregnancy and unfolds under the specific structure of each individual. Therefore, the reality of sexual development of deaf people is disturbed by some features that involve these groups, as they are, communication barriers (even within the same family), lack of sexual education or limited social relationships generally established. In this chapter we describe some models in the literature, that represent the way in which regularly deaf people deal with interpersonal relationships and partner relationships, as well as some factors that makes this group more vulnerable to abuse and unwanted pregnancies. We also describe the process of implementing a sexual education program offered to a group of deaf people, where we could meet real and current needs surrounding this population in the area of sexuality; needs that can and should motivate changes to achieve a better quality of sexual life of deaf people. © 2011 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

publication date

  • 2011-01-01