Patterns of drinking among the deaf

Thirty-nine White deaf persons functioning normally within the general hearing community were surveyed on a variety of factors concerning their use of alcohol, and compared to the data from two comparable hearing samples reported previously in the literature. No significant differences were found between the deaf and hearing samples on patterns of drinking or other parameters of alcohol use. Heavier alcohol use among the deaf correlated significantly with reported frequency of driving after having drunk too much, age of having had the first drink, ever having been drunk, feeling guilt over drinking too much, and others criticizing the respondent for drinking behavior. Heavier use also tended to be correlated with attendance at an all-deaf school. Implications of the findings of similar drinking patterns for the deaf and the hearing are discussed in terms of the lack of specific rehabilitation facilities for the deaf, along with possible reasons for the lack of use by deaf clients of alcohol rehabilitation agencies in the community.