Notable Deaf people are typically defined as those who have profound
hearing loss in both ears as a result of either acquired or
congenital hearing loss. Such people may be associated with
deaf culture. Deafness (little to no hearing) is distinguished from partial hearing loss or damage (such as
tinnitus), which is less severe impairment in one or both sides. The definition of deafness varies across countries, cultures, and time, though the
World Health Organization classes profound hearing loss as the failure to hear a sound of 90
decibels or louder in a
hearing test.[1]
In addition to those with profound hearing loss, people without profound hearing loss may also identify as Deaf, often where the person is active within a Deaf community and for whom
sign language is their
primary language.[2] Those who have mostly lived as a hearing person and acquire deafness briefly, due to a temporary illness or shortly before death, for example, are not typically classed as culturally Deaf.
Pierre Desloges (1742–?), French deaf writer and bookbinder, first known deaf person to publish a book
Gilbert Eastman (1934–2016), American educator, actor, playwright, author, and television host
Jane Fernandes, the first Deaf woman to serve as president of an American college or university at
Guilford College (2014-2021) in Greensboro, NC and the first Deaf woman to head a school for the Deaf
Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind (1990-1995)[3] Currently president of Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio
Andrew Foster, (1925–1987), American educator, the first Black deaf person to earn a bachelor's degree from
Gallaudet College, Christian missionary to Africa
Frederick LaMonto, American sculptor, artist. (1921-1981)[15]
Musicians
Ludwig van Beethoven, German composer and pianist, who acquired almost complete deafness by age 44.[16]
Beethoven's Nightmare, The first and the only deaf rock band in the world cofounded by Bob Hiltermann, drummer from California, Ed Chevy, and Steve Longo from California. Founded in 1971 and still active.
^Madeleine Chapman, Jesper Dammeyer, The Significance of Deaf Identity for Psychological Well-Being, The Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, Volume 22, Issue 2, April 2017, Pages 187–194,
https://doi.org/10.1093/deafed/enw073
^Moore, Matthew S.; Panara, Robert (1996).
"Chapter 54: Linda Bove". Great Deaf Americans : The Second Edition. Rochester, N.Y. : Deaf Life Press. pp. 352–357.
ISBN9780963401663.
^Falk, Peter Hastings, ed. (1999). Who Was Who in American Art, 1564–1975: 400 Years of Artists in America. Madison, Conn.: Sound View Press. p. 437.
ISBN0932087558.
^Beechey, Gwilym, William Boyce, and J. H. "Memoirs of Dr. William Boyce." The Musical Quarterly 57, no. 1 (1971): 87-106. Accessed July 10, 2020. www.jstor.org/stable/740872.
Notable Deaf people are typically defined as those who have profound
hearing loss in both ears as a result of either acquired or
congenital hearing loss. Such people may be associated with
deaf culture. Deafness (little to no hearing) is distinguished from partial hearing loss or damage (such as
tinnitus), which is less severe impairment in one or both sides. The definition of deafness varies across countries, cultures, and time, though the
World Health Organization classes profound hearing loss as the failure to hear a sound of 90
decibels or louder in a
hearing test.[1]
In addition to those with profound hearing loss, people without profound hearing loss may also identify as Deaf, often where the person is active within a Deaf community and for whom
sign language is their
primary language.[2] Those who have mostly lived as a hearing person and acquire deafness briefly, due to a temporary illness or shortly before death, for example, are not typically classed as culturally Deaf.
Pierre Desloges (1742–?), French deaf writer and bookbinder, first known deaf person to publish a book
Gilbert Eastman (1934–2016), American educator, actor, playwright, author, and television host
Jane Fernandes, the first Deaf woman to serve as president of an American college or university at
Guilford College (2014-2021) in Greensboro, NC and the first Deaf woman to head a school for the Deaf
Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind (1990-1995)[3] Currently president of Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio
Andrew Foster, (1925–1987), American educator, the first Black deaf person to earn a bachelor's degree from
Gallaudet College, Christian missionary to Africa
Frederick LaMonto, American sculptor, artist. (1921-1981)[15]
Musicians
Ludwig van Beethoven, German composer and pianist, who acquired almost complete deafness by age 44.[16]
Beethoven's Nightmare, The first and the only deaf rock band in the world cofounded by Bob Hiltermann, drummer from California, Ed Chevy, and Steve Longo from California. Founded in 1971 and still active.
^Madeleine Chapman, Jesper Dammeyer, The Significance of Deaf Identity for Psychological Well-Being, The Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, Volume 22, Issue 2, April 2017, Pages 187–194,
https://doi.org/10.1093/deafed/enw073
^Moore, Matthew S.; Panara, Robert (1996).
"Chapter 54: Linda Bove". Great Deaf Americans : The Second Edition. Rochester, N.Y. : Deaf Life Press. pp. 352–357.
ISBN9780963401663.
^Falk, Peter Hastings, ed. (1999). Who Was Who in American Art, 1564–1975: 400 Years of Artists in America. Madison, Conn.: Sound View Press. p. 437.
ISBN0932087558.
^Beechey, Gwilym, William Boyce, and J. H. "Memoirs of Dr. William Boyce." The Musical Quarterly 57, no. 1 (1971): 87-106. Accessed July 10, 2020. www.jstor.org/stable/740872.