Are you Deaf aware?

Nina Filaise - 14

• Some children are born deaf - their deafness may be genetic, or caused by being born very early, or caused by an infection caught before they were born.

• Some children become deaf when they are young - their deafness may be genetic or caused by an illness or infection or caused by a medicine that was given to treat a serious illness.

• Lots of adults become deaf - their deafness may be caused by listening to too much loud noise, or a head injury, or just because

they are getting older.

• There are over 45,000 deaf children living in the UK

• Four babies are born deaf every day

• Approximately 50,000 deaf people in the UK use British Sign

Language (BSL) as their first or preferred language.

Derrick Coleman has been deaf since he was 3 years old, but that hasn’t stopped him getting to the top of his sport.

He plays for a team called the Seattle Seahawks.

When he is playing, he relies on lip reading and hand signals to communicate. He also wears a cap under his helmet to make sure his hearing aids don’t fall out

• What problems do you think deaf people have everyday?

Nehal Bhogaita, 24, is the reigning Miss India

Speaking to people in the car

Being aware of what is going on when I am out and about

Chatting to people on my mobile phone

Chatting to people on my home phone

Being aware of things happening at home

Claire Stancliffe