“NOW HEAR THIS” - DEFINITIONS
A Glossary of common terms used for and by those in the deaf community.

AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE (ASL)-a visual-gesture language, having its own semantic and syntactic structure, used by Deaf people in the U.S. and English-speaking parts of Canada.

ASL INTERPRETER- a trained, certified professional who mediates cultural differences between speakers of a spoken and a visual-gestural language, i.e. English to/from ASL.

AUDIOLOGY-the study of hearing disorders, including evaluation of hearing function and rehabilitation of patients with hearing impairments, by college-educated professionals.

BAHA-Bone-attached hearing aid surgically implanted.

CDI- (Certified Deaf Interpreter)-a professionally trained Deaf individual who mediates between a certified hearing interpreter and a Deaf individual in special circumstances.

COCHLEAR IMPLANT-a surgically implanted electronic device that allows people with severe hearing loss to recognize some sounds.

CODA- Child(ren) of Deaf Adult

DEAF COMMUNITY-individuals with varying communication modes and backgrounds, both deaf and hearing, who share common characteristics of hearing losses and/or Deaf culture

DEAF CULTURE- shared arts, customs, folklore, history, traditions, and values of the “Big D” Deaf community

FINGER SPELLING-the letters of the manual alphabet made with specific hand shapes.

HEARING AID-a small electronic apparatus that amplifies sound and is worn in the ear (ITE) or behind the ear (BTE) to compensate for impaired hearing.

ORAL TRANSLITERATOR- a trained, certified professional who provides communication access to Deaf persons who use speech & speech reading, by inaudibly repeating the spoken message.

RID- (Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf) - a professional group who promotes integrity among ASL interpreters, hearing and Deaf.

SODA- Sibling of Deaf Adult

TEXT MESSAGING DEVICE- two-way, wireless paging device (cell-phone) popular with Deaf individuals.

TTY- is a common name for a telecommunication device for the Deaf, an electronic device for text communication via a telephone line.