title: Understanding deafness as a culture with a unique language and not a disability.
abstract: The traditional view of deafness and deaf patients and families is based on a pathological perspective of deafness rather than a cultural perspective. The purpose of this article is to offer advanced practice nurses an alternative approach to this often misunderstood community of patients who have their own unique language, values, and experiences.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Faculty, Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: McLeod
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Bently
mesh_terms: D003638:Deafness / Q000208:ethnology*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D006801:Humans; D012813:Sign Language; D016746:Transcultural Nursing / Q000379:methods*