Deaf Literacy

The reading and writing abilities of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, particularly in the dominant spoken/written language of their country. Research consistently shows that a majority of deaf high school graduates in the United States have English reading levels at or below fourth grade (age 10), due to various educational factors and levels of language exposure. This literacy gap makes technologies like sign language animation, captioning, and visual communication tools critical for information accessibility. Understanding deaf literacy levels is essential for designing inclusive digital content and services.