Severity and symptoms vary widely. Some degenerative diseases can cause dysarthria, a motor speech disorder. But note that there is no universal agreement on the use of these terms not even close. NCDJ Recommendation: It is preferable to use neutral language when describing a person who has a disability, simply stating the facts about the nature of the disability. ear infection. Background: The University of Kansas Research & Training Center on Independent Living describes this as a specific congenital disability involving the lip and gum. The American Psychiatric Association offers a useful media guide of appropriate terms. Tetraplegia is used interchangeably with quadriplegia.. Background: Cerebral palsy refers to a number of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Finally, it cautions against using mental health terms to describe non-health issues. In the first case, we suggest the answer is no. The fact that someone uses a wheelchair does not make the airplane noise any more or less irritating. See Autism In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association folded Aspergers syndrome into one umbrella diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Dementia is not a specific illness; it refers to a wide range of symptoms. Symptoms include restlessness, difficulty in focusing or staying organized and impulsivity. Such events may include assault, war, sexual assault, natural disasters, car accidents or imprisonment. According to the University of Washington. Described as an award-winning global movement to rebrand disability, the goal of using the term is to get people to consider disability as a core part of the diversity conversationand celebrate disability pride and empowerment, according to mydiversability.com. Do not substitute slow learner or another derogatory term like retarded.. Background: Disability and disabled generally describe functional limitations that affect one or more of the major life activities, including walking, lifting, learning and breathing. Uppercase when referring to the Deaf community and lowercase when referring to the condition. Mental illness is a prevalent invisible disability. Signs and symptoms of dysarthria vary, depending on the underlying cause and the type of dysarthria. NCDJ Recommendation: Consider using speech disability instead of impediment, disorder or impairment.. Use of the word dwarf is considered acceptable when referring to the genetic condition, but it is often considered offensive when used in a non-medical sense. It is more accurate to cite the specific disability or disabilities in question. Insane/insanity/mentally deranged/psychopathology, American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Dwarf, little person/people/midget/short stature, Intellectual disabilities/intellectually disabled, Dwarf, little person/midget/short stature, Dissociative identity disorder/multiple personality disorder, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Avoid alcoholic, addict, user and abuser unless individuals prefer those terms for themselves or if they occur in quotations or names of organizations, such as Alcoholics Anonymous. Other medical diagnoses associated with dementia include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Huntingtons disease, Parkinsons disease and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (previously known as wet brain). See also Epilepsy/epileptic/epileptic fit. The case for nonspeaking is outlined by the non-profit organization The Guild for Human Services. Background: According to the University of Kansas Research & Training Center on Independent Living, learning disability describes a neurologically based condition that may manifest itself as difficulty learning and using skills in reading (called dyslexia), writing (dysgraphia), mathematics (dyscalculia) and other cognitive processes due to differences in how the brain processes information. Melanin also plays a role in the development of optic nerves, so people with albinism have vision problems. AP style: The stylebook recommends using partial hearing loss or partially deaf for those who have some hearing loss. Background: Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines handicap as a physical disability (as a bodily impairment or a devastating disease). The term has fallen out of favor in the disability community. She experiences symptoms of psychosis is preferable to She is psychotic. He has a bipolar disorder is preferable to He is bipolar.. Another note this time about the language around COVID-19. Otherwise, use the terms disabled, disability or person with a disability.. Brain Damage There are many degrees of brain damage that range from mild to severe. Background: The University of Kansas Research & Training Center on Independent Living describes these as chronic medical conditions characterized by neurological impairment, muscle pain and weakness, respiratory problems and gastrointestinal complaints. Able-bodied is an appropriate term to use in some cases, such as when referring to government reports on the proportion of able-bodied members in the workforce. The references angered disability rights advocates, who argued that Hawking achieved remarkable success while using a wheelchair and a computerized voice system, not despite those devices. Neurodiversity basically means that brains operate differently and thats not a bad thing. The word condition is often a good substitute that avoids judgement. Mute and dumb imply that communication is not possible. Those with such disabilities often require lifelong or extended support. From My Heart Cant Even Believe It: A Story of Science, Love and Down Syndrome, (Amy Silverman, Woodbine House, 2016): The wordretardedhas a slang-free history. Common symptoms of autism spectrum disorder include difficulties in communication, impaired social interaction and restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities, according to the Institute. Neurological Disorders. NCDJ Recommendation: Avoid referring to someone with a disability as sick or to their disability as a sickness. If a person is receiving medical treatment, then the word patient is appropriate; however, it should be avoided outside of a medical context. Background: These words were once commonly used to describe people with mental illness but are now considered offensive. The term flashback may be used to denote reliving an event that triggered the PTSD. People with psychosis are described as psychotic. NCDJ Recommendation: Since the term is not in widespread use, its meaning should be explained for a general audience; ask sources how they prefer to describe their relationships whenever possible. When writing about it, specify that major disability organizations do not recognize facilitated communication as a valid communication technique. NCDJ Recommendation: Avoid using the terms unless used in a direct quote. Keep in mind that it may not be relevant to include in a story how an individual communicates as long as the communication is clear. Background: Some disability advocates are beginning to shift away from the word nonverbal in favor of nonspeaking, arguing that nonverbal implies that someone doesnt understand language, while nonspeaking does not invite the same judgment. Too Much to Drink. Rapid speech that is difficult to understand. The Genome Research Institute offers comprehensive information about different genetic conditions, genetic testing and other pertinent topics. Others, including the authors of Great Minds and How to Grow Them, question whether there is such a thing as a gifted child. Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by unreasonable thoughts and fears that lead to repetitive and often ritualized behaviors or compulsions. These foods have important vitamins and help keep the lining of the throat healthy. Alternatively, it is acceptable to say that a person has had a disability since birth or was born with a disability. State the specific disability if possible. NCDJ Recommendation: Refer to someone as having dyslexia only if the information is relevant to the story and if youre confident there is a medical diagnosis. There is debate over how relevant IQ tests should be in making a diagnosis. NCDJ Recommendation: When writing about Tiffany Yus group, use Diversability as a proper name. Proponents of the term say it helps to destigmatize relationships between people with disabilities and people without disabilities. But not all people who appear to haveseizures haveepilepsy, a group of related disorders characterized by a tendency for recurrentseizures., NCDJ Recommendation: Refer to someone as having epilepsy only if the information is relevant to the story and if youre confident there is a medical diagnosis. In addition to their cognitive component, many types of dementia include physical symptoms, such as the abnormal eye movements of Huntingtons disease or the tremors associated with Parkinsons disease. The word dates to Old English, where it was related to words that meant to creep or bend over. According to the blog grammarphobia.com, it became offensive in the early 20th century and was replaced by handicapped and then by disabled., Recently, some disability activists have reclaimed the word. Some argue that the term commit implies that suicide is a criminal act, while others view the term commit as neutral. Ask your sources how they want to be described. Background: An alcoholic is someone who has the disease of alcoholism. Background: A chronic illness is defined by the National Health Council as a health condition lasting three months or longer and includes conditions such as cancer or heart disease. News reports covering sensitive topics, such as abuse, assault, addiction, suicide, combat and violence, frequently contain descriptive scenarios that can deeply effect audiences. Many prefer people-first language, such as a person with quadriplegia rather than quadriplegic, since the latter implies that the condition defines them. People who use wheelchairs have widely different disabilities and varying abilities. Many people with chronic illnesses do not consider themselves disabled and thus may be offended by the term. Most are proud to be Deaf. Do your best. An Italian version of the guide is available here. In general, there is no hyphen after inter, so interabled is the correct usage (not inter-abled). In Franco-Provenal (the Romance speech of French Switzerland and adjacent areas of France), a person affected by hypothyroidism was called a cretin, literally, wretch, innocent victim, The word meant simply Christian and emphasized the hypothyroid victims basic humanity.. Many dislike the terms because hearing impaired describes a person in terms of a deficiency or what they cannot do. AP style: Not directly addressed, although the style book recommends avoiding using disability-related words lightly or in unrelated situations. So why do some get offended by the term? When renowned scientist Stephen Hawking died in 2018, media accounts referred to him as finally free of the wheelchair he used for decades. However, organizations such as the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, the Mayo Clinic and the National Stuttering Association generally use the term stuttering to refer to the speech disorder. Raisingdeafkids.org has a good list of related resources and more information. Background: These terms carry the assumption that a person with a disability is suffering or has a reduced quality of life. Syracuse Universitys Disability Cultural Center says, The basic reason behind members of (some disability) groups dislike for the application of people-first language to themselves is that they consider their disabilities to be inseparable parts of who they are. For example, they prefer to be referred to as autistic, blind or disabled.. Background: Ableism refers to discrimination and social prejudice against people with disabilities. Similarly, ask whether the person prefers identity-first or people-first language. The discussion can be found here. Background: Service animals are trained animals, usually dogs, that provide services to people with disabilities. The federal definition of a service animal applies to any guide dog, signal dog or other animal trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. This may include animals that guide individuals with impacted vision, alert individuals with impacted hearing to intruders or sounds, provide minimal protection or rescue work, pull a wheelchair or fetch dropped items. People with disabilities spoke out on social media about this, and long haulers now understand firsthand what some people with disabilities experience. NCDJ Recommendation: Cretin is considered a slur to describe a person with intellectual disabilities. AP style: The style book states that congenital disorder is acceptable and recommends being specific about the condition. Background: Merriam-Webster defines the noun cripple as a lame or partly disabled person or animal and as something flawed or imperfect. It also is used as a verb. The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment recommends using people-first language when referring to alcoholism, such as someone with alcoholism or someone with an alcohol addiction., NCDJ Recommendation: Refer to someone who harmfully uses alcohol as a person with alcoholism rather than an alcoholic, which tends to identify someone solely by their disease. Some organizations suggest avoiding the terms demented, dementing, dements, senile or senility to refer to someone with dementia. Background: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cued speech is a building block that helps children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing better understand spoken languages. Its a series of hand signs and spots near the mouth used to differentiate between sounds that look the same as one is mouthing them. NCDJ Recommendation: Use person with a brain injury or person with a traumatic brain injury rather than brain damaged, which is considered derogatory. NCDJ Recommendation: Do not use the term retarded or other iterations. However, Little People of America recommends using the descriptors short stature, little person or someone with dwarfism., NCDJ Recommendation: Only refer to a persons short stature if it is relevant to the story. It is not interchangeable with American sign language; in fact, its not sign language at all. NCDJ Recommendation: While it is usually acceptable to use these terms, keep in mind that disability and people who have disabilities are not monolithic. For more information on mental illness, see the National Institute for Mental Health. For example, some people have Alzheimers disease and vascular dementia.. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, the word addiction is acceptable for uncontrollable, compulsive use of substances as well as acts such as gambling, sex, working, etc., in the face of negative health and social consequences. Background: The Merck Manual ddefines vegetative state as the absence of responsiveness or consciousness in which patients show no awareness of their environment. Bipolar disorder often develops during late adolescence or early adulthood. The terms senility and senile denote conditions brought on by aging and often are used incorrectly to denote dementia. Psychoanalyst: A specific type of psychotherapist trained to work with both an individuals unconscious and unconscious mind. Background: The Centers for Disease Control define traumatic brain injury as an injury that affects how the brain works.. AP style: The AP merely defines Tourette Syndrome as, A neurological disorder characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements and vocalizations.. The device does not fully restore hearing, but it gives a representation of sounds to help a person understand speech. The term dyslexic is used by some organizations as a noun and as an adjective in a non-pejorative way; however, using the word as a noun (describing a person as a dyslexic) appears to be falling out of use. why is hearing impaired a slur. Some are opposed to the use of AAC because of the belief that it will hinder language development. Others prefer it to disabled because dis means not, which means that disabled means not able. But particularly when it comes to referring to individuals, differently abled is problematic. Background: Dumb was once widely used to describe a person who could not speak and implied the person was incapable of expressing himself or herself; it eventually came to be synonymous with silent.. Background: The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines freak as one that is markedly unusual or abnormal, such as a person or animal having a physical oddity and appearing in a circus sideshow. This particular use of the word dates to the middle of the 19th century. Many people in the Deaf community and organizations, including the National Association of the Deaf, support the use of these terms. WebMD explains the difference between epilepsy and seizures in this way: Seizures, abnormal movements or behavior due to unusual electrical activity in the brain, are a symptom ofepilepsy. Until recently, the term deaf-blind was widely accepted, and it is still in use today. More. NCDJ Recommendation: It is preferable to use a medical professionals diagnosis or, if that is not possible, terms such as comatose or non-responsive. Avoid referring to someone as a vegetable or veg as such words dehumanize the person. Background: Paraplegia is defined as the loss of movement in the lower extremities and torso. Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder usually caused by an extremely emotional traumatic event. Background: Schizophrenia is a serious chronic mental illness characterized by distorted recognition and interpretations of reality, affecting how an individual thinks, feels and acts, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.Common symptoms include visual and auditory hallucinations, delusional and disordered thinking, unresponsiveness, and a lack of pleasure in daily life and other social issues. Healthyplace.com has a good discussion of the differences. Psychologist: A mental health professional trained in the discipline of psychology and who often does psychological testing and research. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviors that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences, according to the American Academy of Pain Medicine. A minimally conscious state is one in which a patient has some awareness of self and/or the environment. Background: Hard of hearing is the most common term for those who have a mild to moderate hearing loss that may or may not be corrected with amplification. The plural of dwarf is dwarfs.. Background: The terms insane, insanity and mentally deranged are commonly used informally to denote mental instability or mental illness but can be considered offensive. Dont assume all people who engage in misuse have an addiction. If a medical diagnosis is not available, use quotes around the term and indicate that a diagnosis has not been confirmed. WebIt feels like hearing impaired is the PC term that people use because they're uncomfortable saying "Deaf" and that they don't know how to talk to you or are focusing on your deafness, like they need to pick the right word or you're going to Background: Bipolar disorder is a mental illness believed to be caused by a combination of genetic factors and neurological functioning, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. AP style: The stylebook states that its acceptable to use the word autism as an umbrella term for a group of developmental disorders. It also says it is acceptable to use the word autism in stories. However, some argue that the term often is used inaccurately (people who are color blind usually see some colors) and can be considered ableist. Psychotherapist: An umbrella term for mental health professionals trained to treat people for their health problems. It is often used informally to describe someone who is in a stupor-like condition. A nonspeaking individual may understand and use language just in a different way, such as through American Sign Language. NCDJ Recommendation: Use Americans with Disabilities Act on first reference; ADA is acceptable on second reference. Background: Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935 by Bill W. and Dr. Bob S. in Akron, Ohio, according to the AA General Service Office. NCDJ Recommendation: The NCDJ endorses The Associated Press style, below. NCDJ Recommendation: When referring to a person with a chronic illness, only refer to the condition if it is pertinent to the story you are confident there is a medical diagnosis. In the past, we have encouraged journalists and others to use person-first language (such as, a person who has Down syndrome rather than a Down syndrome person) as a default. The World Federation of the Deaf has taken the stance that hearing impaired is no longer an acceptable term. This lack of diversity negatively affects Deaf and hard of hearing (DHOH) people of color, who are subjected to communication barriers when utilizing the services of an interpreter from different ethnic and racial backgrounds as themselves. NCDJ Recommendation: Avoid describing people as gifted or twice exceptional unless they have been identified as such by a professional. NCDJ Recommendation: Avoid using lame or lamebrain to describe a person except in a quote. NCDJ Recommendation: When referring to a cochlear implant, avoid describing it as a corrective device or one that would restore a deaf person to mainstream society. For others who have a loss of vision, the American Foundation for the Blind uses the term low vision, which it describes as uncorrectable vision loss that interferes with daily activities. The foundation says that other terms commonly used to describe vision loss partial sight, partial blindness and poor vision are no longer in general use. 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