Stigma and its Consequences for Social Identity

Humans are social beings and as such they do not experience hearing-related communication problems in a social vacuum (Hogan 2001). Notably, hearingrelated communication problems typically result in the stigmatisation of the person with hearing disability (Gagné et al. 2011; Hallberg and Carlsson 1991; Hetu 1996). As Giddens (1984) observes, stigma arises when the individual is deemed to be socially incompetent, in this case, because they cannot follow the very simple social rules of speaking, listening, and responding appropriately. People with hearing disability commonly seek to manage stigma by avoiding practices and behaviours that would marginalise or delegitimise them.