Dog Saves Deaf Boy From Fire

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Dog Saves Deaf Boy From Fire

VIDEO - A 2-year-old pit bull named Ace is being called a hero after waking his Deaf owner, a 13-year-old boy, during a devastating house fire. The teen's cochlear implants were turned off, so the dog licked his face to wake him up.



INDIANAPOLIS, IN - A 2-year-old male pit bull named Ace was being hailed as a hero Wednesday, after waking his Deaf teenage owner during a devastating house fire.



At 1:11 p.m., Indianapolis firefighters were called to fight a fire at a home on the city's south side, officials said. Upon their arrival, flames were shooting from the garage.



Officials said Nick Lamb, 13, who is Deaf, was sleeping in the house at the time. Ace was able to alert Nick and awaken him by licking his face. "He was thankful that Ace entered his room and licked his face until he woke up," Indianapolis Fire Department Capt. Rita Reith said in a news release. "The boy quickly covered his nose and mouth with his T-shirt and exited the rear of the house."

Lamb said he was taught at school about covering his face and finding the nearest exit. Without his shoes but with Ace by his side, he darted out of the back door before calling his mother and 911. "I couldn't hear anything because I had my cochlear implants off. ... My dog Ace smelled it," Lamb said. "I just wanted to get out."



The fire-blackened home had $175,000 in damage. But Ace and Lamb made it out safely. No one else was home when the fire started.



Lindsay Bernard, Lamb's mother, says she rushed home from work after getting the call. Her mind was racing throughout the trip. "I went into a little bit of a panic," she said. "When I got here ... the streets were covered. It was mainly just panic and chaos." ... Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/07/17/pit-bull-saves-deaf-boy-house-fire/12771773/

Deaf People With Mental Illness Need Treatment

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Deaf People With Mental Illness Need Treatment

VIDEO: Deaf people with mental illness need culturally sensitive treatment: Medical research.



Medical practitioners need to provide culturally sensitive treatment to members of the Deaf community with psychiatric disorders to ensure they are diagnosed correctly and receive appropriate treatment, says Wolters Kluwer Health.



The report was published in the March Journal of Psychiatric Practice. The authors reviewed the limited research literature available about the mental health care of Deaf patients who communicate via American Sign Language (ASL) or gestures.



Communication strategies: Communication is challenging for Deaf people who communicate in sign language or in gestures.



"Deaf individuals comprise a cultural and linguistic minority group within the United States, and culturally and linguistically appropriate psychiatric treatment must reflect these differences," according to Sarah A. Landsberger, PhD, and coauthors of the Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.

There are approximately 1.2 Americans with profound hearing loss. Some Deaf people are unable to hear most sounds, even with assistive listening devices such as hearing aids. Some Deaf people identify themselves as part of the Deaf community, with a unique language sign and culture.



Sign language is complex and complete with its own syntax, grammar and vocabulary. These Deaf people do not think of their hearing loss as a disability. ...Read more: http://www.examiner.com/article/deaf-people-with-mental-illness-need-culturally-sensitive-treatment