Abstract
<p>This study was designed to investigate the relationship between language dysfluency in the deaf inpatient population and the following variables: psychiatric diagnosis, risk of harm to self and others and psycho-social functioning admission scores on the Clinical Evaluation of Risk and Functioning Scale - Revised(CERF-R), and cognitive ability as measured by the Allen Cognitive Level Scale(ACL).</p>
<p>The research found that 75% of deaf individuals fell into the non-fluent range of communication in ASL, their best language. Participants with severe language dysfluency received DSM-IV diagnoses concentrated in more severe forms of psychopathology, while individuals with fluent language skills received a broader range of diagnoses. Individuals with severe language dysfluency exhibited lower cognitive scores, overall lower functioning scores but not higher risk scores. The data suggest that future research is needed to develop a better understanding of language dysfluency, the distinction between language dysfluency and psychopathology, and of the behavioral patterns of deaf individuals who have faced a life-long history of severe language deprivation.</p>
