Abstract
A longitudinal study investigated mental health diagnostic trends and patterns among Deaf and Hearing individuals using a comprehensive dataset from Alabama Department of Mental Health spanning 2004-2024 (Deaf=4,547; Hearing=2,056,188). Chi-square analysis revealed significant proportional differences in diagnoses between the groups. Deaf individuals showed significantly higher proportions of psychotic (12.93% vs. 8.33% Hearing), mood (20.76% vs. 18.84% Hearing), and personality (0.58% vs. 0.43% Hearing) disorders. These findings suggest that increased access to specialized and competent mental health services for individuals who are Deaf, particularly following the increase of staffing patterns for the Office of Deaf Services in 2015,contributed to more accurate diagnostic classification within the Deaf community, potentially shifting diagnoses from less specific categories ('other') to more precise ones (e.g., mood, psychotic). The study underscores the critical need for specialized, accessible mental healthcare and ongoing workforce development to address best practice in diagnostic approaches and improve outcomes for the Deaf population.
Recommended Citation
Schafer, K., Hamerdinger, S., Wu, F., Sakai Bizmark, R., & Crump, C. (2026). Diagnostic Trends and Service Enhancements in Deaf Mental Health: A Longitudinal Analysis. JADARA, 57(1), 75-111. Retrieved from https://nsuworks.nova.edu/jadara/vol57/iss1/4
Included in
Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms Commons, Categorical Data Analysis Commons, Clinical and Medical Social Work Commons, Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Counselor Education Commons, Diagnosis Commons, Disability Studies Commons, Health Policy Commons, Health Services Administration Commons, Interprofessional Education Commons, Longitudinal Data Analysis and Time Series Commons, Mental Disorders Commons, Other Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons, Other Mental and Social Health Commons, Other Psychology Commons, Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Commons, Patient Safety Commons, Policy Design, Analysis, and Evaluation Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Commons, Psychological Phenomena and Processes Commons, Public Health Education and Promotion Commons, Quality Improvement Commons, Speech and Hearing Science Commons
