The use of deaf with a lowercase d describes audiological status while the use of Deaf with a capital D is used when discussing cultural identity. One denotes a diagnosis while the other reflects membership and ownership of a certain identity status. 

Gettysburg College

* Out-dated langage: Invalid, Deaf-and-Dumb, Deaf-Mute


* Respectful language: Deaf or Hard-of-hearing, Person who is deaf or hard of hearing 


Appropriate Terms for Deaf or Hearing Impairment 

Johnson, S. J., & Beck, S. (2022). Navigating borderlands: Deaf and hearing experiences in post-secondary education. In T. Titchkosky, E. Gold, E. Cagulada, & M. DeWelles (Eds.), DisAppearing: Encounters in disability studies (pp. 44–53). Canadian Scholars.

Disappearing: encounters in disability studies

Studying hearing imparments and auditory disorders is useful to learn the function of each aspect of the auditory cortex and pathways

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