The question, "Do deaf people show a slight difference in their facial anatomy?", caught me by surprise, because I have never seen deaf people who look different from hearing people. This chapter verified my belief, stating, "if a deaf or hard-of-hearing person's face is in repose, we don't think there are any distinguishing characteristics between a deaf face and a hearing one" (pg 391).
Being deaf is known as the "invisible handicap" because you can not recognize a deaf person solely based on their appearance. Instead, being deaf can be distinguished through hearing aids, clothing, pins, and obviously, sign language.
When reading the question, I wondered if the reader was talking about the great amount of facial expressions that deaf people use. In sign language, faces are used to determine grammar and emotion, allowing them to move their eyebrows, move their head, and using their nostrils...among other ways. When watching deaf people sign, their facial expressions are intense, based on the fact that they are a major part of their communication.
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