Deafness as reflected in self-figure drawings of deaf people

The aim of this pilot study was to detect indicators within self-figure drawings that reflect deafness in adults. Self-figure drawings of 26 deaf adults (12 males, 14 females) were compared to self-figure drawings drawn by a matched group of hearing adult. Self-figure drawings of deaf adults were compared to drawings of a matched group of hearing adults in order to examine how deafness is reflected in the drawings of deaf adults. The following elements of the drawings were compared: body organs responsible for providing sensory data, and other indicators indicating social anxiousness. The results indicated that the drawings of the two groups differ significantly in the ears, eyes, mouth, nose, hands and arms, body line, and eyebrows, suggesting higher level of social anxiousness among the Deaf.