Who is deaf ?

According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) 1990 and 1991 Health Interview Surveys, approximately 20 million people, an astonishing 8.6% of the total U.S. population three years and older were reported to have hearing problems. Of those 20 million, approximately 550,000 are profoundly deaf. The NCHS reports that between one and two of every 1,000 American children have moderate to severe hearing impairment in both ears.