WHAT CAUSES DEAFNESS?
There are several common causes of Deafness.  There is of course genetic deafness. Rubella/German Measles when a mother is pregnant often causes deafness in her unborn child. Nerve deafness is not uncommon. Many people have a damaged auditory nerve. A high fever causes this. Spinal Meningitis often is the culprit. Still others suffer from a damaged ear drum although that is less common among people in the Deaf Culture. Every once in a while you will meet someone who has become Deaf due to trauma, although that is rare.

DO DEAF PEOPLE KNOW BRAILLE?
The only Deaf people who generally know Braille are people who are suffering from Usher's Syndrome I or Usher's Syndrome II. These conditions usually cause a child to be born with deafness, and then when the child reaches adulthood, or some time later, he/she begins to lose their sight. They either have tunnel vision or complete blindness depending on the type of Ushers they inherited from their parents. These individuals often use Braille as their sight deteriorates.  Your average deafie has no need to learn Braille since their only communicative challenge is not based on sight but rather hearing.

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