Studies of the Deaf: Relevance to Psychiatric Theory

The author reports observations extending over 16 years of persons with early total deafness. Despite the variety and severity of early stresses, schizophrenia did not appear with unusual frequency, although hallucinations (alleged to be auditory) occurred in about the same proportion as in schizophrenics with hearing. Obsessional character problems and psychotic depression were rare, but an increase in impulsive behavior was noted; the author hypothesizes that audition is somehow necessary to the internalized control of rage.