Study to explore impact of domestic abuse on deaf survivors and families

Edinburgh researchers are set to examine the perspectives of deaf survivors of domestic abuse, focusing on how this trauma affects families.

For the first time, researchers will examine the impact of domestic abuse on families when children of deaf mothers are relied upon to interpret, highlighting the trauma these children may endure as co-victims. News of the project coincides with the opening day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence campaign.

Led by Professor Jemina Napier, Chair of Intercultural Communication at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, the project will shed light on the challenges faced by deaf women in reporting or seeking help for domestic abuse. 

A lack of available professional interpreters often creates barriers for deaf women wishing to contact the authorities. This may compel them, police or other support services to rely on their children to convey distressing details, imposing severe emotional strain on both the child and parents.

In this first-of-a-kind study, entitled: Domestic Abuse in Deaf Families: Perspectives on Children as Co-Victims and Language Brokers, researchers will delve into this understudied area. In its initial phase, interviews will be gathered from deaf mothers and practitioners across the UK to document the impact of domestic abuse on the whole family with the goal of involving the children themselves in a future project.

Professor Napier from the University’s Department of Languages & Intercultural Studies in the School of Social Sciences comments on the significant gaps in research concerning deaf women.

“There has been very little research with deaf women around language access in the domestic abuse context,” she explains.

“This means they can’t always access information about what domestic abuse is, what consent means or how to access support services and information.

“We want to get a better understanding of these difficulties and understand the potential impact on children who find themselves interpreting on behalf of their mothers.”

Deaf women are up to three times more likely to experience domestic abuse than hearing women, with abusers frequently exploiting their deafness to exert control. These abuses are more often committed by men and can have far-reaching, devastating consequences for families. Professor Napier highlights the range of abuse deaf women face, including coercive control, gaslighting, and financial manipulation.

Professor Napier adds: “Deaf women may not realise they are victims of these behaviours, especially when denied access to British Sign Language (BSL) resources.

“A controlling partner who can hear may further isolate them by limiting their access to support of the police.”

Professor Napier’s previous research projects Justisigns 2 and SILENT HARM, involved co-design with Lucy Clark, a deaf survivor of domestic abuse. These studies were among the first in the UK to focus on the unique experiences of deaf women who survived domestic abuse.

This new project builds on that foundation, in collaboration with Dr Claire Houghton from the University of Edinburgh, an expert in gender-based violence and young victim-survivors.

 Dr Houghton said: “It is time that policymakers responded to the needs and rights of deaf women experiencing domestic abuse.

“Just as urgently, we need to consider the experiences and rights of their children; they are subjected to domestic abuse alongside their mothers and often taking roles as language brokers when the family seeks help.

“This project will break new ground centring perspectives of survivors and experts in the field.”

Lucy Clark is a deaf domestic abuse victim-survivor and long-standing advocate for deaf domestic abuse victims. She has a critical role in the study as a deaf survivor.

She said: “There was insufficient support for me as a deaf woman who experienced domestic abuse and I came to realise there are not enough resources or information in BSL for deaf women.

“My own journey was affected as I had no access to get the support I needed, especially being deaf and coming from a hearing family who didn’t sign. There was a lack of knowledge of how to book BSL interpreters, and lack of deaf cultural awareness in the front lines of police and support services, and how to progress from there. We have been silent for so long, and we did not have a voice to speak about domestic abuse in deaf communities, so we need to raise awareness in both the deaf and hearing worlds.”

Tasnim Ahmed, also a deaf victim-survivor and participatory consultant in the project, commented on the cultural dimensions of the issue.

She said: “Coming from a deaf ethnic minority background and having personal experience of domestic abuse suffering, I’m extremely aware of this hidden crisis within the community.

“Culture is centred on family life, customs, gender roles, honour-based norms, attitudes and traditions which can foster a community acceptance of abuse and violence.

“Victims can stay silent for fear of being abandoned or shamed by their family and community.” 

In gathering insights from victim-survivors like Lucy and Tasnim, alongside input from Police Scotland, Women’s Aid organisations, and deaf charities such as Deaf Links and SignHealth, the project aims to identify and address the communication barriers that are masked when children are involved as interpreters, and how mothers and practitioners perceive the potential impact on children. Importantly, it will propose solutions to minimize the impact on children and ensure they are not forced into roles as interpreters during times of crisis.

The initial 12-month study, set to begin in January 2025,  is funded by a British Academy/ Leverhulme Small Grant with the first findings of the study expected to be published in a position paper in December 2025.

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