Abstract

The disruption of deafness, as a disturbance of consciousness (sensory impairment), affects human development and may produce psychological and emotional problems. There are some common features of the personality of people with hearing disabilities, which are considered to be intrinsic to the nature of their possible psychiatric problems. From the very minority monitored, the deaf psychiatric patients exhibit a wide range of psychopathology problems such as developmental disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disease, depression, personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and behavioral disturbances. Self harm and sexual offending behaviors may also be present. The study presents an interesting case study of a deaf psychiatric patient assessed with the help of the personality diagnostic questionnaire-4 (PDQ-4), translated in the Greek language. The therapeutic benefit derived from the use of the psychometric instrument and how this application assisted in bypassing the communication barrier is discussed.

Key words: Deafness and mental health, interpreters, personality diagnostic questionnaire-4 (PDQ-4), personality traits, psychiatric disorder.