Deafness and Society | HealthmadSociety in the middle ages believed deafness was caused by mental deficiency and deaf babies were left to die. The deaf were shunned society. Even in later years deaf children were placed in institutions or with servants. It was only during the 18th century that society understood that deaf people are as intelligent and as able to learn as the hearing. Some babies are born deaf and others become deaf due to infections, tumors, loud noise, medication and for many other reasons.
