This article aims: a) to present a general characterization about deafness, considering the importance of the process and the hearing function to the child's adaptation process in the world, and b) to analyse some aspects of public institutions related to deaf child's education in Brazil. The data was collected in 38 institutions indicated by the Ministry of Education-MEC, asking information by mail. The institutional information focused on the description of physical structure, material and equipment, and developed activities as well as the characterization of professional time and clientele who are attended by them. Most institutions (82%) reported that the clientele belonged to working class families and 83% of them attend to the deaf person's needs through three types of attendance: boarding school, full-time school and part-time attendance. Only 13% of the institutions develop research works in the deafness area. We suggest the enlargement of the data, including private and more public institutions, especially those belong to Brazilian states.
deafness; deaf children; hearing loss; deaf education; institutional service
