Hearing impaired men and women tend to have a heightened risk of substance abuse issues due to their impairment, and treatment services should be available which cater to their circumstances. Individuals who are hearing impaired can appear alone, unmotivated, and be without goals because of their impairment. Many hearing impaired individuals then opt to self medicate with alcohol or drugs to numb this pain and have a temporary release from the emotional and psychological challenges that accompany possessing this handicap in life. To begin with, detecting a substance abuse problem among the hearing impaired is often a challenge, as these individuals may try and hide their issue due to social stigmas that come with substance abuse. Nonetheless, alcohol and drug treatment counselors who offer rehab to hearing impaired individuals understand the challenges these clients face. ASL rehabilitation services are of course a must, as well as treatment services which address the particular challenges that hearing impaired individuals encounter. Group therapy gives a forum for important peer interactions in order that rehab clients can know they are not on their own, and that there's hope to resolve their challenge with alcohol and drugs. Individual counseling services may be more tailored for each person to ensure that their own challenges can be remedied in treatment.