DAME EVELYN GLENNIE, the world-famous Scots percussionist who was diagnosed as profoundly deaf as a child, has revealed that she is learning sign language at the age of 42.

Glennie previously refused to learn the technique, which she claimed ghettoised deaf people.

The Aberdeen-born musician, who lip-reads, had been criticised by some members of the deaf establishment for her reluctance to adopt this form of communication, which is used by 70,000 people in Britain.

Now, however, Glennie has revealed she had been curious about the technique and had started learning it with her office staff.

“I’ve only now thought about what sign language really means, what it is, and what I feel it can bring to my particular situation,” said Glennie.

“Like any language, it takes time and consistency and that’s our challenge at the moment because we don’t have consistent time.”

Last week, Glennie’s decision was praised by the deaf establishment.

“She’s not popular in the deaf community because she failed to learn sign language,” said Nicola Noon of the Scottish Council on Deafness. “People felt she had shunned the deaf community, but she will be congratulated for this.”

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