Amplifying Awareness: Introduction to Hearing Impairment

The terms ‘hearing impaired,’ ‘hard of hearing,’ and ‘deaf,’ are frequently used interchangeably without actually understanding the differences and the appropriateness of their usages.

The term ‘hearing impaired’ is an umbrella term used to describe individuals with varying degrees of hearing loss, from mild to profound, including those classified as ‘deaf’ or ‘hard of hearing’. However, people within the deaf and hard of hearing community prefer the terms ‘deaf’ and ‘hard of hearing’ over the umbrella term hearing impaired. There’s also a cohort in the community that believes that ‘hearing impaired’ connotes a deficiency or showcases that there is something inherently missing, that makes a person less than a whole.

Thoroughly understanding these categories makes it evident that Deaf individuals typically have minimal to no functional hearing, implying  that these individuals are unable to perceive auditory stimuli effectively. The severity of their hearing loss and the age at which it occurs can influence their ability to develop speech. Furthermore, many may have limited or muffled or no speech at all. To communicate effectively, they often rely on sign language, interpreter support, and written communication. They rely on visual communication cues and gestures to convey their thoughts and understand others. While some may utilise hearing aids or cochlear implants to enhance their residual hearing, these devices, in many cases, may not fully restore their auditory abilities.

On the other hand, Hard of Hearing individuals typically retain some degree of hearing ability but may experience limitations in perceiving specific frequencies or sounds within certain volume ranges. Many Hard of Hearing individuals rely on hearing aids and may also utilise lip-reading techniques to support their auditory comprehension. Unlike Deaf individuals, some Hard of Hearing individuals may not learn sign language, particularly if their hearing loss has occurred later in life or if they can effectively communicate through spoken language with the help of their assistive aid.

Both deaf and hard of hearing individuals face unique challenges in social settings. One of the biggest challenges is the stigma associated with the disability that leads to negative attitudes and discrimination towards them. To supplement the stigma, there is also a severe lag in the levels of understanding or awareness about the disability, sign language, the needs, and accommodations required to support and enhance the day-to-day experience of deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

Some issues are  persistent and specific to both these communities. For instance, one prominent issue with the hard of hearing community and those who have cochlear implants and/or use other assistive technology to amplify hearing is that noisy environments make communication difficult and frustrating for them. Speaking with a mask on, or having a muffled voice further deteriorates their hearing ability.

With reference to the segment of deaf community which uses sign language to communicate, there is a lack of awareness of sign language in the hearing community. This language gap can lead to feelings of isolation and exclusion, particularly with phone calls, announcements, meetings or events where verbal communication is predominant. Additionally, at the workplace, the lack of access to information through traditional means such as phone calls, announcements, meetings or events further amplifies these challenges, hindering their ability to fully participate. 

It may seem like I am only highlighting the challenges and that merely listing them doesn't paint the whole picture. However, it's critical for us to acknowledge these obstacles as a prelude to exploring viable, existing and potential solutions. 

We have seen a lot of technological advancements & gradual changes in people’s perceptions that are paving the way for creating change in a phenomenal manner. Yet, delving into solutions will require more focus and detailing, which I intend to cover in the upcoming articles. For now, deepening our understanding of the challenges at hand is essential. What I have discussed so far is just the beginning, the tip of the iceberg. Addressing these challenges necessitates a collective effort and not merely the responsibility of one individual or one organisation.