Throughout history, the deaf and hard of hearing community has seen generations break barriers and pave the way for progress. From Beethoven to Thomas Edison and Helen Keller, many individuals have made significant contributions. Celebrating their legacies and the advancements that have improved life for people who are deaf and hard of hearing is the essence of Deaf History Month.
Technological advancements have played a crucial role in helping people who are deaf and hard of hearing access the world around them. Over the past few centuries, accessibility has greatly improved with the development of new technologies. For example, FM systems have been essential in transmitting sound waves directly to hearing aids. This technology has evolved to become more digital, with companies like Williams Sound, Phonak, Bellman & Symfon, and Oticon leading the way in providing services to the deaf and hard of hearing community.
Communication technologies have also enhanced engagement with family, friends, and coworkers. Captioning, available on most television programs, movies, and even phone calls, is one such example. Caption Call is a popular company that provides caption phones, allowing direct connection to a person’s phone line.
There are numerous other technologies that enable individuals with hearing disabilities to live safely and independently. Flashing alarms, bed shakers, infrared lights, and amplifiers can alert people who are deaf and hard of hearing to emergencies.
I spoke with Carol Hamer, an audiologist from Helen Keller National Center about the future of technology for the deaf and hard of hearing community. She emphasized that comfort is a primary goal. Technologies are being tested on infants to ensure a comfortable fit from a young age, which has been a significant focus for audiologists in recent years.
My personal experience with technology as a hard of hearing individual has evolved over time. As a child, I wore colorful hearing aids and used the FM system, which teachers wore to help me access classroom instruction. Now, I use a device called the Roger Pen, which has three directional microphones to pick up voices, and I also rely on captioning for phone calls.
With advancements in technology, many people now use Bluetooth hearing aids to listen to music and take phone calls. Hands-free devices that stream directly to hearing aids have also introduced new ways to connect with the broader community. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, about 28.8 million U.S. adults could benefit from hearing aids.
Melissa, a student at Helen Keller National Center, offered insight about the types of technology that have helped her access the world. The videophone is something she uses frequently. She shares that it helps her understand phone conversations better by offering video relay as well as sign language interpreting. This is particularly useful when communicating with doctors’ offices.
She also highlighted her use of speech-to-text technology, as she relies on it in noisy environments. Melissa uses a Bluetooth connection through her hearing aid, as well as having a cochlear implant. Cochlear implants are a surgical prosthesis that can enable individuals with moderate to profound hearing loss to detect sounds in both loud and quiet environments. The first implant was placed in Los Angeles in 1961 by William House and John Doyle.
The deaf and hard of hearing community have made remarkable strides thanks to the contributions of individuals like House and Doyle and continuous advancements in technology. As technology continues to evolve, it promises even greater comfort and integration for those with hearing disabilities, ensuring they can engage fully with the world around them. Celebrating Deaf History Month allows us to honor these achievements and look forward to a future of even greater inclusivity and support.