Hearing Loss - What is it?

My main research question for this project was, "What is hearing loss?" From there, I explored a range of smaller questions, including what can go wrong within the hearing system, the difference between sensorineural and conductive hearing loss, how the ear works, what "normal" hearing is, why people use hearing aids and cochlear implants, and the pros and cons of cochlear implants. I also looked at the history of deafness, created a timeline of my own hearing loss journey, and explored ways that hearing people can communicate more effectively with Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. I chose this topic because hearing loss has always been a  major part of my life, and I wanted other people to understand that deafness is much more complex then simply being able to hear or not hear. I also wanted to use my own experience to make the project more personal and help people understand some of the communication barriers Deaf and hard of Hearing people can face. 

 The research that I conducted for this project involved looking at how the ear works and the different parts involved in hearing. I researched what can happen when different areas of the ear are affected and explored the difference between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. I also looked at normal hearing levels, how hearing loss is measured, and why different people may use hearing aids or cochlear implants depending on their hearing loss and individual circumstances. Another major part of my research involved looking at cochlear implants in more detail, including how they work and some of their advantages and limitations. I also researched the history of deafness and hearing technology and compared this with my own timeline of becoming Deaf, receiving cochlear implants, and learning to hear with them. 

As part of my project, I created an exhibition that combined factual information with my own lived experience. One of the main activities was a hearing loss simulator where the audience completed a spelling test while wearing noise cancelling headphones. I made the activity harder by turning away, mumbling, speaking unclear, and making It difficult for participants to rely on visual information such as lip reading and facial expressions. The purpose of the activity was to demonstrate how communication can become much harder when a Deaf or Hard of Hearing person cannot clearly hear or see the person speaking. I also included information about the ear, different types of hearing loss, cochlear implants, hearing aids, normal hearing, and practical strategies for communicating more effectively with Deaf and Hard of Hearing people.

I learned that hearing loss can happen for many different reasons and can affect people and very different ways. I also learnt more about the difference between sensorineural and conductive hearing loss and why technology is not a one size fits all solution. Hearing aids and cochlear implants can provide significant support, but they do not recreate typical hearing and people can still experience communication barriers even when using them. Another major thing I learnt was how important communication strategies are, including facing the person, speaking clearly, reducing  background noise, and making sure important information is also available to see visually. 

Some of the feedback that I received was that the exhibition was engaging because it allowed people to learn about hearing loss through both information and an interactive experience. The heating loss simulator was particularly effective because the audience could experience how quickly communication became more difficult when they could not hear clearly or see the speaker. I was also encouraged to make it clear that the simulator could not perfectly recreate what being Dead or Hard of Hearing is actually like because every person experiences hearing loss differently. 

The Big Picture Learning Goals that I addressed were communication, Social Reasoning, Empirical Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning . I used Communication throughout my exhibition, presentation, and hearing loss simulator, particularly when explaining how communication can be made more accessible. I used Social Reasoning when exploring the barriers Deaf and Hard of Hearing people can experience and how other people can communicate with them more effectively. I used Empirical Reasoning through my research into how the ear works, the different types of Hearing loss, cochlear implants, hearing aids, and the history of deafness. I also used Quantitative Reasoning when looking at normal hearing ranges, decibel levels, hearing test results, and other numerical, information connected to hearing loss. 

If I were to complete this project again, I would include even more perspectives from other Deaf and Hard of Hearing people rather than mainly focusing on my own experience. I would also include more information about how hearing loss affect other people differently depending on their environment and communication needs. Looking back, I can see that this project gave me a much deeper understanding of my own deafness and helped me realise how important education and awareness are when it comes to making communication more accessible.