One of the major difficulties faced by people with hearing impairments continues to be the scarcity of information available to them in their daily lives, whether in the professional sphere or in common social interactions, which often give rise to harmful misconceptions that create invisible barriers for these people to fully integrate into modern society.
Believing in misconceptions about hearing impairment can result in exclusion and hinder the accessibility and inclusion of these people in the everyday life of today’s society. For this reason, it is crucial to dispel some of the main misconceptions surrounding deafness. Here, in this text, we will clarify five common misconceptions and highlight ways to work together towards a more inclusive and supportive world.
Five misconceptions about hearing impairment
All people with hearing impairment use language
One of the most common misconceptions is that all people with hearing impairment communicate only through Brazilian Sign Language (Libras).
One possible solution would be to always make different forms of communication accessible to people, such as written chats or video subtitles, allowing everyone to communicate in the way that suits them best.
Hearing aids and cochlear implants completely restore hearing
The technology behind hearing aids and cochlear implants is truly impressive; however, they do not completely restore the sense of hearing, just as glasses do not completely restore our vision. The purpose of these technologies is to amplify sounds; however, this does not guarantee completely clear and accurate hearing for the user.
In noisy environments, it is common for people who use hearing aids to face challenges: these technologies tend to amplify all sounds simultaneously without being able to filter out more discreet background noise; furthermore, and depending on the level of hearing loss in question, even the use of the device may not guarantee an adequate perception of all sound frequencies.
Therefore, it is essential to speak calmly, add subtitles and automatic transcripts to aid communication and maintain an environment conducive to dialogue without excessive sound interference.
People with hearing impairments cannot use telephones
This misconception is due to the fact that the conventional telephone is based solely on audio; this can be a barrier to communication for people with total deafness and does not apply to all hearing impairments. This scenario also does not prevent these people from communicating through other available means.
There are currently several technological options that facilitate efficient communication: applications that transcribe conversations in real time; video calls for lip reading and chat services for customer service are some examples of this in today’s business world; despite this, there are companies that still depend exclusively on telephone contact to resolve specific issues, which ends up excluding people with hearing disabilities from corporate interaction.
True accessibility is achieved when multiple forms of contact are available so that everyone can choose the channel that best suits their individual needs. The use of the telephone may not be possible for some deaf people; however, this does not prevent them from communicating efficiently through other available options.
Hearing loss always manifests itself in a visible way
Some deaf people choose not to use Brazilian Sign Language (Libras) or hearing aids because they fear discrimination or prejudice in relation to their hearing impairment. Others can communicate effectively in certain contexts, which means that the people around them do not always notice the hearing impairment.
Invisibility can be an obstacle because it can result in a lack of understanding and patience on the part of those around us. Therefore, it is important not to judge someone’s hearing ability solely on the basis of appearance or behaviour. It is advisable to always ask yourself how best to communicate and be willing to adapt to make the interaction more accessible.
It is important to remember that the disability is invisible and the person does not hear. So, when in doubt, when a response is not received, it is worth asking whether the person with a disability was in an equitable environment and had the opportunity to understand the full context.
The way to communicate
A common and sometimes rude mistake is to believe that simply by speaking louder, a hearing-impaired person will automatically understand
When someone says they have hearing difficulties, many people tend to increase the volume of their voices as a first reaction, but speaking louder is not always the right solution; the core of the problem is not the volume itself, but the clarity of speech and the necessary articulation.
Many hearing-impaired people who lip-read rely on this to understand what is communicated to them verbally. If someone speaks loudly or exaggeratedly while lip-reading, it can make understanding even more difficult. In addition, noisy environments make communication even more complicated.
An efficient way is to express yourself in a clear and slow manner to articulate words well and allow the person to follow lip reading with ease. Providing written support whenever possible or using features such as subtitles and automatic transcription can make communication even more accessible.
There are many misconceptions surrounding hearing impairment that make inclusion and accessibility more difficult than they really should be today. Some of these misconceptions can negatively affect the professional and social opportunities of people with hearing loss and also their access to essential services.
Demystifying these beliefs is an essential step in fostering a more welcoming environment in which everyone can interact efficiently without perceived obstacles. Companies, individuals and society in general play a key role in this process, ensuring that accessibility is not seen as something extraordinary, but as an essential necessity.
