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Hearing the Deaf

In my freshman year of high school, I was required to choose a foreign language for the

following year. This was a challenge for me, but my academic counselor offered an alternative

solution. The alternative was to learn sign language. Ever since I was a young kid, I have wanted

to learn sign language and communicate with the deaf community. I felt this way because deaf

people would not judge me with my stuttering speech. I have had a speech impediment since I

was four years old. It was a huge problem in school because kids would bully me about my

dysfluency. Therefore, I was very happy with the choice to learn sign language. During the

summer of 2014, I signed up for an Intro to Sign Language class at a nearby community college.

Unfortunately, that summer, I ended up failing that class. This was disappointing but my Sign

Language teacher advised me to retake the class in the fall and spring to make up for it.

Therefore, during my sophomore year, I retook the class that I had previously failed. Two weeks

in, I started to enjoy learning sign language with my new teacher. As a deaf professor, he was

very skilled in teaching hearing people basic sign language. After the fall class, I felt I had to

take a more challenging sign language class because I was interested in this way of

communicating and it was still a requirement for graduation. I ended passing three classes with

As. So why is all this important for this Senior Project? When I was given this assignment as a

senior at Northgate High School, I started thinking about researching a topic with the deaf

community. I was brainstorming ideas for the project with my mother, and she encouraged me to

incorporate my passion to music to create music that deaf people can hear. At that moment, I

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became curious about how deaf people can enjoy music. It was a good question and this

curiosity led me to the question; How do deaf people perceive and react to music?

Music provides everyone with great mental health. People enjoy all kinds of music for

different reasons, and it seems to be universal that even the deaf can enjoy music. There is a

notion that music is only heard and thus, can only be appreciated by hearing people. The book

Music is a Universal Language: Music and the Deaf Community, describes the unique of deaf

people and explores the challenges of creating music for deaf communities. Within the deaf and

hard of hearing community, people are not only creating music but also are making music as a

part of their life. In this world, the various shades of gray are celebrated as the spectrum of

deafness, from slightly hard of hearing to stone deaf, are all part of this community. Beethoven

for instance, was deaf and has written some of the world's most famous music numbers ever to

be heard (Biography: Beethoven's Life). Although, deaf cannot actually hear music in the typical

sense, they can still reap the benefits in the form of improved mental health, creativity and self-

esteem (Cormier).

The experience of sound is different for many people in the hearing community. How

people identify and define who is to listen to is variable. In the deaf community, it is not an

either/or experience, and definitely not something that the hearing world can understand

completely. People seem to believe that you have to be able to hear music to enjoy it. Actually,

the anatomy of hearing noises also involves sensing sound (Neary). They can hear the bass of the

voice, drums, bass guitar, and other kinds of musical instruments that makes a deaf person

appreciate the music.

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How do we hear? The author Cormier says that sound waves travel into the ear canal

until it reaches the eardrum; this is called air conduction. Cormier says that the eardrum then

passes the vibrations to the middle ear bones or ossicles into the inner ear in a process called

mechanical conduction. Next step in this process involves the cochlea (inner ear) changes the

sound vibrations into sensor neural vibrations to be interpreted (Cormier). The cochlea has

thousands of tiny hair cells which changes the sensor neural vibrations into electrical signals; the

auditory nerve transports the signal to the brain (Cormier).

Fig 1. Sound Vibrations travel through the ear and carry electrical signals to the brain (The Ear).

SlidePlayer. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2017.

When hearing people listen to music, neurons, which is the basic unit of the brain

(Society of Neuroscience), are sent to the auditory cortex (located near the middle of the brain).

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In contrast, people who are hearing-impaired, process music through the somatosensory cortex

(top right of the brain). Both the somatosensory cortex and the auditory cortex are located in the

same region. The somatosensory cortex is the region of the brain that also processes touch. Thus,

when they feel the vibrations of the bass, they get the same feelings as someone who isnt deaf.

The somatosensory region of the brain is very close to the auditory region of the brain and in

deaf people these two separate regions are merged into one. For deaf people, it is possible for the

somatosensory cortex to fuse with the auditory cortex (Neary). I was amazed at the complex

brain processes that enabled deaf people to appreciate music by sensing vibrations.

Fig 2. This picture shows the different senses in the Brain especially the sound sensing ones

(Broca's Area Right Hemisphere). Broca's Area Right Hemisphere Related Keywords &

Suggestions - Broca's Area Right Hemisphere Long Tail Keywords. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2017.

Most people assume that deaf people enjoy music solely through tactile sensations, but

going beyond feeling vibrations, what is the experience of music like for someone who does not

hear like we do? How do deaf people feel the vibration? The answer is that the beats can pass

the vibration through the skin (Neary). According to Neary, the skin is underlined with four

mechanoreceptors that each respond to different forms of touch, such as a light tap, pressure, or
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pain. Neary says deaf people feel vibrations through tiny sensors found all over the skin called

mechanoreceptors. The mechanoreceptors are most commonly found on the palms of your hands

but are also generally located all throughout the skin (Neary). These receptors then convert the

mechanical vibrations of sound into electrical signals and send them to the somatosensory

portion of the brain through neurons (Neary). There are other musical instruments, such as

drums, that produce oscillations in a manner very similar to string instruments but in two

dimensions rather than one, and their motions are governed by the two-dimensional version of

the wave equation (Newton). The proper frequencies of such membranes are determined, like

those of strings, by the standing waves that are possible on them when they vibrate. In two

dimensions, however, the spatial configurations of such standing waves, determined by the

weight, tension, size, and shape of the membranes are much more complicated than in one

(Newton).

Given this anatomy, it is most likely, that deaf people interpret music in the same manner as

people without hearing impairment (Neary). Neary explains, that deaf people sense vibrations in

the part of the brain that other people use for hearing, which helps explain how deaf musicians

can sense music. With this capacity for sensation, deaf people can also enjoy concerts and other

musical events (Neary). In a study on brain activity involved, in perception of vibrations by deaf

people and non- deaf people Neary, found that both groups showed brain activity in the part of

the brain that normally processes vibrations. I thought this was a wonderful discovery from

Neary because hearing people can know that deaf people arent that different when it comes to

perceiving music. In addition, the deaf students showed brain activity in a golf ball-sized area of

the auditory cortex. Typically, this area is only active during auditory stimulation. The people

with normal hearing did not show such brain activity (Neary). Neary explains, The brain is

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incredibly adaptable. In someone who is deaf, the brain takes advantage of the regions used to

process vibrations and synapses that, with the unused auditory processing, centers to help them

feel music (Neary).

One of the many benefits of music is that it improves visual and verbal skills. Studies

have shown that listening to music at a young age can stimulate a childs brain in a number of

ways to improve verbal, communication, and visual skills (Chappel). It can also keep an aging

brain healthy while listening or playing music. According to Chappel, music helps to improve

memory and mental sharpness. Music can make you happier, as it has shown to release

dopamine, which is known to be a positive chemical in the brain. Music also helps with

heartbeat, pulse rate and blood pressure. Music strengthens the heart and improves recovery of

patients with heart disease. It also helps with vascular health. Studies show that both men and

women who had cardiac surgery have less pain and anxiousness after listening to music. Another

benefit of listening to music is that it can improve sleep. Chappel cites research that shows music

reduces the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol weakens a persons immune system, increases risk

of heart disease blood pressure; interferes with learning and memory interfering (Chappel).

Listening to music for just 50 minutes a day leads to an increase in antibodies in the body

reduces anxiety and depression (Chappel). Music has positive effect on a person's psyche, mood,

perception of various emotions; studies show that music improves the quality of life (Chappel).

People respond differently to a specific genre, for example, a person who listens to rock music

can hear the singer and the tone of the guitar, and feel the bass guitar and the bass drum from a

drumset, perceptions in various different kinds of music. I personally got to learn a lot about this,

I did not know music affected everyone in an almost every way.

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Research has shown that deaf people feel music physically, similar to normal hearing

populations (Neary). According to Neary, the bass pounding ones chest is something the deaf

can feel as well. Non-deaf people have an advantage of physically hearing the music when it is

played, but can they truly understand the physical sensation attained by a deaf person when

listening to music? Anyone can try touching surfaces such as walls and floors to know there is a

variance in rhythm. Given these vibrations, a person can sense what instrument is being played.

The most deaf people with a music background are trained to distinguish different instruments by

the bass vibrations.

On April 18 , I conducted a sensory test, which is to test deaf and hard of hearing students
th

of what music do they feel the most and like, I tested it on four students and a deaf adult at

Concord High School. My mentor and I created the survey to test the students. The students have

to identify whether they can hear the tone or the feel the vibrations from the music that I play

.Two of the students were hard of hearing and two students had partial hearing, but all four

students wore a hearing aid. One student participating in the sensory test was hard of hearing

students and wore a cochlear implant, but the adult participant was completely deaf and did not

wear a cochlear implant. With the assistance of a sign language interpreter, I gave students

instructions for the test. I played three genres of music through two speakers placed on opposite

sides of the table. I played the three samples in order; first classical, then rap, and rock. The sign

language interpreter explained the difference between vibration and tone to the students. I

gave each of them a survey to fill out for the Tracks. My mentor and I created the survey together

to make a goal for my project. The goal of the survey is to gather information about what the

deaf and hard of hearing students react to music and present it to my project. All the students felt

the music, but the deaf adult reported that she did not feel the music. She wasnt close to the

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speakers as the others. Of 15 opportunities given to identify the genre of music, the students were

accurate eight times, that is 53% of the time. In this study, participants perceived tone more often

than they perceived vibration.

I believe this is because the hearing aid facilitated the tones so the students paid more

attention to that over actual vibrations. It is interesting to note that in my interviews with Mr.

and Mrs. Cole, my deaf professor and his wife at Diablo Valley College, indicated that they listen

to music through vibrations. They feel the music through vibrations (Cole). Maybe this is

because the Coles are completely deaf and the students have some aided hearing.

The speech pathologist at Concord also explained that one of her students with cochlear

implant hears a robotic or a rather distorted sound. This explains why this student, among his

peers, had a tough time identifying the genre of the tracks I played. I also found it interesting that

the students had a tough time distinguishing the difference between rap and classical. The

students hard of hearing really felt and enjoyed the tracks I played as they gave them a 4 star

rating. Conversely, the students with hearing aids were less likely on giving the same rating. In

general, classical was the most preferred sample of music among the students. Rick Cole, the

Sign Language Teacher at Diablo Valley College, also indicated that he prefers to listen to jazz

and classical music (Cole).

There have been many famous people in the musical industry that were deaf. One that

comes to mind is Ludwig van Beethoven. He had an early interest in music and his dad taught

him music day and night. He was an accomplished musician. However in 1801, he realized and

told his friends that he was slowly going deaf. To this day, no one really knows why this

happened. Maybe it occurred because of syphilis or his habit of putting his head in cold water to

wake himself up? Nonetheless, he was almost completely deaf by age 26 yet he ended up

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writing 5 piano sonatas, including the very famous 9th Symphony after that. He continued to

write music long after he lost his hearing because he said that music carried him through

(Biography: Beethoven).

Another deaf musician, known in the modern day is named Sean Forbes. He is an

American hip-hop artist who is completely deaf. Due to a spinal meningitis infection he went

deaf when he was only few months old (Forbes). However, that didnt stop him from becoming a

great musician. From age 5, when he got his first drum set to when he wrote his first song at age

10, Sean always challenged the norm. His siblings were also musicians and had a great influence

on him through high school. Sean attended National Technical Institute for the deaf at RIT in

Rochester, New York. Here, Sean realized that there were many deaf students who liked music,

yet did not have the privilege or access to enjoy music (Forbes). He started interpreting songs in

sign language and increased access for the deaf community to feel and enjoy music. At the end of

his 3rd year at RIT, Sean decided to move back home but he still pursued a career in music

(Forbes).

Marko Vuoriheimo is another hip hop artist, who was born deaf who now goes by the

name Signmark (Vuoriheimo). He grew up translating Christmas carols in sign language for the

deaf. His family was always supportive of his love to music and they encouraged him to dream

big as he watched old MTV music shows (Vuoriheimo). Marko dreamed of being to be on TV.

Thats when Marko fell in love with hip hop and rap music. The feel of the beat was stimulating

and he liked the way hip hop songs brought messages through the music (Vuoriheimo). He

became the first deaf person in the whole world to get a record deal (Vuoriheimo).

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Another deaf musicians who plays an instrument, is named Dame Evelyn Elizabeth Ann

Glennie. Glennie is a percussionist from Scotland (Glennie). At the age of eight, Glennie started

losing her hearing and by the age of 12, Glennie was completely deaf (Glennie). But this did not

stop her interest to become an instrumental musician. She taught herself to play music with the

parts of her body rather than her ears. There was no sign of anything out of the ordinary-except

that she was playing barefoot. Her feet arched and bent and stretched with the music. For

Glennie, the fact that music starts with the physical fact of vibration is the essence of her art

(Mannes). She attended the Royal Academy of Music, and became a member of the National

Youth Orchestra of Scotland. She has been vocal about deafness and feels it is largely

misunderstood by the public. She has described this problem as mostly inaccurate reporting by

the media (Glennie).

Another one of the younger deaf musicians is named Mandy Harvey. She lost her hearing

at the age of 18 (Harvey). She pursued a Vocal Music Education Major, but because of her

deafness, left the university. Her doctors say that the side-effects from her medication from past

knee surgeries caused her deafness (Harvey). This discouraged her, yet she returned to Longmont

to learn American Sign Language and take courses at the local community college. For a period

of time she pursued various career options and then returned to music in 2008. She became a

deaf American jazz singer and songwriter. She was motivated to return to music by her father

was a jazz artist (Harvey).

Music is known to be enjoyed and consumed by non- deaf people, because they can hear

the tones, different instruments and feel the beat. Researching and doing this project, Ive

realized that deaf people too enjoy music as much as hearing people do. What they lose in

hearing, is made up on how much they feel the music. Although my project had information from

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deaf students with hearing aid, the interview answered many of my curiosities. Hearing and Deaf

people treat music the same. It is inspiring to know that there are musicians out there that

contribute to this art, regardless of being deaf. Music is made for everyone, and it goes to say

that it truly doesnt matter who you are and not. Music is a part of life.

Work Cited

Book Sources

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Mannes, Elena. The power of music : pioneering discoveries in the new science of song.

New York : Walker & Co., 2011. Print.

Newton, Roger G. Waves and Particles: Two Essays on Fundamental Physics. Hackensack, New

Jersey, 2014. Print.

Online Sources

Ament, Aharona, and Shipping Included. "Beyond Vibrations: The Deaf Experience In

Music." Gapers Block. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2017.

"Biography: Beethoven's Life - Ludwig Van Beethoven's Website." Biography:

Beethoven's Life - Ludwig Van Beethoven's Website. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2017.

Chappel, Millis Michelle. "Scientists Find 15 Amazing Benefits Of Listening To Music."

Lifehack. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2017.

Cormier, Zoe."Music Is a Universal Language: Music and the Deaf Community." Music

Is a Universal Language: Music and the Deaf Community. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Mar. 2017.

"Evelyn Glennie." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Apr. 2017. Web. 22 Apr. 2017.

"Mandy Harvey." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Apr. 2017. Web. 22 Apr. 2017.

"Marko Vuoriheimo." Signmark Official Bio Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2017.

Neary, Walter. "Brains of Deaf People Rewire to hear Music." UW Today. N.p., n.d.

Web. 22 Mar. 2017.

"Sean Forbes." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Apr. 2017. Web. 22 Apr. 2017.

Society of Neuroscience. The Neuron. 1st April 2012.

Interviews

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Cole, Melinda Interview #2. Email Interview. 12 April. 2017

Cole, Rick. Interview #1. Personal Interview. 24 February. 2017.

Pictures

Fig 1 - "The Ear." SlidePlayer. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2017.

Fig 2 - "Broca's Area Right Hemisphere." Broca's Area Right Hemisphere Related

Keywords & Suggestions - Broca's Area Right Hemisphere Long Tail Keywords. N.p., n.d. Web.

22 Apr. 2017.

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