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Needs for the Deaf and those that are Hard of Hearing differ. The needs of the hearing-impaired are actually quite different from the needs of the deaf. The biggest difference between the two categories of hearing loss is that hearing-impaired people were able, at a young age, to learn oral speech. That permanently defines the way they interact with the world and they usually struggle to remain “oral” for the rest of their lives. The deaf, by contrast, learn to sign rather than speak.
People with hearing disabilities have particular difficulty in comprehending sounds and words in noisy environments. Rooms should be acoustically well insulated. In public buildings loud speaking systems should be clearly audible. Supplementary visual information should be provided, for example, in bus terminals, railway stations and airports.
People with hearing disabilities may rely on lip reading and this is helped if there is good overall lighting which is non reflective. Where communication is required with persons sitting on the other side of counters separated by glass panes, in order to minimize reflected glare it is important that these glass panels be screened from light sources. They may have difficulty using telephones, etc. Audible signals may in certain cases be supplemented with visual signals.
People using hearing aids will benefit with sound amplification and induction loop devices. Sound amplification systems and Induction loops may should be installed in reception and information counters, auditoria, theatres, meeting rooms, etc, to improve sound reception for people with hearing aids. Inductive couplers should be installed in public telephones.
Persons with hearing impairments rely on signage for wayfinding. It is therefore important that signage and orientation information be provided at all key decision making points, such as intersections along the primary circulation route, staircase landings and lift lobbies.
Many people who are experiencing hearing loss become socially isolated. The first thing that comes to mind when designing spaces for individuals with hearing loss is acoustics. Lighting and light sensitivity are not typically thought of when one thinks of designing for the hearing impaired, but for those with this disability, seeing is hearing.
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