Starting with "imagining" the lives of deaf people - a real record imbued with human warmth
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Table of Contents
- First: The day I realized it wasn't just a pretty picture
- What is Hearing Impairment? Looking at the "breath of life" before the system
- The life of a person who cannot hear: The quiet stress hidden within
- What I messed up when I first faced a person with a disability
- Tips to make daily communication a little easier
- Technology entering daily life - MyView Glasses' caption glasses
- Materials and links to learn more
- FAQ
1. First: The day I realized it wasn't just a pretty picture
One day, while riding the train home from work, a man and woman diagonally across from me were conversing in sign language. They were laughing and confident, but behind them, there seemed to be efforts and accumulated experiences I didn't know about.
At that moment, it struck me unexpectedly.
"I thought hearing impairment was a 'distant world.' But perhaps I just wasn't looking."
From then on, I started reading little by little from administrative websites (e.g., Kanagawa Prefecture Information Center for the Deaf) and the voices of people with disabilities. However, my understanding deepened not from information, but from imagining the "temperature of their lives."
2. What is Hearing Impairment? Looking at the "breath of life" before the system
Looking at Wikipedia and medical information, hearing impairment indeed has classifications, causes, and frameworks for systems and support. Of course, this is important.
But at the same time, as information from the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Social Welfare and Public Health states,
"Even with the same hearing impairment, life and communication differ from person to person."
This is a fact.
Some people primarily use sign language, while others live through lip-reading. Text chat, smartphone apps, notes – there are as many methods as there are people.
Therefore, the entry point for understanding was not specialized terminology, but
"What kind of life do they lead, and in what moments do they struggle?"
It was much more natural to start from here.
3. The life of a person who cannot hear: The quiet stress hidden within
For example, train delay announcements, emergency broadcasts, in-store calls. There is still a lot of audio-only information.
As a result, what people with disabilities experience includes—
- Noticing information later than others
- Moments when they can only judge by observing the surrounding atmosphere
- A accumulating feeling of "being left behind"
Such things exist.
Actual voices are also posted on the websites of local governments such as Saitama Prefecture and Ishikawa Prefecture, and the "difficulty of not receiving information" was conveyed even in a few lines of text.
I myself thought while reading:
"Without sound, the world looks so different."
4. What I messed up when I first faced a person with a disability
One day, I had the opportunity to speak with a hearing-impaired student I happened to meet. I, "with good intentions," moved my mouth widely and spoke slowly.
A few minutes later, she typed this into her phone:
"Moving your mouth too much can actually make it harder to read."
At that moment, I felt my blood run cold. I had messed up.
I thought I was being considerate. But,
"I was just imposing a self-created 'right' answer."
This small failure taught me.
- It's far ruder to "presume" than to ask.
- Communication is "something created while being taught."
Looking back, I should have just asked first:
"What way of communicating is easiest for you?"
That was all.
5. Tips to make daily communication a little easier
Support websites for the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, universities, and other organizations often emphasize not special things, but rather small considerations.
For example—
- When speaking, first get their attention.
- Sit where your face is visible.
- Avoid speaking too fast or ambiguously.
- Supplement important information with text or notes.
- For meetings or classes, share materials beforehand.
None of these cost money or require preparation.
However, whether they "exist or not" truly changes the level of fatigue for the person involved.
6. Technology entering daily life - MyView Glasses' caption glasses
What I've been feeling recently is that technology has begun to "take the form of helping people."
As a symbol of this, I'd like to introduce MyView Glasses' caption glasses.
They transcribe speech in real time and display it floating in your field of vision.
In other words—
You can understand the conversation content while simultaneously seeing facial expressions.
This enables natural communication.
Some users have shared comments such as:
"I experienced the feeling of 'being included in the conversation' again after a long time."
While technology is not magic,
it has the power to "change the texture of daily life."
I felt this strongly.
7. Materials and links to learn more
Here are a few websites summarized from different perspectives: daily life, systems, and medical information.
- Kanagawa Prefecture Information Center for the Deaf: Q&A answering daily questions
- Wikipedia "Hearing Impaired People": Systems, history, social background
- Local governments such as Saitama and Ishikawa Prefectures: Actual voices of people with disabilities
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare: Communication considerations
- University of Tokyo: Examples of student support
- tonancyo.org: Detailed organization of systems and daily life
A "daily landscape" that cannot be seen solely through systems emerges.
8. FAQ
Q1. What should I ask first?
A. First,
"What way of communicating is easiest for you?"
is the best question to ask.
Q2. Is it bothersome if I can't use sign language?
A. Not at all. There are many options like writing notes, chatting, apps, and lip-reading.
Q3. What is the most difficult thing?
A. The fact that there is still a lot of audio-only information. Announcements and alarms, for example, can be missed.
Q4. Is technology useful?
A. Caption glasses like MyView Glasses help with "participation in conversations."