Can Deaf People Hear Music? Understanding Sound, Rhythm & Vibration

What Does “Hearing Music” Mean for Deaf People?

Can Deaf people feel music?

The Difference Between Hearing and Feeling Sound

Ways Deaf People Experience Music

Vibrations, Bass & Physical Sensation

Muse the Memories of the Mind.

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Music is universal too. Even deaf people like to dance, love rhythm, and can kind of pick it up.
-Rainn Wilson

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I love music. It’s a sound. Or many sounds. I listen to a lot of music.

In silence; it’s so quiet. No noise. Blank ambience. The Mind is still.

Listening to Music: Sound surrounds. The Art of Rhythm. The Mind muses.

Muse in the Melody

Sometimes I wonder what I hear and what I don’t hear. I know that I can’t hear certain pitches and frequencies. Like, the smoke alarm. Or the Salvation Army bells. Getting into the higher octaves on the piano; I can only feel a “clacking sound”.

Beyond Silence: The Power of Music and Vibrations for Deaf People

Listen without Lyrics

When listening to a song; I hear the vocals, and all the words. Yet, I only grasp and understand about 2% of the words. I can ~~enjoy~~ hear a song hundreds of times without knowing any of the words. I hear different parts of the song..

Singer/Band
Drums/Percussion Beat
Piano/Trumpet/Instruments
Tempo
Rhythm
Flow

The Auditory Cortex is rewired;
swapping hearing for *touch.*

Brains of deaf people rewire to ‘hear’ music

Deafness is Different

I appreciate a song for how it sounds.

A good rhythm is a must. The song has gotta have a nice groove and flow. For me; Music is Atmosphere. It fills the air with art. The invisible becomes real. And REAL feels so fulfilling.

How the Deaf Experience Music–Then and Now

Fact: Music is the only activity that stimulates the ENTIRE brain!

Your Brain on Music: The Sound System Between Your Ears

It’s easier for me to understand a simple song. Like, vocals accompanied by one instrument. Or two instruments. It’s cerebrally pleasing. Acapella works, too!

Being hard of hearing; some songs I simply cannot listen to. It’s like, there’s too many instruments and too much going on. I’ll call it “unintelligible garbage”. A lot of newer pop and country sounds this way.

Talk about Timbre

In any situation; it’s difficult to explain what you heard.

In most songs. I hear the beat, the singer, and “background music”. There’s an intro, some lines, chorus, more lines, chorus again. Maybe more lines, then the chorus again. I can easily distinguish parts of a song.

However, I cannot hear each instrumental part of a song. It all blends together. Like, the song is fruit and my brain is a smoothie. Rather than tasting only blueberry; or hearing the specific guitar… It’s wildberry spinach.. and it’s a SONG!

An orchestra with a full ensemble.

Or a country band with two guitars, a fiddle, a violin, a mandolin, a banjo, drums, maracas, and a group of singers.

The recipe for a great song takes great fruit, and blends well. Too many ingredients can overpower or overlap. Shake the maracas, blend the fruit; Smoothies are groovy! And the best are honestly quite simple.

Can Deaf people feel music?

I’m Hard of Hearing, with my hearing aids in; I can hear music. I chose to listen to music with my hearing aids on; as this helps me hear the vocals, melody, and instruments..

With my hearing aids out; I can feel music. It’s a different experience with them off. It’s almost like my body absorbs the sound better. Depending on the volume, of course. But, it’s so nice to feel the beat! However, I’m limited to hearing only the bass and percussion.

What kind of music do Deaf People listen to?

I have hearing friends and Deaf friends. All of my friends have different taste in music. Each person has their own musical preferences.

My preferred music is Reggae. 80% of the time; I listen to Reggae. It’s music you can feel. The other 15% of the time, I listen to Christian Music. The songs I’ve memorized in church. Then 5% of the time; I’ll switch it up with some random throwback tunes.

I enjoy all kinds of music from Classic Country to Hip Hop, to Reggae to 90’s Pop/Rock. Old church Hymns to 80’s New Wave.

A Way for Deaf people to Listen to Music!

Whilst attending the Back Home Festival; I accidentally discovered something. An inflatable couch is the perfect way for Deaf people to experience music. With a $30 price tag; it’s affordable!

I could feel every beat!

Listening: The Story of Deaf Audiophile Bob Lichtenberg

A Balloon can be used to sense and feel vibrations. Whether you use a Mylar Balloon or a Latex Balloon; the sound will travel in waves through the compressed air inside the balloon. Helium or Air; the magic happens! The invisible becomes so you real that you feel it.

Vibrating haptic suits give deaf people a new way to feel live music

Vibrating Suits are now available to the Deaf Community. The technology allows users to feel the music throughout their bodies. On average, these suits come with a hefty price tag of over $300.

The Effect of Music in the Deaf Community

Five reasons why everyone should have music in their lives

Music brings people together!

Music is the only activity that stimulates the ENTIRE brain.

In turn; music helps with reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, improves mood, and helps anxiety. It promotes pain relief. Recent studies have shown music to evoke emotions and restore memory.

Without the use of my hearing aids; I would not be able to experience music in the way that I do (or in the way I have in the past).

There’s a few of us in the Deaf Community who do not partake in music, per se. Not by choice; only because the experience is impossible.

The Mind stores so much information subconsciously. Our lives that we live out each day; the brain is the Storehouse.

Landmarks, scents, food, and yes, especially songs…tie together memories.

Being Deaf; I think in a visual timeline order. When a song comes on and it “reminds me of.. “; There’s joy in the memories. Sometimes sadness. Other times it brings up connection for a ~~random~~ funny story.

It usually starts off with “remember the time..”

What is the Hippocampus?

Push play on an old throwback jam.

When that song begins to groove. That time-warp effect.

Remember when?

A quick jaunt down memory lane.

Way back then, with old friends.

Gone, but not forgotten.

Take time to appreciate the way.

The way it is

and was,

and forevermore will be..