Twenty Thousand Hertz

The Cyborg, The Scientist, and the Death of Silence

Oct 28, 2020
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ANECDOTE

Mary Louise Kelly’s Hearing Loss Journey

  • Mary Louise Kelly discovered her severe hearing loss after struggling to hear questions during her book tour events.
  • She relies heavily on lip reading and context to manage her role as an NPR host despite her impairment.
INSIGHT

How Hearing Amplification Works

  • Hair cells in the cochlea work as tiny amplifiers that convert sound vibrations into electrical signals.
  • Damage to these cells causes hearing loss because humans cannot regenerate them, unlike birds or fish.
ANECDOTE

Rebecca Nill: The Cyborg Experience

  • Rebecca Nill, born profoundly deaf, received cochlear implants that allow her to hear and stream music directly into her brain.
  • She values silence deeply and often turns off her implant to enjoy quiet moments unplugged from sound.
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