TED Radio Hour Sound And Silence
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Sep 15, 2023 NPR All Things Considered host shares personal story of hearing loss. Challenges of managing hearing loss and the role of hair cells in hearing. Rebecca Knill's journey with a cochlear implant. Assumptions about people with hearing impairments. Appreciating the beauty of surrounding sounds and human ears.
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Mary Louise Kelly's Hearing Journey
- Mary Louise Kelly experienced severe hearing loss which she initially masked by lip reading.
- Hearing aids revealed the richness of sound but also required significant adjustment to handle new auditory input.
Pandemic Impacts on Hearing
- Wearing masks and social distancing made hearing and understanding conversations very challenging for Mary Louise.
- Simple tasks like picking up prescriptions became intimidating hurdles due to these new barriers.
Hair Cells Amplify Hearing
- Hearing depends on tiny hair cells in the cochlea that amplify sound and translate it into electrical signals.
- These cells are vulnerable to damage from loud sounds, leading to common hearing loss especially in high frequencies.