This research explores the music experiences of deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) individuals. It reveals how DHH people use sign language and visual/haptic cues to experience music, and their preference for familiar, non-lyrical, instrument-heavy, and loud music. The study also found that hearing aids are not customized for music and visual/haptic techniques developed are not widely adopted, leading to suboptimal music experiences for DHH people. The research emphasizes the need for design justice for DHH people’s music experience and proposes practical design implications for a more accessible music experience.

 

Publication date: 17 Jan 2024
Project Page: https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.09025v1
Paper: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2401.09025