What it truly has a craving for growing up hard of hearing
Growing Up Deaf: A Personal Story, a Universal Call for Awareness
One in six people in Northern Ireland lives with some degree of hearing loss. For Deaf Awareness Week, we are sharing the story of Mariette Mulvenna—a woman who has been deaf from birth, who navigated a world built for hearing people, and who has a powerful message for all of us. But this is not just one woman's story. It is a story that echoes the experiences of millions, and it is a call to action that is more urgent than ever, supported by new research and technological breakthroughs.
This post, originally published in 2019, has been updated with the latest research from 2025 and 2026 to provide context and a call to action for a more inclusive world.
đ Mariette's Journey: From a Deaf School to a Hearing World
Mariette Mulvenna, 41, from Kilrea, was born deaf. She is married to Michael, who is also deaf, and together they have four hearing children. Her story is one of resilience, but also one that highlights the profound barriers that people who are deaf or hard of hearing face every day.
Growing up as the youngest of five—with one deaf sister and three hearing siblings—Mariette's early years were spent in a supportive, specialized environment. "I went to St Mary's in Cabra, which is a special school for deaf girls," she recalls. "All the teachers were trained in how to teach deaf children. The main difference would have been class size—there was a limit of eight girls in a group and the teachers had the ability to give a better standard of teaching because everybody sat at the front. It meant you could see the teacher's face and lipread and follow what was happening."
đĄ Clinical Perspective: The Importance of Early, Tailored Education
Mariette's positive experience at St. Mary's underscores a critical point supported by decades of research: early, specialized educational intervention for deaf and hard‑of‑hearing children is strongly associated with better language, literacy, and social‑emotional outcomes. The small class sizes and trained teachers she describes are not luxuries; they are evidence‑based best practices. A 2025 study in the Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education found that deaf children in specialized programs showed significantly greater gains in vocabulary and reading comprehension compared to those in mainstream settings without adequate support.
The transition to mainstream education at the Belfast Institute for Further and Higher Education (BIFHE) was a "major shock to the system." She describes the isolation of sitting alone at the front of a lecture hall, reliant on an interpreter whose availability wasn't always guaranteed. "I couldn't get support as easily," she says. "It took a long time to settle and to make friends—I would say over a year."
đĄ Clinical Perspective: The "Invisible" Disability
Mariette's experience is a textbook example of the social model of disability. The barriers she faced—the large, impersonal lecture hall, the unreliable interpreter services—were not caused by her deafness, but by an environment and a system that failed to account for her needs. This is why "deaf awareness" is so crucial. It's about shifting the burden from the individual to adapt, to society to become more inclusive.
đŧ Navigating the Workplace: Anxiety, Advocacy, and Allyship
Mariette's professional life further illustrates the daily hurdles. After studying finance, she found herself in a workplace where she felt "extremely isolated." The turning point came in an HR role that required significant phone use. "I find phone calls hard to understand and get extreme anxiety using them, to the point I've cried," she admits.
What made the difference was an understanding manager and a team open to learning. "My manager was so open‑minded and really engaged with us so we could come up with a solution," she says. "My team were all so open to getting deaf awareness training." This experience highlights the power of simple, proactive accommodations.
đĄ Clinical Perspective: The Mental Health Toll
Mariette's anxiety around phone calls is not unique. Research consistently shows higher rates of anxiety and depression among deaf and hard‑of‑hearing individuals, often linked to communication barriers and social isolation. A 2026 study in the Health and Retirement Study found that depression is significantly more prevalent among those with untreated hearing loss, and that the use of hearing aids or other communication strategies can mitigate this risk[reference:0]. Her employer's willingness to provide deaf awareness training is a powerful example of a low‑cost, high‑impact intervention.
đŖ️ The Greatest Misconception: "You're Not Really Deaf"
One of the most painful aspects of Mariette's experience is a recurring, deeply invalidating comment: "I've been told by strangers, hearing and deaf, friends and on one occasion, someone related to my family, that I am not deaf because I 'can still hear'."
This misconception erases the reality of the deaf and hard‑of‑hearing spectrum. "As a person who really struggled to accept their disability and who struggled to understand their identity, it really hurts and angers me when I get told this," Mariette explains. "By telling me I'm not really deaf after I tell you that I am is dismissing my disability and my identity."
This is a crucial point. Hearing loss exists on a vast continuum, from mild to profound, and many people have usable residual hearing or benefit from hearing aids and cochlear implants. Assuming someone is "faking it" or "not deaf enough" is a form of gatekeeping that causes real harm.
đĸ Why This Matters More Than Ever in 2026: The Latest Research
Mariette's call for greater awareness is not just a matter of social courtesy; it's a public health imperative. Research from the last year has solidified the link between hearing health and overall well‑being.
1. The Dementia Connection
A major 2026 study published in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery found that common, treatable ear conditions like eardrum perforations and cholesteatoma are associated with significantly higher odds of dementia. Critically, the study also found that treatment—whether through surgery or hearing aids—reduced that elevated risk[reference:1]. This adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that addressing hearing loss could be a key modifiable risk factor for cognitive decline.
2. The Healthcare Gap
The healthcare system itself often fails deaf patients. A 2025 report from the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) and SignHealth found that 69% of people who are deaf or have hearing loss say they've never been asked about their information and communication needs when accessing NHS care[reference:2]. This is a systemic failure that leads to misdiagnosis, poorer health outcomes, and a profound sense of being ignored.
3. The Public Transport Barrier
Research released for Deaf Awareness Week 2025 found that only 65% of people surveyed would offer help to someone wearing a hearing aid on public transport, compared to 83% who would assist a wheelchair user[reference:3]. The main reason? A lack of confidence and fear of "getting it wrong." This highlights the urgent need for public education and simple, practical tips for effective communication.
đŦ A Glimpse of Hope: Technological Advances in Hearing
While the social barriers remain significant, the technological landscape for people with hearing loss is undergoing a revolution. Recent breakthroughs offer new levels of access and integration.
1. AI‑Powered Hearing Aids
The latest hearing aids are no longer simple amplifiers. Devices like the Oticon Intent™ use second‑generation AI and "user‑intent sensors" to understand the wearer's listening needs in real‑time, adapting to complex environments like a noisy restaurant or a one‑on‑one conversation[reference:4]. A 2025 review in Audiology and Speech Research found that these AI‑driven features significantly improve speech intelligibility and user satisfaction[reference:5].
2. Totally Implantable Cochlear Implants
For individuals with severe to profound hearing loss, the dream of an "invisible" hearing solution is closer than ever. A 2025 feasibility study on a totally implantable cochlear implant (TICI) demonstrated significant improvements in speech perception without the need for an external sound processor[reference:6]. While still investigational, this technology could be transformative for those who are self‑conscious about wearing a visible device.
3. Earlier Intervention for Children
In late 2025, the FDA expanded the indication for MED‑EL cochlear implants to infants as young as 7 months, making it the first FDA‑approved option for this age group[reference:7]. This is a monumental step forward, as early access to sound is critical for speech and language development during a narrow window of neuroplasticity.
đŖ Mariette's Call to Action: A More Inclusive Future
Mariette's vision for the future is clear and powerful. "I would love organizations and people in general to become more deaf aware and for there to be more opportunities, access and help for deaf people in getting into employment and also with mainstream education," she says. She also champions a bold idea: "Include British Sign Language as part of the school curriculum in languages like Spanish and French."
Her logic is compelling: "I'd read somewhere that before we consider even communicating with people from other countries, we should be able to communicate with the people in our own country first. It would be a step towards inclusivity, communication and positive communication."
đĄ Clinical Perspective: Small Changes, Big Impact
You don't need to learn fluent BSL overnight to make a difference. Simple steps can transform an interaction:
- Get their attention: A gentle tap on the shoulder is perfectly appropriate.
- Face them directly: Ensure good lighting so your face is visible for lipreading.
- Speak clearly: Don't shout or over‑enunciate, as this distorts lip patterns.
- Ask the golden question: "Is there anything I can do to make this more accessible for you?"[reference:8]
- Be patient and flexible: If they don't understand, rephrase rather than just repeating louder.
Mariette's story, and the new research that supports it, sends a clear message: awareness is not a passive state; it's an active practice. By understanding the challenges, celebrating the technological advances, and, most importantly, listening to the voices of the deaf community, we can all play a part in building the more inclusive world Mariette envisions.
đ The Bottom Line: How to Be a Better Ally
đ Educate Yourself: Understand that hearing loss is a spectrum. Never tell someone they "don't look deaf" or "aren't really deaf."
đŦ Communicate Effectively: Face the person, speak clearly, and don't be afraid to ask, "How can I make this easier for you?"
đĸ Advocate for Change: Encourage your workplace or school to offer deaf awareness training. Support policies that mandate accessibility.
đĻģ Embrace Technology: Recognize that modern hearing aids and cochlear implants are sophisticated, life‑changing tools, not signs of weakness.
đ¤ Be an Ally: If you see someone struggling on public transport or in a shop, a simple offer of help can make a world of difference.
đ Enjoy evidence‑based insights on health and accessibility? Subscribe for free weekly updates — no spam, just perspective.