I've always wondered whether or not people who have lost their ability to hear or who have never been able to hear are able to enjoy listening to music. I understand that they would be able to feel a strong base or louder music vibrations, but what about the other sounds?
People who are considered deaf have the ability to reinterpret music through vibrations that register in the audio section of one's brain. They can be taught to feel all musical vibrations and tones through their bodies. Some concerts that are deaf friendly provide balloons for the people to hold in order to feel the vibrations easier.
"One is not 'required' to enjoy music via the ear canal. Music enjoyment comes in many forms, shapes and sizes, just as the instruments themselves.
For me, with my profound deafness, I enjoyed music by vibration. The advantage I had was I played drums prior to my hearing loss, and knew the vibrations each drum and cymbal gave out. As a kid, while watching friends rehearse in their garage, I used to touch each instrument, and feel the vibrations. I memorized those vibrations, then sat down with a balloon in my hands and 'listened' to the music via vibrations. It was different, but it was still enjoying music. To this day, I still enjoy 'vibrational music' and it gives me as much pleasure as when I could hear as a child."
~Larry (http://www.deaflion.com/people/question-how-do-you-hear-music/)
Listening with your whole body:
Evenly Glennie is a deaf performer and speaker!
The National Technical Institute for the Deaf has gone beyond just being able to hear music:
http://www.ntid.rit.edu/news/ntids-guys-and-dolls-merges-musicians-singing-and-sign-language
These stories and happenings are very inspiring! I think that this could be used in therapeutic recreation; whether it is using balloons while listening to music with people who are hearing impaired or having others listen with balloons (ear plugs in) or go to performances by people who are hearing impaired can be beneficial for learning and therapy. I would like to use this some time to put myself and others in someone else's shoes.
by Kyle Thibaut on May 30, 2010
Deaf people may not be able to hear music, but soon they might be able to feel it, even on the go. A concept device from German designer Frederik Podzuweit promises to make hearing music a reality for the deaf community based on synesthesia — a type of sensory stimulus evokes the perception of an entirely different sense.
Music for Deaf People hopes to turn music into the same emotions and feelings the non-deaf hear by using electricity to stimulate a special membrane on the device. Music for Deaf People can project the vibratory feelings of bass, midtones, and treble from any portable audio device to a device that sits on a persons neck as headphones would when resting on shoulders. The volume or track number adjusts by use of the large, easily accessible controls right on top. With a clean futuristic design, even audiophiles looking for a new way to listen to music might find it interesting to try.
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