Yes, in some cases, a deaf person can "hear" their own voice, although the experience varies greatly depending on the cause and degree of hearing loss, as well as when the hearing loss occurred.
Understanding the Nuances of "Hearing"
It's important to understand that "hearing" isn't always about perceiving sound in the typical way. For some deaf individuals, it might be more about:
- Vibrational Sense: Feeling the vibrations in their throat, chest, and head when they speak.
- Internal Conceptualization: Recalling what their voice used to sound like (for those who lost hearing later in life) and associating that with the act of speaking.
- Visual Feedback: Seeing themselves speak in a mirror can create a feedback loop that approximates the experience of hearing.
Factors Influencing the Experience
Several factors play a crucial role in determining whether a deaf person perceives their own voice and, if so, how:
- Age of Onset of Deafness:
- Pre-lingual Deafness: Individuals born deaf or who lost their hearing before learning to speak typically do not have a memory of what their voice sounds like. Therefore, they may not "hear" their voice in the same way a hearing person does. They might rely on the vibrational sense.
- Post-lingual Deafness: Those who lost their hearing after learning to speak have a greater chance of having a conceptual understanding of their voice and may be able to imagine what it sounds like. They may also rely on memory of previously heard sound of their voice.
- Degree of Hearing Loss: A person with partial hearing loss might still perceive some aspects of their own voice, even if they cannot hear external sounds clearly.
- Type of Hearing Loss: Different types of hearing loss affect the perception of sound differently.
- Use of Assistive Devices: Hearing aids or cochlear implants can significantly alter a deaf person's perception of their own voice, often making it possible to actually hear sound.
Examples and Scenarios
Consider these scenarios:
- A child born deaf: This child might learn to control their vocalizations through visual feedback (e.g., seeing their mouth move) and tactile feedback (e.g., feeling the vibrations in their throat). They develop a sense of their own voice through these other senses.
- An adult who gradually loses hearing: This person might initially notice changes in their voice quality and struggle to monitor their volume. Over time, they may rely more on the feeling of their vocal cords vibrating and the mental memory of their voice. They might still be able to mentally "hear" their voice, even though they cannot physically hear it.
- A deaf person with a cochlear implant: After receiving a cochlear implant, this person may go through a period of adjustment as they learn to interpret the new auditory input. They will likely be able to hear their own voice, although it may sound different than they remember.
Summary
While a deaf person might not "hear" their own voice in the same way as a hearing person, they can still experience their voice through vibrations, visual cues, and internal conceptualizations. The ability to do so is heavily influenced by the age of onset and degree of hearing loss, as well as the use of assistive devices.
