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Being involved in hobbies and participating in society enhances mental well-being and can lead to vocational opportunities and career change.

Deaf and hard-of-hearing people are at greater risk of being socially isolated. People who lose their hearing over time or who suddenly become deaf can also feel isolated from their former social groups. They may find that their enjoyment of past hobbies and interests change completely. Deaf or hard-of-hearing people can, however, discover new hobbies altogether.

A shared experience

Many deaf and hard-of-hearing communities across world openly share their experiences online on how they enjoy or discovering hobbies and activities, as well as tips on how to explore, leverage technology, or even just humour and personal experiences to inspire someone new to hearing loss.

Hobbies can range from the dynamic, like parkour, to feeling music using the sound shirt, to calmer pastimes like reading, gardening, or swimming. As more Deaf and hard-of-hearing people explore hobbies based on their interest, they bring diversity to every group.

This benefits everyone, encourages more engagement and increases the visibility of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. It also helps to reduce ignorance while increasing the broader community’s ability to empathise and better understand Deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

Join #HearingLossHour on Twitter!
Have hearing loss? Hearing aids? Cochlear implants? Join #hearinglosshour, a live chat to talk about hearing loss on Twitter. Founded by Angie Aspinall, #hearinglosshour takes place at 1 pm (UK) on the first Tuesday of the month. Follow @Hearinglosshour on Twitter, and visit www.hearinglosshour.com to learn more.

Information for deaf/hard-of-hearing hobbyists

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