Technology

Hearing Aids

Non electrical hearing aids such as ear trumpets, acoustic urns, and speaking tubes in the early 1800s

Earliest patent of hearing aids were granted in 1836 in England, for a curve piece worn behind the ear

In 1855, the grant for earscoops were given to the US

In the nineteenth century, hearing aids were so big, that they were noticeable on the person.

The stigma of using hearing devices and the publics negative reaction to those devices caused many people to hide their hearing aids.

Because of negative attitude towards the Deaf community, deaf people were sensitive to the fact of wearing such hearing aids.

In the 1920s, hearing aids developed from mechanical to electrical.

Devices were made to look like everyday appliances (radios and purses)

Cochlear Implants

Earliest research was in the 1950s

First CI implant was in 1961 by Dr. William House

In 1984, the Ci began to work for infants and adults, and then it became widespread.

Implants do not restore normal hearing, but they do give a sense of sound for ones surroundings.

FDA approved in 1984

Captioned Movies and TV

Even when silent movies dissolved, deaf people still went to the theater to watch the film.

First began in 1949

Considered a hinderance to hearing people

Was though to be a visual distraction to many

In 1980, closed captioning was made popular.

Sears was the first company to

Captioning in Theaters

Included open captioning

Included Rear Window

Included Personal Size captioning

Hearing people laugh at what was being said, while a deaf person might laugh at the motion the actor was doing.

Decoders

News captioners were hired to type all of the words on a film so that it could be on the screen when the show/ movie aired.

All TV's 13 in or bigger had to have a decoder chip built into it for captions

Stenographers had home based jobs.