Audio Engineering for Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Balancing Confidence and Limitations

Explore a 15-minute conference talk examining the experiences of deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) audio engineers in music. Delve into the challenges faced by DHH individuals in audio engineering, including insecurities in sound perception and the additional "hearing work" required. Discover the innovative workarounds, technologies, and techniques employed by DHH audio engineers to navigate their field. Learn about the importance of peer support and strategies for learning and growth in overcoming limitations. Gain insights into future directions for accessible audio engineering, including technologies to reduce insecurities and the potential for a DHH-community-driven approach. Presented by Keita Ohshiro and Mark Cartwright at the CHI 2024 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, this talk bridges the gap in research on audio engineering accessibility for the deaf, Deaf, and hard of hearing community.