Hearing is Non-Binary
What I’m advocating for is expanding the conversation around deafness to include sensory-based auditory barriers, especially in educational and workplace settings.
This isn’t about appropriating Deaf culture or identity. It’s about recognizing that hearing is not binary. Many people—particularly APD, ANSD, and autistic individuals—may “pass” a hearing test but still struggle profoundly to process, tolerate, or make use of sound in real-world environments. That lived experience deserves recognition, accommodation, and language access.
Using tools like ASL isn’t about claiming Deaf identity—it’s about reducing communication deprivation. Just as audiobooks and captions have expanded access without erasing their roots in disability culture, ASL can serve broader access needs without diminishing its cultural integrity. Respecting Deaf culture and using ASL as a tool for survival and inclusion are not mutually exclusive.
It’s possible that over time, some neurodivergent individuals who use ASL fluently and respectfully may find connection or even acceptance in Deaf spaces. But that kind of belonging isn’t guaranteed or assumed—it’s earned through relationship, mutual respect, and shared experience. Still, we need to start naming what’s already true: the binary between hearing and Deaf doesn’t capture the full spectrum of how human brains access sound—or don’t.
No one should have to be erased for someone else to be included. When we make room for complexity, we make room for everyone.
Visual Description:
This illustration features a bold, simple cartoon-style design on a textured turquoise background. In the center, a large cream-colored speech bubble contains the phrase “HEARING IS NON-BINARY” written in all capital letters with hand-drawn dark purple lettering.
To the left of the bubble is a stylized orange ear outlined in dark purple, with sound lines radiating outward to suggest hearing or sensitivity to sound. On the right side is a cartoon-style pinkish-orange brain, also outlined in dark purple, with subtle folds and curves indicating its structure. The visual contrast between the ear and the brain reinforces the idea that hearing is not just about the ears—it’s also about how the brain processes sound. The overall aesthetic is warm, clear, and approachable, designed to convey inclusivity and challenge binary thinking around hearing.
