The DeafandHoH Blog

  • Deaf Culture 101: What Everyone Should Know About the Deaf Community July 15, 2025 Introduction Understanding Deaf culture goes beyond knowing sign language—it’s about recognizing a rich, vibrant community with its own history, values, and identity. Whether you’re  new to Deaf culture or want to deepen your respect and awareness, this post will walk you through the essentials. Section 1: What Is Deaf Culture? Deaf culture refers to the shared experiences, values, norms, and... Read More
  • How to Teach ASL to Hearing Friends, Family, or Classmates: A Friendly Guide for Building Communication Bridges June 30, 2025 Introduction: Learning American Sign Language (ASL) isn’t just about hand signs—it’s about connection, inclusion, and accessibility. Whether you’re Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or a fluent signer, teaching ASL to your hearing peers can be a powerful way to create more inclusive communities. Here’s how to make it fun, approachable, and meaningful. Section 1: Start with Why Help them understand why... Read More
  • Bullies, Back Then and Now: Why A Friend Still Matters June 13, 2025 Bullying isn’t new—but it has changed. If you were a middle school student in the 1980s, you might remember bullying as something that happened face-to-face: being teased in the classroom, whispered about in the cafeteria, or made to feel small in the hallway. It was loud. It was personal. But once the school bell rang, you could usually leave it... Read More
  • How AI Is Revolutionizing Sign Language Interpretation: Progress, Pitfalls, and the Path Ahead June 11, 2025 Bridging Communication Gaps Imagine walking into a doctor’s office, a government building, or even logging into a virtual meeting—without access to a live interpreter. For many Deaf and hard of hearing individuals, that’s a daily reality. But what if artificial intelligence (AI) could step in and provide reliable, on-demand sign language interpretation? Today, AI is doing just that—transforming the future... Read More
  • Experience “Dinner Table Syndrome”: Deaf Film Night Coming to Wisconsin & St. Paul, MN June 6, 2025 If you’re looking for something meaningful to do in Wisconsin — especially an event that will impress friends who are new in town — mark your calendar for Dinner Table Syndrome: Deaf Film Night on June 7, 2025. This unique cultural event will take place at Thompson Hall in Wisconsin and also in St. Paul, Minnesota, offering a powerful experience... Read More

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Why I'm Here

Senthil Srinivasan

I created this blog to express my inner thoughts, feelings, and stories about my hearing loss, with hopes of creating a great place that will benefit everyone.

For many years I had been wearing behind-the-ear hearing aids, and have kept my hair long to cover them. I didn’t want people to know about my mild hearing loss. I was very sensitive and uncomfortable about it. As of today, I wear digital hearing aids which make it hard for people to notice as much. So, I decided to change my hairstyle and it doesn’t bother me anymore whether people see them. Looking at my old pictures, I ask myself, “what was I thinking!”

I was not happy with the way I looked back in high school and college, and I have come to realize that the hearing aids were a major reason why I was and still am so isolated from the outside world, and the reason for not having many friends. I believe people didn’t see the real me and my true personality, and lacking confidence didn’t help. They always treated me and looked at me like I was an outsider or diseased in some way. There were also other reasons that played a big role, such as my shyness and not having an outgoing personality, but that too could have been due to the way I was treated. Rather than analyzing the past each and every day, I have decided to open up and share my life experiences and the path that led me to where I am today.

I hope you will visit often and participate by leaving comments, submitting stories or articles, and sending me feedback that could help you, me, and everyone else who has had similar experiences.