Resonating Silence: Music Perception in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Music is traditionally considered an auditory experience; however, the perception of music by Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals challenges this assumption. This paper examines how people who are Deaf engage with music through a multisensory approach, emphasizing vibration, touch, and visual elements. By analyzing data from the Frontier and Kaggle database, the study explores how hearing-impaired individuals interpret and emotionally respond to rhythmic vibrations. Participants, aged 10–40, interacted with a haptic device that produced both musical and non-musical vibrations. Age-based trends emerged: older participants often associated vibrations with musical instruments, while younger participants connected them to common household objects. Emotional responses varied, with younger individuals showing heightened excitement and older participants experiencing greater relaxation. Findings indicate that tactile rhythms can foster meaningful associations and emotions across age groups, providing insights into sensory-based musical experiences for those who are hearing-impaired. This paper synthesizes literature, case studies, and data from the Frontier database to highlight the various ways music can be felt and comprehended beyond hearing. By underscoring the holistic and multisensory dimensions of music, it argues for appreciating sound and music through a broader understanding of sensory experiences.