Magnetic pink charm for decorating a cochlear implant hearing aid
Production date
2012
Production organisations
HAYLEIGH'S CHERISHED CHARMS
Labels
This is an example of assistive technology customisation. There are many reasons why cochlear implant and hearing aid users customise their devices, from demonstrating agency, to disability advocacy, to communication signalling. Today there is still societal stigma and ableism towards hearing loss and deafness. This has resulted in and been perpetuated by manufacturers promoting either discreet devices, or futuristic ones which support a ‘post-deaf’ future.
Customising devices can be a form of political resistance against stigma and ableism, drawing attention to the device and allowing personalisation and representation that transcends societal restrictions. Though assistive technology users have long been modifying devices, the internet has increased connections and fostered communities of DIY customisers. Research shows that men are less likely to customise their devices, and that if they do, they may feel pressure to customise them in ways that affirm masculinity, such as with sporting logos.
Customisation has been linked to the social model of disability, which instead of focusing on disabled people’s differences, highlights the societal barriers they face. Another, more recent argument shifts the focus towards normalising devices by finding a middle ground between hiding and drawing attention to them, similarly to how glasses are treated today.
Lucy Cameron, Hidden Histories MA Project Researcher
