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| Bless Aplasca |
Marami sa ami'y nabubuhay nang tulad mo
'Di makita, 'di madinig, minsa'y nauutal
Patungo sa hinahangad na buhay na banal
I am listening to this while journalling. This is a Filipino song called Bulag Pipi at Bingi by Freddie Aguilar. The lyrics express the idea that the real world is not far from the life of deaf, blind and mute — it suggests that what one is going through is not unusual or isolated. However, the other side of me is worrying that I am starting to realize how loud the volume is. Am I starting to have noise-induced hearing loss?
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a type of sensorineural hearing loss caused by prolonged or intense exposure to high levels of sound. The cochlea, a part of the inner ear, contains specialized sensory cells called hair cells that are responsible for detecting sound vibrations and converting them into electrical signals, which are then transmitted to the brain.
According to the World Health Organization, and other researchers, when exposed to loud noises over time (e.g., concerts, industrial machinery or heavy traffic), these hair cells undergo mechanical stress, leading to shearing damage. The outer hair cells in particular are most susceptible to this damage. Over time, if the exposure is repetitive or the sound is excessively loud, the hair cells can either become overstimulated, fatigued or die off completely. Once damaged, hair cells do not regenerate in humans, meaning this damage is permanent.
Additionally, NIHL typically occurs in a gradual, progressive manner, with higher frequencies (e.g., speech consonants) being the first to be affected. Early stages of NIHL can present as temporary threshold shifts, where hearing loss is reversible after a period of rest from the noise. However, with continuous exposure, this threshold shift becomes permanent.
The damage to the hair cells disrupts the normal process of sound transduction, impairing the brain's ability to interpret sound accurately, leading to permanent auditory deficits. Additionally, noise exposure can
Alena Chubarova: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
Preventive measures, such as wearing ear protection (e.g., earplugs or earmuffs) and controlling the intensity and duration of noise exposure, can effectively reduce the risk of NIHL — I have to note and follow.
My situation reminds me of the many serious challenges that come with being deaf, mute and/or blind. Not only does communication have inherent challenges, but moving around safely presents others. Simple daily activities — like eating, getting dressed or going outside — often require help, which can reduce independence and privacy. Most traditional education systems also favour the able-bodied.
Happily, many countries have crafted laws that can make sure that despite being blind they are seen. Despite being mute they have voices, and even if they are deaf, they are heard. Laws have been authored to accommodate the needs of the deaf-mute-blind community.
In Canada, the Accessible Canada Act (2019) highlights that, and the Canadian Human Rights Act recognizes that all individuals should have an opportunity equal with other individuals to make for themselves the lives that they are able and wish to have, and to have their needs accommodated without discrimination and, in particular, discrimination on the basis of disability. This federal law aims to make Canada barrier-free by the year 2040. It focuses on improving accessibility in many important areas, such as communication, employment and transportation. Under this law, government institutions are required to offer accessible services to the public, which may include providing sign language interpretation to support individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
In China, the Law on Building Accessible Environments (2023) focused on creating barrier-free living environments. It requires public service venues to be equipped with accessible facilities and services, including the use of braille and sign language in public communications and educational settings. It also mandates accessible services in transportation, health care and legal institutions.
In the Philippines, the Filipino Sign Language Act, Republic Act No. 11106, was signed into law on Oct. 30, 2018, and officially recognized Filipino Sign Language (FSL) as the national sign language. This landmark legislation mandates the use of FSL in various sectors to ensure full participation and inclusion of the deaf community. Also, this law mandates the availability of qualified sign language interpreters in legal proceedings involving deaf individuals, ensuring equal access to justice.
For evidence of what can result when barriers are removed, look no further than Haben Girma. Born deaf and blind in 1988, Girma faced many challenges growing up, especially in accessing education and communication. But she never gave up. To communicate, Girma uses a special keyboard system where someone types words, and she reads the words through braille on a digital device connected to her fingers. Using this, she not only learned to communicate but also became a powerful speaker and advocate for disability rights.
Girma was eventually the first deaf-blind person to graduate from Harvard Law School.
As my playlist continues to play on repeat, I realized that there’s a shared sense of struggle, where individuals often feel unseen, unheard or unable to fully express themselves. Despite these hardships, there’s a common desire among people to move toward a better, more meaningful or even spiritually fulfilling life. The lines highlight both the difficulty of the journey and the shared hope that drives people forward.
Bless Aplasca is a juris doctor and has a biology degree. She is a community service volunteer. She is the chief executive officer of her online tutorial services, Geniuspowerhouse by Aplasca.
The opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author’s firm, its clients, Law360 Canada, LexisNexis Canada or any of its or their respective affiliates. This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal advice.
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