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6 days ago
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Babatunde Titilola exposes the harsh realities faced by hearing-impaired Nigerians, shedding light on the deeply entrenched biases and systemic neglect that fuel the widening divide between the deaf community and the hearing society.
As the midday light filters through the window, James sits at his worktable, hands resting on his laptop.
At 32, his bright smile radiates warmth, but there’s something absent. Despite working as a social media manager for a startup in Lagos, he craves a connection beyond the virtual world.
Born with congenital deafness, James’ reality has been shaped by a world of silence. He cannot control how he experiences sound, but what truly weighs on him is navigating daily life in a society built on hearing.
Each morning, James rises with a hopeful anticipation of meaningful interactions, but the day often ends in disappointment.
He faces the frustration of trying to communicate in a world that lacks patience and understanding.
Though he manages social media accounts for businesses, his inability to converse limits both his responsibilities and, consequently, his income.
His company assigns him specific tasks that, while suitable, do not tap into his full potential. Yet, payday remains a glimmer of hope.
“I try to stay grounded, but the limitations will always be there,” James lamented.
“Talking to people is hard, especially new people. It’s difficult to even make new friends in social settings. You can’t keep up with the conversations, and they can’t wait for you to write your thoughts down.”
In 2019, James moved to Lagos from the eastern part of the country after his marketing agent friend offered to host him until he found his feet in the bustling city.
With a degree in Agricultural Economics and a knack for writing, freelance gigs seemed like his best chance at escaping poverty.
After a year, James secured his own small apartment in Ikeja. He spends most of his days indoors, finding interactions with hearing people difficult. But when he meets someone who understands sign language, he embraces the opportunity to express himself fully.
Like James, like 430 million others
James’ experience is far from unique. It resonates with millions of others in the deaf community, caught between a desire for inclusion and the reality of isolation.
A person whose hearing ability falls below 20 decibels in either ear is considered to have hearing loss, while a hearing threshold of 20 decibels or better in both ears is considered normal.
According to the World Health Organisation, over 430 million people globally require medical treatment for hearing disability or loss.
By 2050, it’s projected that nearly 2.5 billion people will experience some degree of hearing loss, and at least 700 million will need rehabilitation for their condition.
“Disabling hearing loss refers to hearing loss greater than 35 decibels in the better hearing ear. Nearly 80 per cent of people with disabling hearing loss live in low- and middle-income countries.
The prevalence of hearing loss increases with age; among those older than 60, over 25 per cent are affected by disabling hearing loss,” WHO stated.
Trapped in a mute world
In a world dominated by spoken language, the deaf community is trapped in an unforgiving socio-economic landscape that has long ignored their needs and undervalued their potential. Communication becomes a constant battle, forcing many to rely on improvised methods like lip-reading and writing, when accessible solutions such as sign language interpreters and visual aids remain out of reach.
But the problem extends far beyond communication alone—it is deeply entrenched in systemic inequities that infiltrate every facet of life. From employment opportunities to social interactions, and even basic services, the barriers are everywhere. In job markets that prioritise verbal communication, hearing-impaired Nigerians find themselves overlooked, despite their skills and resounding academic qualifications.
This unjust plight is exacerbated by relentless societal stigma and marginalisation. With employers and government agencies largely indifferent to the hidden wealth of deaf culture and the untapped potential of deaf talent, opportunities wither away. The result is not just the individual suffering of those with hearing impairments but the collective stagnation of a society that fails to fully harness its diverse abilities. The deaf community’s rich contributions are left untapped, and in doing so, the entire nation is deprived of progress.
A costly life mistake
For many with disabilities, life once felt normal. But incidents—often caused by medical negligence or perceived bad luck—can alter everything, as was the case with Adeyinka Teslim.
Born in 1996 in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, Teslim’s parents’ joy knew no bounds. He was healthy, and they hoped he would live a great life. But fate had other plans.
When Teslim was six years old, he fell ill. His parents took him to a local nurse for treatment, but after an injection, his condition worsened.
The horror intensified when Teslim complained that he could no longer hear the sounds around him.
“It was a terrifying moment,” Teslim recalled. “I tried to communicate with my parents, but I couldn’t hear their words. That was when I realised something was wrong with my hearing, and my world was about to change forever.”
His parents searched desperately for a solution, visiting one medical facility after another, spending money and time. However, every doctor confirmed that Teslim would never regain his hearing, a devastating blow to his hopes for a normal life.
Clinging to hope, his parents turned to religious places, hoping for a miracle. But when none came, they reluctantly accepted their fate and braced themselves for what lay ahead.
“Accepting that my hearing loss was permanent was one of the hardest challenges of my life,” Teslim said through a sign language interpreter.
“It was an emotional journey for my parents, especially my mother, who had devoted herself to finding a cure. I remember the day my mother broke down in tears, exhausted from all the failed attempts. It was painful for me to witness.
“I struggled with the overwhelming silence that became my reality. It was hard to accept that I could no longer experience the world through sound, and it took both my family and me a long time to process that reality.”
A life full of woes
Life as a deaf person brings struggles that only experience can teach. For Teslim, succeeding in school was a challenge.
He relied on written notes and lip-reading to understand his lessons, often struggling to keep up with his peers. It was a devastating phase in his life.
But Teslim understood that being deaf without a sustainable career would be an even greater challenge.
This realisation kept him going, pushing through every obstacle until he graduated with a National Certificate in Education in Economics and a bachelor’s degree in Education Administration.
“I was determined to succeed,” he said.
Yet, education is only part of the equation; surviving in the world as a deaf person is another battle. Like many others with hearing impairments, Teslim found that daily interactions required extra effort. Despite his determination, he often loses friends, unable to match their social energy.
The 28-year-old said, “I’ve lost friends due to the lack of understanding of sign language. Sometimes, people grow impatient when communication becomes too difficult or when they don’t try to learn. It’s disheartening because it feels like the bond was fragile, with the lack of shared communication being the breaking point.”
“I use sign language to communicate with those who understand it, but I also use speech. I try to build relationships through actions, understanding, and patience. Not everyone knows sign language, but I try to find common ground with them, whether through lip-reading or writing notes.”
A recurring challenge Teslim faces is job hunting. His experience with employers in Nigeria has been disappointing, filled with tactical stereotyping due to his hearing loss. Many employers, according to Teslim, are either uninformed or unwilling to embrace inclusivity, which leads to discrimination against people with disabilities.
One experience, in particular, left him questioning his destiny. He believed he was unjustly disqualified because of his hearing impairment.
For over a month, Teslim explored opportunities with various companies. One day, a friend informed him about a vacancy at their company.
He applied through his friend and asked him to inform the Human Resources office about his hearing loss.
“I wanted to ensure they understood my disability and wouldn’t be caught off guard later,” he explained.
He heard nothing for a month. When he called his friend for an update, he was told that his application had been dismissed because he couldn’t communicate orally.
“This response left me disheartened and confused. Communication, when approached creatively and adaptively, is rarely a barrier to someone’s abilities.
“Furthermore, I did not apply for a role requiring telephone-based customer service, so this reasoning felt even more unjust. My qualifications and skills were more than sufficient to fulfil the responsibilities of the role, yet my hearing status was unfairly used as a deciding factor.”
Emotional breakdown
For many deaf individuals, daily encounters with stereotypes can cause significant emotional distress. Society often perpetuates myths about deafness and view it as a deficiency rather than a different form of communication.
Terms like ‘deaf and dumb’ and assumptions that deaf people are less intelligent contribute to feelings of isolation and frustration. These stereotypes diminish a person’s identity and impact their self-esteem, which create an unbreakable emotional cycle.
“Not being able to express myself deeply in public when most people don’t understand sign language is a frustrating and isolating experience,” Teslim shared.
“There are moments when I want to share my thoughts, emotions, or ideas, but I’m limited by the lack of understanding or the tools to bridge the communication gap. It’s not just about the inability to communicate; it’s about the missed connections and the feeling of being excluded from meaningful conversations.”
These struggles are compounded when Teslim tries to engage professionally, where his communication methods are often misunderstood or dismissed.
He said, “Interviews often become tests of patience, with employers assuming my hearing challenge is synonymous with a lack of competence. Such experiences can be disheartening.”
“Dealing with the emotional trauma caused by neglect, stereotypes, and marginalisation is tough, but I’ve learned to manage it by focusing on my goals and what gives me purpose. I try to maintain a positive mindset because it’s important, and I always remind myself that these challenges don’t define my worth.”
Research reveals that such experiences can lead to anxiety, depression, and a sense of being trapped in a world where individuals feel unheard and unrecognised.
A mother and native of Ogun State, Damilare Olakulehin, described the feelings she battled with for two years after being transferred to a workplace where she had no one to communicate with.
“Despite working in a special institution, I suffered depression between 2018 and 2020 when I was redeployed from a boss who was a sign language expert to one with no knowledge of sign language. That was the worst period of my service years,” she lamented.
Olakulehin’s hearing loss was gradual, beginning in 1996 when she was just 12 years old.
“I fall into the category of sensorineural deafness, and it was a gradual loss,” she explained. “I was like a radio, speaking but not receiving responses. I could hear sounds but not speech. I’ve always enjoyed talking, so the pain of not hearing others was profound. At times, I would weep alone, and my mom would try to comfort me. But if she saw me crying, she would start crying too. So, I learned to be tough.”
It took Olakulehin 15 years to overcome these feelings, but her social life had dramatically changed.
Worse fate for children
There is growing concern about the lack of early exposure to sign language for many deaf children. Parents and siblings often overlook the needs of a hearing-impaired child, while the rest of the family enjoys regular conversations.
The situation becomes even more difficult when parents fail to enrol their children in sign language education.
Children caught in this situation are left to struggle with communication, feeling abandoned and unwanted.
Olakulehin, who is the National Secretary General of the Deaf Women Association of Nigeria, told this reporter that hearing-impaired children face an even worse fate if they are not introduced to sign language early.
According to her, the experiences that shape mental development in children are based on interactions with others. Without these interactions, mental growth can be stunted.
“I went through the same, and I am yet to fully recover from the 15 years I spent without sign language. Many parents fear that introducing their children to the deaf community will mean losing them. But the most important thing is how the child will lead a meaningful life,” she explained.
She believes that both children and adults in the deaf community must be given the education necessary to realise their full potential.
She said, “The government must help ensure quality education for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals by employing capable professionals, not just those who are paper-qualified. Disability needs more understanding, and definite actions must be taken toward inclusion. This is the right way to support deaf individuals and persons with disabilities in general.”
Surviving against all odds
Despite the numerous challenges, a few Nigerians from the marginalised hearing-impaired community have developed adaptive behaviours to survive in an environment that fails to accommodate their needs.
Due to systemic stereotyping, which hinders them from gaining employment, many have turned to self-employment.
Since finding a traditional job has become nearly impossible, Teslim and others have found ways to survive through personal ventures. The rise of remote jobs has provided a unique opportunity, enabling them to leverage their skills while bypassing the barriers of physical communication.
Teslim works as an online tutor for hearing-impaired college students and a search engine optimisation content writer. When not working, he runs his farm, ploughing, planting, and maintaining the crops.
For Olakulehin, she has found a new passion in helping members of the deaf community focus on their abilities and lead fulfilling lives.
Most hearing problems can be correctable at birth – Ear Surgeon
An Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgeon, Adekunle Adeyemo, highlighted several causes of hearing impairment, particularly in children.
He explained that congenital hearing loss, which occurs due to issues that arose during pregnancy or shortly after birth, can be due to infections like German measles or herpes contracted by the mother, or from exposure to certain drugs.
“Children born with prolonged or obstructed labour, or those who do not cry immediately after birth, are at a higher risk of deafness,” he said.
He added that many conditions contributing to hearing loss could be corrected at birth or shortly after.
“The problem in this part of the world is that children are not routinely screened for hearing loss, meaning they do not get timely intervention,” Adeyemo said. “A child born without hearing ability may grow up unable to speak because they can’t hear to learn what to say.”
Adeyemo also emphasised that many causes of congenital hearing loss could be prevented with vaccines and public health measures such as immunisation. Additionally, he advocated for better control of drugs that could potentially harm hearing.
“Implantable hearing solutions, like assistive devices that can be placed in a child’s ears, allow them to hear like a normal person. But early detection of hearing impairment is critical,” he concluded.
Hearing-impaired people neglected by loved ones
The National President of the Association of Sign Language Interpreters of Nigeria, Timothy Tinat, confirmed that a major setback for the hearing-impaired community is the reluctance of their families to learn sign language.
“As a result, deaf individuals are often marginalised from their homes. These individuals are human first before they are deaf, but unfortunately, society sees their deafness before their humanity,” Tinat explained.
“Most deaf people do not have access to basic healthcare, education, or public services due to the lack of systems that help them access information in a format they can understand. The presence of sign language interpreters in the communication system is essential to protect deaf people from systemic marginalisation in various sectors,” he said.
Tinat added, “There is a high level of ignorance about the lives of deaf people and sign language interpreters. Often, they are seen as the same, but it’s important to note that deaf people and sign language interpreters are distinct individuals who work together to break communication barriers in various systems.
“They are crucial components of society, and the public must understand deaf culture to respect the linguistic rights of deaf people. It’s essential to reduce societal hostility so it doesn’t negatively impact the mental health of the deaf community.”
He highlighted the pivotal role of sign language interpreters in both the deaf and hearing communities, noting that it facilitates smooth communication between them.
Tinat noted that there is a specific skill set required to qualify as an interpreter, which ensures accurate communication between a deaf person and a hearing individual.
When asked about formal efforts to address the communication gap, he said Nigeria lacks a structured training programme for aspiring sign language interpreters.
Tinat believes that such a programme would bridge the language divide between the deaf and hearing communities, particularly in key sectors such as business, education, health, and justice.
“The training would equip interpreters with the sector-specific knowledge necessary for effective communication,” he explained. “One of the initiatives that should be implemented is the accreditation of sign language interpreters across Nigeria, establishing accessible locations where the deaf community can engage. The public should also be able to access these facilities to interact with deaf individuals. Additionally, certification should be introduced to categorise skills and expertise in nuance-based interpretation,” he added.
Tinat emphasised that sign language and its interpreters should be professionally recognised across the country.
Without these reforms, he warned, sign language interpreters may be forced to abandon their profession in search of alternative careers.
“If these changes don’t happen, deaf people will be left unsupported as the system fails to cater to the needs of sign language interpreters.”
Uncertain life for the hearing-impaired
Living in a system unprepared for their needs, deaf Nigerians face an environment filled with uncertainty. This uncertainty extends beyond the unpredictability of daily interactions to deeper concerns about personal identity.
To improve life for the deaf community, advocates call for deliberate and inclusive actions. One vital step is to ensure that sign language is taught in schools and promoted as a secondary language to bridge the communication gap.
They also argue that public spaces, workplaces, and events should offer interpreters or tools like live captions to improve access to information. Additionally, translation applications should be made available and affordable.
“There needs to be a shift in perspective among hiring managers to evaluate people based on their abilities, not their disabilities, and create a more inclusive and equitable workplace environment,” advocates said.
However, society is still far from embracing persons with disabilities. The infrastructure and policies supporting PWDs, including the deaf community, remain insufficient, with many public spaces still inaccessible.
For members of the hearing-impaired community, who continually face stereotypes and communication barriers, the future is overshadowed by obstacles that threaten to impede their life dreams.
These persistent challenges hinder their personal growth, professional success, and full participation in society.
English (US)