11/03/2025
✨HUMANISTAS!
The anime A Silent Voice (Koe no Katachi) is a perfect example of how hearing loss does not prevent communication. The story follows Shouko Nishimiya, a deaf girl, and Shoya Ishida, a boy who bullied her in elementary school but later seeks redemption. Through Shouko’s experiences, the film demonstrates various ways deaf individuals communicate and connect with others, proving that hearing loss is not a barrier to communication.🥹🫶🏻
Here are the three (3) communication methods that are based on The Deaf Health Charity Signhealth, that we can use, in order to effectively deliver a message to a person with hearing problems:
📍1. Sign Language as a Means of Communication
Despite being unable to hear, Shouko effectively communicates using Japanese Sign Language (JSL). Over time, some of her classmates, including Shoya, learn sign language to better understand her, emphasizing that communication goes beyond spoken words. This shows that even if one cannot hear, meaningful conversations and relationships can still develop.
📍2. Writing as an Alternative Communication Method
At several points in the film, Shouko uses a notebook to write messages, allowing her to communicate with classmates who don’t understand sign language. This demonstrates that there are multiple ways to exchange thoughts and emotions, reinforcing that losing hearing does not mean losing the ability to communicate.
📍3. The Role of Facial Expressions and Body Language
Shouko often relies on facial expressions and gestures to express her emotions. Even without hearing words, she understands people's intentions through their actions, proving that communication is not limited to verbal speech.
A Silent Voice beautifully illustrates that hearing loss does not equate to an inability to communicate. 🧏🏻♂️✨While Shouko faces difficulties, she still expresses herself, builds relationships, and conveys her emotions through sign language, writing, and non-verbal cues. 💪🏻🙌🏻The film teaches us that communication is about understanding, not just hearing, and that true connection comes from effort and empathy. 🫂
Information is from: https://signhealth.org.uk/resources/learn-about-deafness/tips-for-communicating-with-deaf-patients/
