The increased portrayal of hearing loss in film and television brings numerous benefits. It improves the social integration of those affected, normalizes the use of hearing aids and cochlear implants in everyday life, and at the same time raises awareness of the importance of early treatment for hearing loss. A realistic portrayal can break down barriers and encourage people to speak openly about their hearing.

A 2015 study analyzed the portrayal of hearing loss on U.S. television between 1987 and 2013. The results were sobering: hearing loss was rarely addressed. When it was, it was often portrayed in a negative context—as “funny, embarrassing, lonely, or a threat to one’s job.” These distortions contributed to further reinforcing the already existing stigma surrounding hearing loss in society. Over the years, however, this portrayal has changed, as inclusion in film and television has now become the norm.

Film and television are increasingly featuring characters with hearing loss, often in central roles. In the hit 2018 film “A Quiet Place” and its 2020 sequel, the deaf actress Millicent Simmonds plays the lead role. The plots of these films address hearing loss in a compelling way and highlight the importance of modern hearing technologies such as cochlear implants.

Another example is the boxing movie “Creed.” In this “Rocky” spin-off, the main character’s wife has progressive hearing loss, wears hearing aids, and regularly communicates in sign language. A Teen Vogue columnist, who wears hearing aids herself, wrote: “Creed II is one of the first movies I’ve ever seen that portrays the experience of hearing loss in a nuanced way.” And in the Netflix series “The Signal,” which was released in March 2024, one of the main characters is deaf and wears a cochlear implant.

In Germany, too, the topic is being addressed more and more often in film and television. One example is the 2022 film “Du sollst hören.” The film is based on a true story and centers on a court case involving the forced implantation of cochlear implants in a young girl named Mila. The roles of Mila’s parents are played by Anne Zander and Benjamin Piwko, both of whom are deaf themselves. Through sound effects, such as the sudden muting of all sounds, the film attempts to make the unique sensory experience of deaf people tangible.

ARD has expanded its HD programming to include a speech-optimized audio track: Since 2022, it has been offering the accessible “Klare Sprache” format on its main channel, Das Erste HD, as well as on several regional channels such as BR, hr, mdr, NDR, Radio Bremen, rbb, SR, SWR, WDR, tagesschau24, KiKA, One, and ARD alpha. The “Klare Sprache” audio track supplements the regular stereo program audio with a specially processed audio signal that significantly improves speech intelligibility:

• Background and incidental noise are reduced, making the dialogue easier to understand.
• The speech-optimized audio track can be enabled on any HD television.
• “Klare Sprache” is available on all ARD HD channels and can be received via satellite, antenna, cable, and livestream.
• Programs with the additional audio track are also available in the ARD Media Library.

On the “Klare Sprache” audio track website, interested viewers can find instructions on how to configure their devices to use the audio track.

People who notice in their daily lives—including while watching TV—that their hearing is declining and who often have to ask others to repeat themselves in conversations or turn up the TV volume should definitely consult an ENT specialist for an evaluation and take a hearing test. The ARD’s service should not lead people to put off seeing a doctor because of the optimized audio. If there are signs of hearing loss, it is important to treat it with hearing aids, as this ensures optimal speech comprehension in all everyday situations—not just when “Clear Speech” is activated.

ZDF is also committed to ensuring that everyone has access to its programming through its “Accessible forAll” campaign. For example, on the August 24, 2024, episode of the “Giovanni Zarella Show,” two deaf people and one person with hearing loss were equipped with so-called “sound shirts,” which allowed them to feel the show’s music through vibrating sensors.

In addition, ZDF offers a wide variety of videos and films with captions and sign language.

Although the portrayal of hearing loss in film and television has improved significantly, there are still gaps. An authentic portrayal of hearing loss in film and television not only helps normalize it in everyday life but also raises awareness of the possibilities offered by modern hearing technologies. It shows that hearing loss is an integral part of life—and that no one has to face it alone.

Many of our heroes from movies and TV wear hearing aids and cochlear implants. You can learn more about this in our article “Movie Heroes with Hearing Aids.”