I Can Hear You Whisper audiobook cover - An Intimate Journey Through the Science of Sound and Language

I Can Hear You Whisper

An Intimate Journey Through the Science of Sound and Language

Lydia Denworth

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Categories:
ScienceHealth & NutritionCommunication Skills

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I Can Hear You Whisper
Mechanics of Hearing+
Language & Brain Development+
History of Deaf Culture+
Hearing Technology+
The Implant Controversy+
Education & Modern Reality+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
How is sound energy transformed as it moves from the outer ear to the brain?
  • A. Acoustic energy to mechanical energy to hydro-energy to electrical impulses
  • B. Electrical impulses to mechanical energy to acoustic energy to hydro-energy
  • C. Hydro-energy to acoustic energy to electrical impulses to mechanical energy
  • D. Mechanical energy to electrical impulses to hydro-energy to acoustic energy
Question 2 of 8
According to the text, what is the most critical factor for a deaf child's successful language development?
  • A. Choosing the oralist approach over sign language as early as possible
  • B. Ensuring they receive a cochlear implant before the age of two
  • C. Isolating them from hearing culture to build a strong deaf identity
  • D. Identifying their deafness as early as possible to expose them to suitable teaching methods
Question 3 of 8
How did the publication of the first American Sign Language Dictionary in the 1960s impact the deaf community?
  • A. It proved that the oralist method was superior for societal integration.
  • B. It illustrated that sign language was as intricate as spoken language, helping spark the concept of 'deaf culture'.
  • C. It led to the immediate invention and FDA approval of the cochlear implant.
  • D. It convinced historical figures like Alexander Graham Bell to abandon oralist advocacy.
Question 4 of 8
What fundamental scientific realization in the 1950s made artificial hearing implants a possibility?
  • A. The discovery that the cochlea could be completely removed without affecting the brain
  • B. The understanding that sound waves could be amplified using standard telephone batteries
  • C. The discovery that hearing is produced by electrical impulses in the brain
  • D. The invention of the microchip to process complex acoustic signals
Question 5 of 8
Why is it considered crucial for a deaf child to receive a hearing implant as early as possible?
  • A. The child's brain needs time and early exposure during formative years to develop the neural pathways necessary to process sounds.
  • B. The surgery is physically less invasive for toddlers than for older children.
  • C. It guarantees the child will achieve a higher socioeconomic status later in life.
  • D. Early implantation prevents the child from learning sign language, which can interfere with oral communication.
Question 6 of 8
Why did the decision in the 1990s to give cochlear implants to children as young as two spark widespread debate?
  • A. Critics argued that the implants were too expensive and should be reserved exclusively for adults.
  • B. The deaf community believed that the technology was already obsolete due to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  • C. The implants were proven to cause permanent physical damage to children's vocal cords.
  • D. Many feared it framed deafness as a defect needing to be cured, potentially stigmatizing deafness and destroying deaf culture.
Question 7 of 8
Despite advancements in cochlear implants, what remains a significant challenge for users?
  • A. Understanding one-on-one conversations in quiet, isolated rooms
  • B. Adapting to the physical weight of the implant on the outer ear
  • C. Processing complex sounds like music and filtering out background noise in crowded environments
  • D. Reaching beyond a fourth-grade level of reading and writing
Question 8 of 8
Why has sign language continued to thrive despite the widespread availability of cochlear implants?
  • A. Implants are completely ineffective for processing any form of spoken language.
  • B. Sign language remains highly effective in noisy environments and is a vital part of deaf history and identity.
  • C. Laws passed in the 1970s made it illegal to use cochlear implants in public schools.
  • D. The FDA revoked the approval of cochlear implants for children who attend regular schools.

I Can Hear You Whisper — Full Chapter Overview

I Can Hear You Whisper Summary & Overview

I Can Hear You Whisper (2014) is about human communication, and the phenomenon and culture of deafness. Hearing is a complex process that doesn’t function the same way for everyone, and those who are deaf or hard of hearing have developed alternative methods of communication, around which a special culture has grown. These blinks give an overview of that culture and show that it’s just as rich as any other.

Who Should Listen to I Can Hear You Whisper?

  • Anyone interested in the science or culture of deafness
  • Sociology or medical students

About the Author: Lydia Denworth

Lydia Denworth is writer whose work has been in the New York Times, Newsweek and the Wall Street Journal. She served as an adjunct professor of journalism at Fordham University and Long Island University. I Can Hear You Whisper is her second best-selling book.

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