Marvel targets hearing loss in new miniseries ‘Hawkeye’ – Orange County Register

During the Broadway production, Clint Barton, aka Marvel’s Arrow-wielding Avenger, Hawkeye, stared at the stage. The singing group is minimized to a quiet drone in the background. His daughter waved her hand in front of him. “Dad. Did you turn off your hearing aid?”

Hearing loss plays a major role in Marvel Studios’ new limited series “Hawkeye,” available on Disney+. This miniseries, which released its final episode on December 22, goes beyond entertainment – by presenting Clint’s struggles with the condition to a broad global audience, it plays a vital role and essential in raising awareness about hearing loss.

While the depiction of hearing loss in the mass media isn’t entirely new – recent films include “A Star is Born”, “Sound of Metal” and “CODA” – Marvel’s pick to highlight Hawkeye’s hearing loss as a major plot element is crucial. Hearing loss and deafness are rarely so clearly presented. Characters who deal with these issues are often cast aside for supporting roles, especially in the mainstream media.

The lack of representation of the deaf in the media stands in stark contrast to what is common in the United States. About one in five American adults has some degree of hearing loss. Hearing loss is also severely treated – of the 29 million American adults ages 20-69 who could benefit from hearing aids, less than 1 in 6 actually use a hearing aid.

With a flashback, the show implied that Clint Barton suffered hearing loss from exposure to loud noises during his previous battles as an Avenger. Noise-induced hearing loss affects an estimated 1 in 8 children and adolescents aged 6-19 years and more than 1 in 6 adults aged 20-60. In particular, veterans are regularly exposed to harmful noise during their military service. When left untreated, hearing loss can be associated with an inability to communicate with loved ones, frustration, and loneliness.

Marvel’s image of a superhero with a hearing loss on screen contrasts with the old stereotype of people with hearing loss – that they are “dumb”, old and unsuccessful. The program also debunks common misconceptions about hearing loss – that people with hearing loss are deaf, use sign language, and read with lips. In the third episode, Maya (a deaf character) first meets Clint (a hearing aid user); The two have difficulty communicating. Maya even criticized Clint for being too dependent on technology for communication. Hearing loss ranges from mild hearing loss to deafness – people with hearing loss communicate in different ways, depending on the listening environment, the extent of the hearing loss, and other factors.

Marvel Studios is taking the step to reveal new, more human sides of superheroes that open up a whole new series of stories for Disney – chronic health issues like hearing loss and deafness are rarely explored. break in popular entertainment. The entertainment industry can play a valuable role in public health by reaching audiences of all ages and backgrounds and highlighting the importance of hearing health. Raising awareness could prompt people to protect their ears from exposure to loud noises and could encourage those who benefit from hearing aids to start using them. Depicting characters with this condition normalizes hearing loss, combats stereotypes, and allows younger fans who share the condition to identify with a superhero.

Just as we care about eating healthy, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep, we should make protecting our hearing an important part of self-care. It is important to protect our ears so that we can continue to listen to our loved ones and the world around us. Next time you get your keys, don’t forget the earplugs.

Chern is a resident in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia / Weill Cornell); Denham is a third-year medical student at Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.