Abc Family's Switched At Birth Analysis

Sadly, the number of characters with hearing impairments is limited in all media formats, but especially in media outlets that appeal to children. There are few cartoon characters, superheroes, or live action comedies or dramas that highlight their peers who happen to be hearing impaired. Most roles featuring a character who is hearing impaired focuses on the disability rather than the individual. Thankfully, recent media outlets featuring characters with hearing difficulties have moved away from focusing on the disability and has shown that character as a normal individual, dealing with normal life who happens have difficulty hearing.
ABC Family’s Switched at Birth features many characters with profound hearing loss. On the surface, the teen soap appears to revolve around two teenage girls (Vanessa Marano, Katie Leclerc) who discover that they were switched at birth as their families. A wealthy white couple (D.W. Moffett, Lea Thompson) and a Latina recovering-alcoholic hairdresser (Constance Marie). The attempt to untangle the emotional Gordian knot in which they’ve found themselves. …show more content…
Leclerc actually became hearing impaired because of an inner-ear disease called Ménière’s disease, the symptoms of which include fluctuating hearing loss, vertigo, pressure, and tinnitus. Sean Berdy, plays Lecler’s love interest Emmett, a motorcycle riding, bad boy photographer. Sean is also an actor who is hearing impaired. Emmett’s mother, Melody, is played deaf actress Marlee Matlin. Their on-screen interactions and frequent arguments form the basis of a compelling and unique dynamic on television. Exposing some of the ethical questions facing the deaf community like cochlear implants, speech therapy, romantic relationships with hearing