This is an interesting article — except that its approach to making architecture more accommodating to the hearing impaired seems chiefly focused on making architecture more accommodating to those who are deaf AND know sign language. As a significant proportion of hearing impairment develops as people age, it is unlikely that many/most people who are profoundly hard of hearing will learn sign language. Therefore, efforts to accommodate the hearing impaired need to be focused not only on those who use sign language, but the vast majority of those with little or no hearing who do not use sign language.

What would these accommodations look like? They would include architectural features that muffle background noise and make it easier for those with hearing aids to hear in crowded spaces; providing infrared technology to enhance the ability of the hearing impaired to use special headphones to hear presentations, plays, and musical performances. I’d love to hear other suggestions, as well.