Initial Research

Bridging Family Gaps for Deaf Teenagers

Communication is one of the most important aspects of building strong family relationships. However, for many deaf teenagers raised in hearing families, communication is often one of the biggest barriers. Everyday conversations, emotional expressions, and even simple family interactions can become sources of frustration or isolation when a shared language is missing. These experiences may go unnoticed by hearing family members, but for deaf teens, they can have long-term effects on emotional well-being, self-identity, and social development.

Inspiration

This project was inspired by the Korean drama Twinkling Watermelon. In the story, a young deaf girl is discouraged by her mother from learning sign language. Despite this, her boyfriend takes the initiative to learn sign language so that he can communicate with her and eventually teaches her as well. How Sweet! Later in the story, he becomes deaf due to an accident. The two eventually marry and raise one deaf and one hearing child. 

What struck me about this story was how limited their access to resources was back in 1995. Technology was not yet advanced, and learning sign language required a lot of personal effort and determination. Despite these challenges, the characters found a way to connect through love and persistence.

That contrast stayed with me. In today's world, we have far more resources and tools available yet many families still struggle to communicate with their deaf children. It made me ask myself: if we now have the technology, why is learning sign language still so difficult or inaccessible for many families?

This realization became the foundation of my research. I want to create something that helps families today do what those characters in 1995 could only dream of—learn sign language easily, accessibly, and together. My goal is to use modern tools not just for convenience, but for connection.

Exploring the Communication Gap

In many households with deaf children, especially those where parents and siblings are hearing, sign language is rarely taught or encouraged. Studies have shown that less than 25% of hearing parents actively learn to sign, which often leaves the child feeling isolated within their own home. The lack of shared language becomes a daily barrier—not only to practical communication but also to emotional bonding.

Research by Gregory (1998), Marks (2020, 2022), and others shows that this communication gap can affect a deaf teen’s sense of belonging, self-worth, and identity. These effects are particularly harmful during adolescence, a time when emotional support and self-expression are crucial.

Technology Gaps

Today, we have many tools designed to support communication: captioning software, automatic speech recognition, and voice-to-text apps. However, these tools often rely heavily on context, quiet environments, or specific speech patterns—things not always present in a lively home. More importantly, they don't replace the warmth and connection of face-to-face communication in a shared language.

What’s missing is not just accessibility, but empathy. It’s not just about “hearing” the words—it’s about being included in the moment.

What I Aim

This research is laying the foundation for a potential solution—a prototype that not only teaches basic sign language in an engaging and emotional way but also encourages shared learning experiences between deaf teens and their families.

The goal isn’t just to create another educational tool. It’s to build something that inspires emotional connection and inclusion—where deaf teens are no longer left out of conversations, and where families are empowered to grow closer through effort, learning, and love.