Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Friday, November 23, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Being hard of hearing is something Gael Hannan has dealt with all her life.

Her frustrations and experiences are something many who struggle with hearing loss can personally understand.

Gael Hannan performs a rap number called 'Show me' during her one woman show, Unheard Voices - about dealing with hearing loss - at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre on Tuesday. - Cara Loverock/ NNSL photo

Performing her one-woman show, Unheard Voices, at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre Tuesday evening, Hannan used poetry, short skits and a rap song to get her message across.

Having performed on the stage for the past eight years, she was brought to the city by the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA) Yellowknife branch.

The organization is trying to reach out to the community and makes itself known.

With a grant from the Yellowknife Community Foundation of $3,000, Hannan was brought here as part of an attempt to raise the CHHA profile in the community.

Bev Speight, a member of CHHA Yellowknife, said the organization has many resources for those dealing with hearing loss.

"We wanted to raise the visibility in the community. Denial is a big thing with hard of hearing and we want people to know we're here," said Speight.

She said the association wants to reach out to those who have hearing loss as well as teach those who can hear how to be respectful and understanding of those who are dealing with partial deafness.

Hannan, who is on the board of directors for the CHHA nationally, said her show is about bringing validation to those who are experiencing hearing loss and what they go through.

"Even now, anything written about hearing loss is very dry. I wanted to take people into the heart of hearing loss," said Hannan.

"It's something people can relate to. That's their life up on stage."

The show also featured a screen with closed captioning by Jennifer Duvoid, who was brought in from Edmonton by the CHHA Yellowknife chapter, as there are no closed captioning services available in the city. In addition to her show at NACC, Hannan also spoke to three Yellowknife schools imploring youth to protect their hearing.

She warned students at K'alemi Dene school, St. Patrick high school and Weledeh Catholic school about the damage that can be caused to hearing by loud music from MP3 players.