Deaf-blind music teacher scales the heights to win hidden hearing award

A deaf-blind music teacher has won national recognition for developing a unique method of teaching music to deaf children.

For 21 years, Orla O’Sullivan, from Frankfield, Cork, has taught many pupils, from beginner to diploma level. “I believe all schoolchildren should be given the option to learn music, regardless of disability,” she said.

Ms O’Sullivan started teaching deaf children at a local primary school in the mid-90s. Yesterday, she was among nine people with hearing loss commended at the Hidden Hearing Heroes Awards in Dublin.