The Face of Harold Whittles, a Deaf Child, Who Was Hearing Sound for the First Time in 1974

This interesting photo was taken in 1974 at the exact moment Harold Whittles, a five-year-old boy who was born deaf hears sound for the first time. The image was captured by photographer Jack Bradley and was published in the February 1974 edition of Reader’s Digest, in the article “Unforgettable Moments Caught on Film.” The shocked expression on Harold’s face isn’t surprising. Imagine being transported from a silent world into a world of sound in an instant.

This of course, was achieved thanks to the advancement of technology and an electronic hearing aid. Deaf until then, Harold was introduced to sound with the arrival of technology at his doorstep. Just as his doctor fitted the hearing aid, the first wave of sound awoke a dormant sense in the little boy.