I recognize some of them, from seeing them in Japan, but I thought they meant some kind of taxi.
A symbolic ear would be better to designate deafness, a walking stick age.
They are excellent symbols – for the society they arose in, which was at the other extreme end to the fragmentation, atomization, and attention span erosion we are experiencing today. In their case, choosing esthetics over learning curve totally made sense, because the learning curve was not a concern for them. Our society OTOH cannot afford such niceties.
Imagine being a 75-year-old who runs ultramarathons, having to have a walking stick on their car.
A hearing impaired person may not want to be symbolized by their less-than-well-working body part.
I doubt the deaf people care, though I also don't doubt at all that some virtue signallers are highly offended on their behalf.