A hearing persons view on Cochlear Implants...
As a disclaimer, I am hearing and this is my opionion. I apoligize in advanced if it offends anyone.
A discussion among friends and myself, along with the AWARE Fair tommorow, has really got me fired up on the subject of cochlear implants (CI) in deaf children.
I am completly against implants in deaf children. I think it is invasive, not effective, and a slap in the face to deaf culture. In adults, I flex my opinion a bit more, because I think as an adult you can make an informed decision... So this pertains mostly to implanting children.
Being Deaf is not a disability. A deaf person can do ALL the same things a hearing person can with the exception of hear. Deaf people, their familes and friends have made their own culture, where being deaf is not an obstacle. This culture has its own language and customs just like any other, and is nothing to be ashamed of.
I think implanting childrens teaches them to be shamed of their deafness. A deaf child can never be made hearing, they will always be deaf, and by implanting them you put them in a world of limbo, where they don't fit into the "hearing world" and they dont fit on the "deaf world". They are stuck between two cultures, where they don't fully belong.
It teaches children that being deaf isn't acceptable, that is is somthing "wrong" to be fixed. There is nothing wrong with being deaf!
An implanted child may be teased by peers in the hearing or deaf culture. In the hearing culture they appear strange because of the external part of the implant, and may be teased. In deaf culture they may feel ashamed, that they are not a "proud deaf", the deaf community may feel that know this person with a CI does not want to be part of deaf culture, that they may want to "pass" as hearing.
I am also against CI for its safety reasons. Cochlear implantation is an invasive surgery. Surgery in anyone should be avoided if the "problem" is not causing them harm, especially in children. There is more problems in that we don't know the long term effects of CI. There have even been cases of meningitis linked with implants.
Implants are not a "cure" for deafness. They only sometimes aid in hearing, they do not make you a hearing individual. The implants do not differentiate sound, they amplify it. They do nothing to help make sense of the sounds you are hearing. Implanted children are often driven to focus on being taught spoken English, not learning the fundementals of language.In many children, even after they recieve the CI, and extensive auditory training they are no better off in English skills, and often behind their peers in language skills and ASL. They then run the risk of not mastering any language be it spoken english or ASL.
Most of all it takes away CHOICE. A child can not understand all the pros and cons of an implant. That decision should be theirs to make when they are mentally, emotionally, and physically ready. Most Adults that were also deaf as children are against CI. Shouldn't we listen to these people who went through life as a deaf child, and know the negative effects that a CI can bring to an innocent child? By implanting your child you are making a lifetime commitment to an invasive implant tat we don't know enough about, and one that your child did not choose for themselves.
Deafness is not life threatning, and does not require an invasive surgery in childhood. A CI can cause more emotional trauma to a child, ruining thier self confidence and isolating and alienating them from thier peers. A deaf person can be fully accepted in a hearing community without a CI. We need to embrace our differences and not force our children to become somthing they will never be. A deaf person (even with a CI) will never be fully hearing.