Blog Post #2 - Technology advances us, but can leave some behind...

Today we discussed the controversy of Cochlear Implants in the Deaf community. It is hard for hearing people (myself included) to not see the benefits of having a CI and see them as the "correct" method or as a "cure" for deafness. However, I think we can all agree everyone sees things differently, and through talking a little bit about why many Deaf people are so opposed to this procedure, I hope you can at the very least see both sides.

Now, I want you to delve a little deeper. First, go to http://www.cochlearwar.com/introduction.html and explore this website. Read everything you can on it, it should take about ten minutes or so. This is a website made by Deaf people who want to spread the truth about this debate and how Deaf people really feel. I would say they are pro-choice on the matter, but definitely against, as they would say, the "forced implantation of children".

Then, please go to http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/coch.asp and explore this page. This is from the NIDCD, a government organization tied to the National Institute of Health. It presents a medical look at CI's and, without being ultimately biased, is a pro-CI site because it tells you only the benefits of the procedure.

So, what do I want you to talk about here? Tell me what you learned from in class and from these sites, and answer these questions.

1. Do you think the CI should be implanted on children as young as 12 months? Would you change the age, and if so, what to?
2. If you had a deaf child, would you want a CI? How would you approach language and communication with your child?
3. What can be done to spread awareness about this issue (not biased, simply information? Can you do so without taking a side?)

I'll go first.

1. The research does suggest implantation is more successful at a younger age. There are no guarantees, but I do believe in the right for parents to decide what is best for their child. I would not change the age, but what I would do is advocate for doctors to be required by law to inform their patients about Deaf Culture, ASL, and other related aspects so parents can make the best decision possible. So many families have kids with CIs and they have no idea about ASL or Deaf Culture - that is equally unfair.

2. I would implant my child. That may sound odd because I am an advocate for ASL and cultural awareness, but it would be best for my child with me as a hearing person. HOWEVER, I would at that point commit to teaching my child ASL and English. Being bilingual is always a good thing, and it is likely that my child would not have perfect hearing with the implant. It is more likely that ASL would be the best form of communication, the most effective for my child, and I would make sure that was the primary form he/she would use. That would involve me learning ASL - more than I know now, learning to become fluent in the language. I think this is not too much to ask of a parent in this situation, but many don't even know of that as an option.

3. Awareness and education needs to be advocated for in the medical community. I think we can bring unbiased information to this field and others, and everyone can benefit from it. However, I can see how people would try to find any bias in what info was presented, so it would be a challenge.