Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Thoughts on Cochlear Implants

Recently in class, we have discussed the option of giving a deaf child a cochlear implant, and the significance of that in the Deaf community. I have asked some of my Deaf friends their opinions, and am intrigued on what you all would think. Do we think that they are overall helpful and provide options for the child, or are they unnecessary? Although somewhat of a touchy topic, I was wondering what the consensus would be on them.

8 comments:

  1. The consensus of who I've spoken with in the Deaf community agrees with the Deaf dad's comments early in the documentary about feeling robotic. Perception is reality much of the time and if one perceives it to be a negative affect, then to them it will be negative. I like the family who was deaf in the documentary who let their child get a CI and said no negativity in their household.

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  2. From the members of the Deaf community and friends that I have spoken to, they love their cochlear implants. However, they all use sign language, as well. I think the usage of both is just the best of both worlds, in a sense. I've done countless research on them, and there's parts I'm unsure about. I definitely want to learn more about them and formulate more opinions. You never know what method you could come in contact with.

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  3. Personally, I do not have anyone close to me that is Deaf, but upon learning about the Deaf community and all that cochlear implants can do, I feel like if I had a child that was deaf, I would consider the cochlear implant. I want them to have the opportunity to have one because I would want someone to do the same for me. Of course, I have never been in the situation therefore I don't know exactly what I would do. I would want the best for my child!

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  4. I think it is important to give your child everything you can and being about to sign and talk would be a great thing for them. If you give them a cochlear implant and teach them to talk and sigh you are giving them a chance to be a part of both worlds. They will still be deaf and understand what it means to be deaf but they will never find themselves limited to what they could do.

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  5. I think that if handled correctly and educated properly, cochlear implants can be a good thing. They can provide opportunities. Of course, the candidate's should be given full disclosure of the pros and cons that come with an implant. Implants can be beneficial, when my father turns/takes his off, he is profoundly deaf. The implant allows him to continue to work at his job and to understand what is going on around him when people are speaking. These are the pros, the cons consist of recovery after surgery (his balance was off for about a week), and adjusting to the new sounds. With that being said, a cochlear implant is not right for everyone, and whether a person has one or not, sign language and emersion into the Deaf community should be explored so that the person can fully determine who they want to be!

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  6. I think this is a very hard decision that would have to be made. If you don't give your child a cochlear implant at a young age, they have lost out on valuable time to learn language. I also believe that the parent should make the effort to learn to sign, and teach their deaf child to sign as well. The child should know both worlds if they receive an implant.

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  7. I would give my child a implant but be sure they are apart of both communities. Without the implants they are still deaf and will need away to communicate if something happens to their implant. I believe that if you give your child both worlds they will be able broaden their horizons and be able to great things for both communities.

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  8. I think that implants open a lot of opportunities in the hearing community and allow less of a communication barrier in life, but I don't think they are necessary for a child who is deaf to be successful. And I don't think that an implant removes a child from Deaf culture or the Deaf community.

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