Deaf children's parents must decide on surgery

[Y]

ok spicehd thanks.. if u don't mind,
how old were you when you made
the decision and receive CI ?

 

[Vance]

HA is not belong to Surgery
CI is belong to Surgery.

I choose to non-Surgery until the child is old enough to choose either they want.

To wear HA on baby to toddler is risk free.


Sure, I respect your choice. I only say what I have opinion, that´s all. I do not against every parents´s decision because its up to them.


I do not expect everyone follow my opinin but their own decision because everyone has different.

You and I have same beliefs & opinions. If I have a child, I'd refuse to let any doctors or physicians to perform the CI surgery on my child until my child is old enough to choose whatever they want best for themselves. It is not right for me to enforce my opinion or my belief on my child. IMHO, it is immoral. I know for sure if my mother did that to me when I was young, I will be very very pissed off.

But as for other parents and their own child(ren), it is their business to perform CI surgery on them or not. If and when there is a law that require us to let the doctors to perform the CI surgeries on our child(ren), I will move out of here immediately. No person on this earth and God/Jesus can force their beliefs/opinions on my child until she/he is old enough to make decision and take the responsibility for her/his action(s).

 

[Angel]

That's why I like this forum Angel. There's no insidious control by a small group of people; people are honest and open to different opinions. There's no my way or the highway, no telling certain people they don't have the right to an opinion. I've seen a lot of unhealthy groups, and that's why I like you guys SO MUCH!

I absolutely agree with you there PrinceTabu, you know I went into another forum early this afternoon and I couldn't believe what I was seeing in there regarding the same type of topic/thread as this one....I got the impression that most of it was ONE sided and as you mentioned above that there were posts showing that it is the highway if their way was not followed or accepted....I did try to reason with them but it was pointless when some of them were jumping all over me, afterall, I sure wasn't whinning or jumping all over their opinions....I did what I could and I sure don't want to be part of that type of situation, if they don't want to hear two sides then there no point of being there, that is why I love being here in AD when members are so great by giving others a chance to speak out without being run over whatever your view, opinion or belief may be....I LOVE the people here and you too of course ....

Remember, by the age of 7, the most critical stage of language development is already passed. That's the argument for getting the CI early on. btw, my child doesn't have a CI, but I'm not opposed to them. I'm only opposed to the perception about them. They don't cure deafness, they don't make a person hearing, they don't take the place of using sign language. I don't think the CI itself is bad. It's like everything else, it's how it's used.

Very true and I don't think CI is bad either....

 

[Angel]

TiaraPrincess,

I understand and you know what, you're right, I can't control what other parents do for their children when it comes with an implant, even if they may be too young to do so....


I'm not going to judge those parents out there if they have already implanted their child with CI, since they made that choice themselves, and it doesn't make them bad parents at all afterall, they believe they did what was best for their child....

 

[Angel]

But as for other parents and their own child(ren), it is their business to perform CI surgery on them or not.

True and you got a good point there too....

 

[SpiceHD]

ok spicehd thanks.. if u don't mind,
how old were you when you made
the decision and receive CI ?

i was about 8 years old, barely old enough to understand whats going on

 

[Liebling:-)))]

I absolutely agree with you there PrinceTabu, you know I went into another forum early this afternoon and I couldn't believe what I was seeing in there regarding the same type of topic/thread as this one....I got the impression that most of it was ONE sided and as you mentioned above that there were posts showing that it is the highway if their way was not followed or accepted....I did try to reason with them but it was pointless when some of them were jumping all over me, afterall, I sure wasn't whinning or jumping all over their opinions....I did what I could and I sure don't want to be part of that type of situation, if they don't want to hear two sides then there no point of being there, that is why I love being here in AD when members are so great by giving others a chance to speak out without being run over whatever your view, opinion or belief may be....I LOVE the people here and you too of course ....



Very true and I don't think CI is bad either....

Very true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I saw myself at other forum with you there. They are nothing but see after only one side and dont admit it I prefer here because I see two sides here.

I understand good and bad advantages on both sides. I respect you all for that.

PrincessTabu, Yes I know that CI is not bad like what I told you at my earlier post but I think it's too earlier to implant baby to toddler. I rather to give my children the choice either they want or not.

I respect your and others's opinion.

 

[Cheri]

Cochlear implant surgery is not a life saving procedure. Deafness is not a life threatening condition. Why do Parent think that they know so much better how to decide for their children? without discuss what the child wants? I believe in my heart that the child(ren) should be part of the decision being made in their life, rather they want a Cochlear implant or not. CI is not the same as normal hearing, but the ability to differentiate sounds is, in my opinion, a type of hearing. No parent can predict what your child(ren) life will be like. For the Parent; I sincerely doubt that you made any effort at all to learn what your child's life might have been like had you accepted his deafness and for hearing parent made an effort to learn ASL yourself. It's the child's life we talking about here it isn't about you or about me its about the child and I think the child has the right to be part of any choice that is made upon on the child. the only thing Deaf people cannot do is hear; that isn't so bad is it?

 

[TiaraPrincess]

Cochlear implant surgery is not a life saving procedure. Deafness is not a life threatening condition. Why do Parent think that they know so much better how to decide for their children? without discuss what the child wants? I believe in my heart that the child(ren) should be part of the decision being made in their life, rather they want a Cochlear implant or not. CI is not the same as normal hearing, but the ability to differentiate sounds is, in my opinion, a type of hearing. No parent can predict what your child(ren) life will be like. For the Parent; I sincerely doubt that you made any effort at all to learn what your child's life might have been like had you accepted his deafness and for hearing parent made an effort to learn ASL yourself. It's the child's life we talking about here it isn't about you or about me its about the child and I think the child has the right to be part of any choice that is made upon on the child. the only thing Deaf people cannot do is hear; that isn't so bad is it?

Hi, I don't think most parent think of it as a 'life saving procedure.' That's exaggerated, but maybe you're being sarcastic or something. Most parent want to give them the best of both world. If they want to teach them speech and give them other possibilities like talking on the phone and not be restricted with sign language and writing, then they want to give them more. Some parents opt for teaching sign language and speech to give them both world. Many parent have different agenda and lifestyle. For example, I didn't live near a good deaf school for any matter, so a CI would have been fine for my lifestyle. I disagree that no parent will know what their children will be like. Some parent will use prayer and their intuition. That's the part that we don't see about them--their internal thoughts and feeling. I don't think most parent think all about themselves. They look at their child and think how it's going to be like. You know, there are still children who are perfectly okay with it. That's why I don't think it's anyone's business what their decisions should be. It's very much complex than that, I believe. You said that you doubt parent made ANY effort at all to learn about sign language. I believe many parents do and try out options, but they think the oral and hearing option is best for them. How would you know they didn't if you didn't see what they went through to learn and find out information? I think you are simply saying that you want sign language to be used anyway despite a CI.

This is when I do critical reading, and that is why it is so difficult to believe anyone against it for children. It is just so vague and confusing in my mind. Sometimes the word used to describe this like mutilation, life saving procedure, etc. just makes me go ,"hmm?"

 

[Cheri]

If they want to teach them speech

You could still learn speech when you are wearing hearing aid. That's a fact.

I disagree that no parent will know what their children will be like

How do you know what your child would be like when growing up? Nobody knows until it happens.

You said that you doubt parent made ANY effort at all to learn about sign language.

I said it if a parent want their child to have a CI That didn't give a chance to have a parent learn ASL to teach a child ASL. It's a fact cuz it happen to me when I was younger. My parent did not want to learn sign language. I learned ASL very late during my childhood in school.

How would you know they didn't if you didn't see what they went through to learn and find out information?

Because, I have read about Teens who had CI since younger and some were not happy with the choice they had from their parent; Some would rather to know ASL, to be part of the deaf world.

why it is so difficult to believe anyone against it for children.

Because it is not about me or you its about a child's life rather they want a CI or not. We are not the one living through it it's the child who is going to live with it. It sounds so seflish if you ask me, For a Parent to make all the choice in their children life, when they do not know how much they can do. Like me for example, I talk very well alot of people say I talk like hearing people but My parent were so afraid that My sister and I would not be able to communcate with the hearing world well it proof them wrong. You never know what you child can do once he or she is growing up. It never late to teach your children the same things you can do for an CI, But with CI, Is only that can help you hear sounds much sounds But, You can learn speech talk like hearing person without a CI.

The bottom line is I am not against CI, But, I do not like the fact that the Parent have to play the big role in a child's life when they have no idea what their child can do what a child cannot do.

 

[harleymn]

ci

i know what everyone is saying i agree with both sides but Iam 40 yrs and my son is 7, from my experience is that I had a hard time with both worlds.Becuz deaf were mad at me becuz i was talking and read lips, I had others that were deaf like me that i grew up with werent mad so is other hearing .I grew up in public schools, i thought cochlear was the new technology taking in place of hearing aids becuz it offers more and coplexy sounds like train horns and oh i can hear an ambulance a block away etc you know so that told me that my son at early age ought to have it too plus it will train him better (son) while at early age is not the dr or parents is whats best for the child 98% of the time you have to deal with hearing poeple like fast food drive thru , working on the jobs, etc those are hard facts to deal with.people like hearing are mostly crooks i have dealt wiht them before they lie etc behind your back iam just fed up with them .what i did is do the best you can go on, so is the same for my son like any new techology video phone vco new ttdy etc are getting better but hearing aids havent not proved as much as it was ten yrs ago so ci is the answer wether you want to asl or read lips you still can have ci all ci does is bring more hearing sounds i have never heard like ac runnig when it comes on, ice box dumping ice in the tray, hearing kids talking on the sidewalk front of my house or strange noise coming from your car like brakes squeling,belt rubbing etc all kinds of shit i never heard i would have to learn all over to experience which has been a great one for me i think anybody ought to try not becuz it solves the problem but it make it a little easier etc whilre at the same time asl or read lips that is up to you, there is no question which is best is just upgrade sounds more broad that is alll yeah you can hear on the phone but not the frist person it will take three or four times each person becuz each voice is different each time but get used to. i can talk to mom and dad all my freinds around here just fine so that mad e me think a child at early age will have more broad than i had, so therefore the decisions , I hope everyone understands is not the dr or parents is the technology and getting better it doesnt hurt to hear more but not normal (hearing etc). but it is great to hear other things like people walking wiht thier boots or shoes i can hear poeple pee hahah sorry or flush the commone three rooms away is just cool .

 

[TiaraPrincess]

Cheri, my mother was the same way. A speech therapist said that it was my choice if I wanted ASL or speech. My mom said no. She will learn to speak. I wasn't mad. I am grateful for her to have taught me speech. I went to a poor school for deaf children. I was the only one who could speak, and all I was doing was losing my speech all over again. There are some children who sign and speak, but they are more proficient in sign than their oral skills. It's a complicated situation. Only parents can make that choice. Children can pick up signs later, and speech is going to be hard to pick up later. I am not mad at my mother for the choice she made. I know she gave me more options, and the best for me. I do think parents make good choices, and I think your parents made a good choice. You should be thankful for it, IMO. I have heard very little people unhappy with their cochlear implant, and I was eager to talk to people who had negative experience, so that I knew of both sides. I couldn't relate to them as my life is in some ways different than theirs.

But, You can learn speech talk like hearing person without a CI.

Cheri, that's not true for every deaf children. Hearing sounds can help much more and is easier than nothing at all. There are children who totally do not pick up without sounds or do so very well. A CI can make speech easier by giving them sounds to help make sense of speech, but of course, it's not promised that a child will develop speech--companies say that in the Questions and Answer booklets. We don't know exactly how many children benefit from a CI, but I believe it's a lot more positive than negative which is why it's not going to be easy to outrule CI for young children. It's great that some deaf children do well with HA, but what about those that don't benefit from HA? A CI is the only thing that can help them hear. I know a girl who was born deaf. She was implanted at 2 years old. She and her mother can have conversations from another room. They knows sign language, but she has both options in her world. She interact with deaf children fine.

 

[Cheri]

Cheri, my mother was the same way. A speech therapist said that it was my choice if I wanted ASL or speech. My mom said no. She will learn to speak. I wasn't mad. I am grateful for her to have taught me speech. I went to a poor school for deaf children. I was the only one who could speak, and all I was doing was losing my speech all over again. There are some children who sign and speak, but they are more proficient in sign than their oral skills. It's a complicated situation. Only parents can make that choice. Children can pick up signs later, and speech is going to be hard to pick up later. I am not mad at my mother for the choice she made. I know she gave me more options, and the best for me. I do think parents make good choices, and I think your parents made a good choice. You should be thankful for it, IMO. I have heard very little people unhappy with their cochlear implant, and I was eager to talk to people who had negative experience, so that I knew of both sides. I couldn't relate to them as my life is in some ways different than theirs.





Cheri, that's not true for every deaf children. Hearing sounds can help much more and is easier than nothing at all. There are children who totally do not pick up without sounds or do so very well. A CI can make speech easier by giving them sounds to help make sense of speech, but of course, it's not promised that a child will develop speech--companies say that in the Questions and Answer booklets. We don't know exactly how many children benefit from a CI, but I believe it's a lot more positive than negative which is why it's not going to be easy to outrule CI for young children. It's great that some deaf children do well with HA, but what about those that don't benefit from HA? A CI is the only thing that can help them hear. I know a girl who was born deaf. She was implanted at 2 years old. She and her mother can have conversations from another room. They knows sign language, but she has both options in her world. She interact with deaf children fine.

I am deaf totally deaf and I talk very well so it has nothing to do with sounds that can make me speak well, (I cannot barley hear so much sounds myself) It has something to do with speech therapists. Yes it is true that CI can pick up sounds better than hearing aids but, Vampy can hear as well with hearing aids it depends on the person really. (I even called out his name he turned around quickier than I thought.) heh! How would Parent know how much can a child hears when maybe a child can hear well with hearing aids and does not need to get CI. Some Parent do teach their children sign language when the child has a CI, but not all Parent do. I know a few teens who said they never learned sign language because, their parent forced a CI when younger and when grew up in their teens, some says that they are missing out on ASL; and would like to learn ASL. But, I respect your opinion how you feel, I hope you respect mine also. one more thing to add I forgot...

I think your parents made a good choice. You should be thankful for it, IMO

to be honest you do not know my Parent, My mother never accept my deafness and never will so what is to thank her for? First they put me in oral school with no sign Language interpreters and I was far behind in my learning development until we were in going to High School I finally told my dad I would like to go to a school where they have sign language interpreters where I can be part of a mainstream schools. Like I said not always Parent know what is best for their children.

 

[TiaraPrincess]

How would Parent know how much can a child hears when maybe a child can hear well with hearing aids and does not need to get CI.

They have a testing trial period. I would be shocked if some hospitals do not give a fair trial like a year or 6 months. It's obvious if they do well or not in the next couple of months. I know it was easier for you, but the problem is that it is not the case for everyone.

I do respect your opinion, but I have more to say sometimes .

 

[deafdyke]

I'm on a computer where I don't know how to use the cut and paste technique, but Cheri is right. Being able to speak fluently has more to do with talented speech therapists then it does residual hearing. Research has clearly shown that the majority of oral sucesses are the result of the private school effect. Most talented people go to where the money is....that means private practice, whether it be private oral school or auditory-verbal therapy.

 

[TiaraPrincess]

I'm on a computer where I don't know how to use the cut and paste technique, but Cheri is right. Being able to speak fluently has more to do with talented speech therapists then it does residual hearing. Research has clearly shown that the majority of oral sucesses are the result of the private school effect. Most talented people go to where the money is....that means private practice, whether it be private oral school or auditory-verbal therapy.

I began to pick up faster after I got hearing aids. I got the reports saying the great progress and to continue using them. My audiologist was baffled how much better I was than many of the patients he sees with my kind of loss.

I would like to read the research you saw that in. It would be great to read it myself if you have it.

You're right that cheap places and public school therapy sucks. Private therapies in hospitals, etc. are much better. I think parents should have free-funding based on their income readily from birth if they want to pursue the best oral skills experts.

 

[Cheri]

TiaraPrincess; I am wondering do you still wear hearing aids or do you have a CI?

 

[TiaraPrincess]

TiaraPrincess; I am wondering do you still wear hearing aids or do you have a CI?

CI now.

 

[Cheri]

CI now.

That I did not know. Kewlie! When did you first gotten your CI? And can you be able to hear anything?

 

[Opal]

Hey, I don't know if its the same in America as it is in Australia but here Parents are legally responsible for their children until they are 16.

So if you choose C.I. at 2 or 3 or 7 it is still the parents choice or responsibility!!!!!