How to Decide on Cochlear Implant Surgery for Children

[A]

In a predominatly English society (USA) you will really have a hard time navigating through life without some English. To not know the language of the majority would be somewhat isolating yourself IMHO.[/QUOT

Our society is not friendly to other cultures. and I blame it on the educational system (like not teaching Spanish to the kids). My son's private school have been teaching him Spanish since preschool. So far , he had about 5 years of Spanish. Next year, he have chosen French because he feel it easier to speak it (they had them take it for a half a year and other half Spanish so the students can decide). When I was public elementary school k-6 (yeah, back in those days, 6th graders were elementary kids) , We were not taught ANY other language except English.

 

[jillio]

Wirelessly posted



There are signs everywhere that remind people of the "no talking" rule. they are chastized when they speak and told to sign. Students are allowed to speak on the playground but not inside the school.

Then your statement is a gross exaggeration of the fact.

And I have been in public schools for hearing kids that have a "No talking in the hallway" sign. That doesn't mean they don't permit the kids to talk. Just in that situation and that particular location.

 

[jillio]

In a predominatly English society (USA) you will really have a hard time navigating through life without some English. To not know the language of the majority would be somewhat isolating yourself IMHO.[/QUOT

Our society is not friendly to other cultures. and I blame it on the educational system (like not teaching Spanish to the kids). My son's private school have been teaching him Spanish since preschool. So far , he had about 5 years of Spanish. Next year, he have chosen French because he feel it easier to speak it (they had them take it for a half a year and other half Spanish so the students can decide). When I was public elementary school k-6 (yeah, back in those days, 6th graders were elementary kids) , We were not taught ANY other language except English.

Exactly. This society is monolingual because the educational system forces it to be.

 

[Frisky Feline]

Wirelessly posted



There are signs everywhere that remind people of the "no talking" rule. they are chastized when they speak and told to sign. Students are allowed to speak on the playground but not inside the school.

no kidding? which schools are that?

 

[A]

Then your statement is a gross exaggeration of the fact.

And I have been in public schools for hearing kids that have a "No talking in the hallway" sign. That doesn't mean they don't permit the kids to talk. Just in that situation and that particular location.

That's what I experienced in public school as well. We were not allowed to talk at all without permission except recess and lunchtime. but I do think We need a CODA assisted teacher because she can watch out for other CODA in case they start cussing and use foal languages that deaf teachers can't hear.

 

[faire_jour]

Wirelessly posted

Wirelessly posted



There are signs everywhere that remind people of the "no talking" rule. they are chastized when they speak and told to sign. Students are allowed to speak on the playground but not inside the school.

Then your statement is a gross exaggeration of the fact.

And I have been in public schools for hearing kids that have a "No talking in the hallway" sign. That doesn't mean they don't permit the kids to talk. Just in that situation and that particular location.

No, the signs say "asl zone, no talking"and then for the adults "in order to allow for free communication we ask that ALL people entering the school use ASL. if you need an intepreter..."

ASL is used at all times in all areas, what do you not understand? spoken language is not accessable to all people so it is not used. the kids can use it on the playground but not in class or in the halls or in any part of the school. (other than pull out speech which is done in SIM COM)

 

[jillio]

That's what I experienced in public school as well. We were not allowed to talk at all without permission except recess and lunchtime. but I do think We need a CODA assisted teacher because she can watch out for other CODA in case they start cussing and use foal languages that deaf teachers can't hear.

I never thought about the CODA assistant! That is really a good idea!!

 

[A]

Another thing, During the Milan 1880... where did they ban American Sign Language? Certainly not at home or from the parents! They banned it from the school system. See where I'm getting at?

Like how some public schools made it a requirement to teach Spanish to elementary kids, as well as English. I think the school ought teach ASL to HOH and deaf people (or anyone who struggle with other foreign languages in spoken form) . Even if ASL is not taught at home or their first language, They still should have a chance to learn it. They might need it... or they might not, but it is worth the knowledge and the education, don't you think? If they truly not interested in ASL, they don't have to take it (and I am not talking about parents) . I think most are interested in learning it. I don't think the school have any rights to forbid ASL classes from elementary deaf or HOH kids. Kids have the right to know ASL so they can live to the fullest and don't have to depend on technologies for everything.

 

[somedeafdudefromPNW]

You will have to change American opinions of monolingualism first and dispelling their fears of French and Spanish before we get anywhere with bilingual ASL-English though.

 

[A]

I think Americans have more compassion for ASL. So ASL is a good start that will help their fear.

 

[RagedMute]

I strongly disagree to implant on babies or younger who cant stand up for themselves regardless how vain their parents are. The doctor dont know the true level of their hearing for instance, it took me a over a decade to learn that my hearing aid can be adjusted to comfort level. It's important that deaf individual can communicate while going through learning process. If God can think of million solutions to satisfy as deaf being, get creative without it. I ditched my hearing aid 15 yrs ago despite the loss of my fluent speech, I'm happy.

 

[Mrs Bucket]

Another thing, During the Milan 1880... where did they ban American Sign Language? Certainly not at home or from the parents! They banned it from the school system. See where I'm getting at?

Like how some public schools made it a requirement to teach Spanish to elementary kids, as well as English. I think the school ought teach ASL to HOH and deaf people (or anyone who struggle with other foreign languages in spoken form) . Even if ASL is not taught at home or their first language, They still should have a chance to learn it. They might need it... or they might not, but it is worth the knowledge and the education, don't you think? If they truly not interested in ASL, they don't have to take it (and I am not talking about parents) . I think most are interested in learning it. I don't think the school have any rights to forbid ASL classes from elementary deaf or HOH kids. Kids have the right to know ASL so they can live to the fullest and don't have to depend on technologies for everything.

Before you go into the Milan 1880 congress, you have to go back into the Paris 1878 Congress which proposed banning all forms of signed languages. The Milan 1880 just finalized this and solidified the use of oral/aural training.

 

[shel90]

I am not here to bash anyone...there seems to be confusion about to what I stand for.

I stand for providing ASL and English (spoken and written) to all deaf/hoh children rather than trying whichever methods works for each child due to the fact that precious time can be lost for language development.

That's for the educational setting for deaf ed, not at the home as it is none of my business how the parents want to run their household.

CS, SEE, Sim-Com, and whatever other methods can be used as teaching tools to fit the child's needs as long as language and communication is always fully accessible to deaf children, not partial.


I got a lot of requests for a PM about the good point my hubby made about the view on "fixing" deaf children regarding CIs so I will go ahead and make a thread but it is not to bash anyone. Just never thought of it that way.

Thanks everyone. I still stand by my beliefs when it comes to deaf education and if it makes me unpopular, oh well. My heart is with the children and their rights. Sorry.

 

[deafdyke]

If Li-Li's school was just an hour north of where it is located, I couldn't put her on that van for 6 hours a day: we would have to place her at one of the Clark schools, closer to us.

I thought you were in the Boston area? Or are you in the far suburbs?
There are a ton of schools and placements in the Boston burbs.
I know someone from Worcester who sends her kid to TLC. I can imagine...but at least you can take advantage of the resources of TLC.....and I have to say that its an awesome choice, since its important to build a foundation for early education.

I stand for providing ASL and English (spoken and written) to all deaf/hoh children rather than trying whichever methods works for each child due to the fact that precious time can be lost for language development.

shel, do you mean intially like in early intervention? I agree. I think that kids need a full toolbox for early intervention....I remember there used to be a couple of posters whose parents exposed them to a full toolbox approach, and they chose oral! I mean we still have tons of CI and hoh posters saying they wish they'd been able to be exposed to asl and the deaf ed system. that PROVES that oral only is not sufficent!

 

[shel90]

Exactly Deafdyke..

Not only by saying they wish they had ASL but also for those who lost years on language development and learning due to not having equal access like their hearing counterparts do. For me, that's what pains me the most.

 

[Rampratt]

I've worn aids for about 50 years and in my case that has kept me from becoming totally deaf a lot earlier than it has. It also has helped me immensely when I got the CI. The old adage is true in my opinion " use it or loose it" My comprehension was under 30% and that was stretching it. More like 18 to 20%. My CI has brought me way up and I realize I may not be the average and while I don't think exceptional, I'm over 98% in the controlled environment and while I can't say for sure, I know I'm way better in crowds and other noisy areas than I was. I can now understand most but not all video clips on the computer where before I could not get one in a hundred. At about the 75 DB level I can watch TV so as far as I'm concerned we have made some large advancements. I know I have a ways to go but I'm very happy at where I am now. I can now get back in my little aircraft and hear others on the radio and feel much safer flying . I had all but given up flying due to not being able to hear. Still don't do much as its gotten too darn expensive and I'm on a fixed income. As an aside to the original " I think " Helen Keller, who was both blind and deaf, said that when one is blind, they miss out on places, but, it they are deaf, they miss out on people. It's all about people and communication and anything that can help communication between others is a bit plus.

 

[flip]

I've worn aids for about 50 years and in my case that has kept me from becoming totally deaf a lot earlier than it has. It also has helped me immensely when I got the CI. The old adage is true in my opinion " use it or loose it" My comprehension was under 30% and that was stretching it. More like 18 to 20%. My CI has brought me way up and I realize I may not be the average and while I don't think exceptional, I'm over 98% in the controlled environment and while I can't say for sure, I know I'm way better in crowds and other noisy areas than I was. I can now understand most but not all video clips on the computer where before I could not get one in a hundred. At about the 75 DB level I can watch TV so as far as I'm concerned we have made some large advancements. I know I have a ways to go but I'm very happy at where I am now. I can now get back in my little aircraft and hear others on the radio and feel much safer flying . I had all but given up flying due to not being able to hear. Still don't do much as its gotten too darn expensive and I'm on a fixed income. As an aside to the original " I think " Helen Keller, who was both blind and deaf, said that when one is blind, they miss out on places, but, it they are deaf, they miss out on people. It's all about people and communication and anything that can help communication between others is a bit plus.

Did Hellen Keller really say that? She must have had a miserable life then? I am honestly happy for your experiences and all those improvements in your life. But the mistake you do here is to generalize your joy to other people. You are perhaps doing the same mistake that people who wants to make CI illegal.

I can use HA, I can get CI if I want to. But, honestly, I don't give a shit about both. It's something wrong with me and everyone that don't wear those devices?

 

[GrendelQ]

I thought you were in the Boston area? Or are you in the far suburbs?
There are a ton of schools and placements in the Boston burbs.
I know someone from Worcester who sends her kid to TLC. I can imagine...but at least you can take advantage of the resources of TLC.....and I have to say that its an awesome choice, since its important to build a foundation for early education.

I know, I LOVE this school -- I can't say enough good things about the amazing teachers and staff, the program/curriculum, the effort they put into meeting all needs -- educational, cultural, emotional (and boy, are they varied). DD, we're southwest of Boston, out in the boonies, tho' I work in Boston. Just found out this weekend that one of Li's best friends in the program is leaving for the CASE system, a non-asl program. We've been at TLC for 3 years now, from PIP through preK, and have sadly watched one child after another move off into the oral/av programs, shrinking what was two classes of ~12 children w/CIs and HAs down to just a handful. I'd hoped this class could maintain enough children to move up through at least the primary grades together, if not further.

 

[Mrs Bucket]

" I think " Helen Keller, who was both blind and deaf, said that when one is blind, they miss out on places, but, it they are deaf, they miss out on people. It's all about people and communication and anything that can help communication between others is a bit plus.

Helen Keller, one of my mentors, I look up to, she said this specifically..

Blindness cuts us off from things, but deafness cuts us off from people.

source

I would hate for one of my DB peers to be misquoted.

 

[A]

That does sound sad. Deaf people do get shift around alot Even I was. I went to different elementary school because my local elementary felt they could not handle deaf with people like me. by the time I was in third grade they started adding Special Education to their school and told me that I had to leave my first school and go to my local school. It didn't matter to me though because none of kids in first school would not talk to me even though it was big school. just about all the kids in my local school did talk to me and play with me. It's a smaller school, and most of them were my rural neighbors anyway. The first school had alot of middle and upper class kids so that probably why things didn't work out well. But they were never mean to me, they just tend to treat me like I'm invisible. I did meet them again in middle and high school and nothing changed, they were the same as always. I'm was always the only deaf in all my schools.

(because deaf get shifted away alot, I think any school that is designed for deaf /hoh people should have an requirement to offer ASL classes. I don't care if it is oral/AVT school... withholding ASL from the deaf that could help them is like witholding English from spanish speaking school located in America)