If You Are Deaf, Please Answer Regardless Of What Your Friends Think...

[JeepGirl]

Voted NO absolutely NOT~

I have hearing aids and that's good enough for me. If my hearing ever drops.. I'll just be deaf and that's the way I was born with so I'll die with my deafness

 

[sr171soars]

I'm well aware of the arguments for and against a CI, however, some people believe their feelings and views are correct...for them...maybe for others, too. But, let's not forget, there are people who have had doctors and audiologists that have repeatedly misdiagnosed them. For example, in the mid-to-late 20th century, well over half the population in mental institutions were there because they were...deaf. I'm 42 and my parents told me that, prior to obtaining hearing aids, I was diagnosed by the school psychologist as being "mentally retarded." Does that sound familiar to anyone here on this thread?
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Yea, I came onto the scene just after they started realizing that being "mentally retarded" and one having a hearing loss were two different things. I was very fortunate in that regard and I got off to a good start with professionals that worked with me to help me get going.

I also agree with you on anybody who is going into the medical/clinical world to assist the HOH/Deaf with such "stinking" attitudes to lord it over us is unfit for the business.

As for those against a CI for whatever reasons, that is cool. I have no interest in a flamewar. I will chime in when I see reasons that have no basis in reality. It is like certain people who thought one couldn't get pregnant standing up.... :roll:

 

[pek1]

It is like certain people who thought one couldn't get pregnant standing up.... :roll:

They can??? :Ohno: :jaw:

Also, the term "deaf and dumb" was used...a lot! Huh...what does being dumb have anything to do with being deaf?

 

[sr171soars]

They can??? :Ohno: :jaw:

Also, the term "deaf and dumb" was used...a lot! Huh...what does being dumb have anything to do with being deaf?

In the old days, dumb was also another reference to one who couldn't speak. It was as if the person had no intelligence. Hence the term "Deaf and Dumb". I believe it was just a common knowledge sort of thing not necessarily what some of the professionals thought. Still, it took them a long time to figure out that being deaf didn't prevent you from learning (now why that was when Helen Keller showed them the possibilities...*Sigh*)

 

[deafdyke]

If hearing aids would help me, then I wouldn't get the CI, but I am already getting to the point where hearing aids are NOT helping me.

gotta say, I'm VERY VERY impressed at the posts here. Nobody's saying that those with CIs suck or that those who are anti-CI are nuts. The attitude has really really improved immesley!
pek..... I mostly agree with you, but what about kids with auditory nereopathy? This is a condition where hearing aids don't help, but the implant DOES help kids to hear....I'm also OK with kids who don't get too much benifit out of hearing aids being implanted. I mean I know that you're anti-pediatric CI b/c you think that many parents are just in denial about their kid's hearing loss. BUT, that whole denial "healthy normal" mentality can be seen with kids with hearing aids as well! It's NOT just a CI thing.I think the ONLY reason why it has attracted so many of the "healthy normals" is b/c it's the newest thing on the market.

 

[DefLord]

But I am VERY VERY leeery on implanting CI on infants or even little children to begin with. I mean how can they REALLY determine how much hearing does that infant/child have. That is why I would never implant my child if my child was deaf - now if the child got older and wanted it then I would do it providing the child was old enough where we could get a real solid adequate response from the child to determine if it was worth pursuing.

 

[pek1]

But I am VERY VERY leeery on implanting CI on infants or even little children to begin with. I mean how can they REALLY determine how much hearing does that infant/child have. That is why I would never implant my child if my child was deaf - now if the child got older and wanted it then I would do it providing the child was old enough where we could get a real solid adequate response from the child to determine if it was worth pursuing.

deafdyke,

I'm gonna have to concur with DefLord on this one. I think I would equate cochlear implants on children and infants (those who can't quite speak) on the same footing as infant male circumsion. Yes, I know what you're thinking, but seriously, think about it.

 

[deafdyke]

Wow, DefLord! Finally an implantee who isn't all gung-ho about "Kids need to be implanted THE SECOND they are dx!"
I agree with you and pek to an extent. I mean we do have the BAER tests but those aren't nessarly accurate. I've heard of kids who tested as profoundly deaf via ABR, who then were found to have more of a hoh loss on traditional audiograms. I'm very skeptical as to the picture being painted of technology creating some WONDERFUL utopia.

 

[pek1]

Wow, DefLord! Finally an implantee who isn't all gung-ho about "Kids need to be implanted THE SECOND they are dx!"
I agree with you and pek to an extent. I mean we do have the BAER tests but those aren't nessarly accurate. I've heard of kids who tested as profoundly deaf via ABR, who then were found to have more of a hoh loss on traditional audiograms. I'm very skeptical as to the picture being painted of technology creating some WONDERFUL utopia.

I hate to admit it, but what are those tests?

 

[ktpurplelady]

Why we need CI.. just accept be happy to be Deaf person that all it matters! If anybody ask me to get one.. I will tell them go jump in the river.. LOL

 

[darkangel8603]

Why we need CI.. just accept be happy to be Deaf person that all it matters! If anybody ask me to get one.. I will tell them go jump in the river.. LOL

ok good for you.. looks like u are new here..

I just got my ci and i am very happy with it. but i still will be deaf anyway. Some deaf people want to hear what they can with their ears, so that why we get them.

 

[sr171soars]

...
I just got my ci and i am very happy with it. but i still will be deaf anyway. Some deaf people want to hear what they can with their ears, so that why we get them.

You bet...same here.

I can understand purple's and other's viewpoint if they never had hearing to begin with. But those of us that either had normal or partial hearing before, it is not something most of us give up easily. My short answer is "Why not hear?"

 

[deafdyke]

they are a brainstem auditory response test.

 

[DefLord]

So if you couldn't see and they had something to help you see would you get it or just say nah I'm blind so God made me blind so I'll stay blind? Point is being is that technology gives us opportunities that we never had before and enables us and allows us to grow in the work force. I will ALWAYS look and identify myself as a deaf person, but I use technology to help to assist me to function in an everyday workplace environment. But then again, I understand most deaf people are resistant to it, but the more I see it - it is the same thing as a hearing aid but just something that is implantable and much more powerful than a hearing aid. (*NO a CI does NOT make us hearing* - even my audiologist said that you will NEVER function like a hearing person but you will be able to function alot more than you have before and hear things alot more than you have before*) So with that being said, I can hear more things now and able to catch things now that I haven't before. Almost like when I was mildly hard of hearing.

 

[R2D2]

Why we need CI.. just accept be happy to be Deaf person that all it matters! If anybody ask me to get one.. I will tell them go jump in the river.. LOL

That's fine - I hope that you don't get a lot of pressure to go and get one. I remember before my hearing loss significantly deteriorated one of my ex-audiologists thought I should look into it and I thought "what for?" I was perfectly happy with my hearing aids at the time. I remember feeling very annoyed with her for being quite pushy and I gave her the flick.

But now with the hearing in my most depended ear just about gone, I can see some good reasons for getting one at this point in time. I value my independence VERY much and I want to go back to work when I've finished being a SAHM. There is an extreme shortage of interpreters in Australia and I don't want to depend on my young hearing child to an unhealthy degree. The way I see it CIs will increase the number of choices and options for me in life and I can resume my previous self reliance. It's nothing to do with not being happy to be deaf.

I would only get an implant on a deaf child (I have a genetic condition that causes deafness so it's possible my next child will be deaf) if there was no benefit to be had from hearing aids. This is because I understand that success is related to getting an early auditory response. I would just want to open the options up for my child in his or her life. If he or she gets to adulthood and said "that was a mistake mum I never wanted an implant" then he/she can always turn it off with my support. However if that child got an implant as an adult after never having any benefit from hearing aids and it didn't work he or she may resent me not providing the choices for him or her earlier in life and there would be nothing I could do about it. You just don't know how the child is going to feel as an adult.

Not all people are the same and this board alone shows the range of views that can be had. Some people function very much in the hearing world and want all of the choices that go with that whereas others are perfectly happy not speaking or hearing at all and the greater difficulty of participation in the hearing world doesn't bother them. I don't want to assume anything about a future deaf child of mine, my job is simply to increase his or her options and if that can't be done with a hearing aid then a CI may be the way to go.

R2D2

 

[R2D2]

deafdyke,

I'm gonna have to concur with DefLord on this one. I think I would equate cochlear implants on children and infants (those who can't quite speak) on the same footing as infant male circumsion. Yes, I know what you're thinking, but seriously, think about it.

I don't think they can be quite so closely compared. There is no outstanding medical benefit to male circumcision except in a very small percentage of the male population. However on the other hand a growing number of studies seem to indicate that those who benefit the most from CIs have it implanted early on due to the plastic nature of the early developing brain. So it's a hard one. I'm not saying that adults can't benefit but that it is much harder, particularly if they derived no benefit from hearing aids previously. I have an adult friend who was like this and having a CI was a nightmare for him as hearing sound for the first time was meaningless and gave him constant headaches. He had it turned off in the end.

It is always a horrible feeling having your child operated on, even if the surgery is desperately needed e.g. a heart op. My own sister decided against CIs for her nephew because she couldn't stand the thought of her baby going through surgery (and for political reasons). As a mum myself I relate to her feelings, although thankfully my daughter has been pretty healthy so far. It's a hard one!

R2D2

 

[pek1]

they are a brainstem auditory response test.

Okay! Thanks for telling me what the test was.

 

[pek1]

Okay...ah, let me explain that I know there's a difference between a CI and circumcision...it was the only thing I could think of at the time. Otherwise, your note well taken.

I don't think they can be quite so closely compared. There is no outstanding medical benefit to male circumcision except in a very small percentage of the male population. However on the other hand a growing number of studies seem to indicate that those who benefit the most from CIs have it implanted early on due to the plastic nature of the early developing brain. So it's a hard one. I'm not saying that adults can't benefit but that it is much harder, particularly if they derived no benefit from hearing aids previously. I have an adult friend who was like this and having a CI was a nightmare for him as hearing sound for the first time was meaningless and gave him constant headaches. He had it turned off in the end.

It is always a horrible feeling having your child operated on, even if the surgery is desperately needed e.g. a heart op. My own sister decided against CIs for her nephew because she couldn't stand the thought of her baby going through surgery (and for political reasons). As a mum myself I relate to her feelings, although thankfully my daughter has been pretty healthy so far. It's a hard one!

R2D2

 

[highlands]

I have severe to profound hearing loss in both ears..I'm not completely deaf yet.. but I cannot understand what most of people say to me. I'm considering to get a super power hearing aid like Sumo Dm..If that doesn't help me much then I will absolutely need CI..I once had world of sounds as hearing people do but lost most of it now and I want it back at least to some degree..so I'd accept to 'swallow' an implant inside my head.. but I know that I'm STILL hard of hearing even though what I wear.

 

[deafdyke]

I'm considering to get a super power hearing aid like Sumo Dm..If that doesn't help me much then I will absolutely need CI..

I noticed you're in Turkey. If they have the body worn aids, try them BEFORE opting for CI.