my son is deaf, finally

[deafdude1]

It IS thought provoking but I thought the argument was lame. He tried to hide behind the "wait till he's 18" argument but cochlear implants is not disabling a child nor taking away his identity as actually taking away someone's hearing is. Of course being deaf is an identity but taking away one of your senses is not the same as enabling.

It's comparing apples to oranges and I thought his argument was complete bullshit.

For argument's sake, let's say cochlear implant surgery has advanced to a state that you don't need to carry a box or anything, they simply fixed the nerves in your ear and you can hear 100%, you would deny your child this?

If you would, I don't think you should be a parent.

"advanced cochlear implants" would be stem cells. No surgery required because there's no way I am subjecting any child to this sort of risk. I will just get him/her the best HA with maximum gains/amplification till he/she can get stem cells.

No it's just basic common sense. Even if it wasn't called "disability" being deaf IS an impairment.

I understand deaf people trying to be empowered and not be ashamed of being deaf but if you don't think there is NO impairment from being deaf, then I don't know what to say, wallow in your own ignorance.

I consider my deafness as a disability. Yes we are capable of many things but not of everything that hearing people are, sorry to say. I accept my deafness till I can get stem cells. Deaf people get CIs so they can (hopefully) hear better, why would it be different for those getting stem cells to hear better?

Me too.

People make claims that it is too late if you wait until a child is 18 but that's only applicable if the child has NO USEFUL HEARING. There are plenty of deaf adults who were born HOH/Deaf who do well with CI after being implanted as adult when they make their own choice in the matter.

I notice some parents implant children who already have some useful hearing. They could definately have waited.

Besides what's so terrible about being deaf. I was born HOH. It meant I was denied Deaf culture and sign language and also I was 2nd best in hearing culture. If I had been profoundly Deaf (with no useful hearing) I'm sure my parents would have exposed me to sign language but I wasn't so they didnt.

I agree! there's no way im touching CI for myself or anyone if they have useful residual hearing that can be amplified just fine with today's amazing powerful HAs. It really upsets me when someone with plenty of residual hearing doesn't make the effort to get proper HAs. Hey, I would be happy to pay for your CI if you give me your residual hearing. I know how to make the best of it and if I had a little more residual hearing, id hear as well as you do with CI. :roll:

Being deaf isn't the end of the world but does present challenges in one's life. I refused to learn sign language, instead teaching myself to read lips and I got speech training so I can speak clearly. I am 100% oral and so is my parents and friends.

Stem Cell research is happening but no findings will happen in our lifetime, maybe when we're really old...... but only our children or grandchildren will benefit from that. So if you're a deaf adult then why not get the cochlear implant?

You can see the smiles on the cochlear implant patients, you cannot deny someone that hapiness.

Really? I suggest you read the stem cell threads! CI is great for those with no residual hearing. For those like me with residual hearing, you should have seen the smile on my face when I got new HAs Ill be smiling again when I get stem cells in a few years.

 

[Chuck]

You've made a good argument, but one thing I'm disagreeing with that cochlear implant doesn't make a child disabled, however it does, cochlear implant does not magically make a deaf person hearing or healed. There are some cochlear implants people out there still rely on sign language interpreters. Remember cochlear implants may work for some, but not for all.

That's true. But you seriously can't get mad at parents for wanting cochlear implants for their child.

As a parent, you always want the best for your kids. Of course "the best" can differ from parent to parent, but in most cases, parents will want to restore whatever a child has lost. Whether it be a leg or their hearing.

I do agree that deaf is a disability, but it doesn't impede them from accomplishing great things in life, it doesn't make them any less of a person or less able to contribute to society.

Of course not but it seems like the guy in the video places being deaf, an entity to itself, as more important than a child hearing. Which I thought was some fucked up track of thought/opinions.

What if the child WANTS cochlear implants? Of course its wrong to force any type of surgery on a child that doesn't want it. Not just cochlear implants.

But seriously, which child do you know will say "I dont want to hear?!"

Of course by the law of numbers there will be several, but the huge majority of kids would do it.

Really? I suggest you read the stem cell threads! CI is great for those with no residual hearing. For those like me with residual hearing, you should have seen the smile on my face when I got new HAs Ill be smiling again when I get stem cells in a few years.

Can you link me to that? If stem cells restored my hearing, Id be

 

[Cheri]

That's true. But you seriously can't get mad at parents for wanting cochlear implants for their child.

As a parent, you always want the best for your kids. Of course "the best" can differ from parent to parent, but in most cases, parents will want to restore whatever a child has lost. Whether it be a leg or their hearing.

I wouldn't be mad, but sometimes I think they're just trying to find an easy way out of their problems when a child is deaf. It's important for parents to get a full unbiased information to help them make informed decisions, because no deaf person is the same as another deaf, each deaf is an individual. I've seen where many times professionals and audiologists gives parents scare tactics to turn them against ASL and the deaf community. It's like forcing parents to choose technological of cochlear implants and to not have their child participate in the deaf community nor to learn ASL. And that's so wrong, a deaf child should participate in both worlds.

 

[sallylou]

I'd also like to point out that the mother/child bond is primarily established in a nonverbal way. Babies bond through touch, smell, and taste/nourishment. Sight, too, but not as much as newborns. Parents of deaf children should realize this.

 

[rockdrummer]

It really depends on ones perspective. This is also a question that (I believe) parents should ask themselves before venturing down the CI path. Do you view deafness as something pathalogical or do you view it as cultural. There are pros and cons to both sides that need to be carefully weighed before making any decision. I see the point of the video but I don't necessarily agree that it's an apples to apples comparision in most cases. It is thought provoking though.

 

[FireTiger]

Thanks! Fearing FireTiger will not LOL!

I'm fine- After I read the transcript I realized I'd never be able to make it through how that guy moves. (I might get seasick!) I thought it (my reaction) was humorous enough to post, and explain.

 

[Chuck]

I wouldn't be mad, but sometimes I think they're just trying to find an easy way out of their problems when a child is deaf. It's important for parents to get a full unbiased information to help them make informed decisions, because no deaf person is the same as another deaf, each deaf is an individual. I've seen where many times professionals and audiologists gives parents scare tactics to turn them against ASL and the deaf community. It's like forcing parents to choose technological of cochlear implants and to not have their child participate in the deaf community nor to learn ASL. And that's so wrong, a deaf child should participate in both worlds.

Of course there are people who try to push their agendas, and sometimes its just pure ignorance, not stupidity, ignorance, there's a difference between the two.

Example: My teachers have scared my parents into not teaching me spanish because they said I would be confused learning english, see, and spanish. So I only learned english and see.

I wish I could speak spanish. I speak english but wish I knew spanish, so that's a whole demographic of society that I'm not involved in because of ignorance. I am trying to learn spanish today but its hard and child minds are always superior when it comes to languages, they can learn 5/10 different languages, piece of cake. Adult minds, not so.

 

[dreama]

I would move heaven and earth to have what my children need. We moved to a different state to have a more appropriate school for my eldest child. Yea, that was inconvenient but my son blossomed at that school.

Children's emotional development is so important because the goal is a well-adjusted adult.

I wish more parents felt this way.

 

[shel90]

Of course there are people who try to push their agendas, and sometimes its just pure ignorance, not stupidity, ignorance, there's a difference between the two.

Example: My teachers have scared my parents into not teaching me spanish because they said I would be confused learning english, see, and spanish. So I only learned english and see.

I wish I could speak spanish. I speak english but wish I knew spanish, so that's a whole demographic of society that I'm not involved in because of ignorance. I am trying to learn spanish today but its hard and child minds are always superior when it comes to languages, they can learn 5/10 different languages, piece of cake. Adult minds, not so.

Funny..my ex hubby who is fluent in Spanish thought the same would happen if he exposed our daughter to Spanish when she was a baby. I kept telling him no, that it wont because of my studies with Linguistics but he didnt believe me. Now, she barely knows a few sentences in Spanish.

However, she is becoming fluent in ASL so at least she is becoming bilingual. Wish she was trilingual. She will take Spanish class this school year so see what happens.

I believe that exposing all children to multiple languages while they are young leads to them being multi-lingual.

 

[Frisky Feline]

I believe that exposing all children to multiple languages while they are young leads to them being multi-lingual.

I do agree that young kids would have better chance of absorbing multi langagues in their heads if they are around where people have different languages very frequency. The language is a powerful tool.

 

[CJB]

I never understand where people get the idea that multiple languages will "confuse" children. If anything, it increases their intelligence for language. :roll:

 

[somedeafdudefromPNW]

I never understand where people get the idea that multiple languages will "confuse" children. If anything, it increases their intelligence for language. :roll:

Heh. I wish I was allowed to be taught French in middle school. By the time high school came around, it was just too late to resurrect it from elementary to bring it back on track in accordance to their educational level.

 

[Chuck]

Because Deaf Teachers are "professionals".

They're all failures.

 

[webexplorer]

Because Deaf Teachers are "professionals".

They're all failures.

I respectfully disagreed with you this one. Some deaf teachers do a good job. She helped me with my essay when I was at RIT. I wrote my essay about, "The Yellow Wallpaper" for my literature class.

The Yellow Wallpaper - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I understand how you feel about wanting to study in Spanish. I am sorry. Actually, I never had a chance to take a German class and study in Electronic (for my hobby) because of the pre-requirements - it is very stupid because I had too many classes for my degree. I finally studied in German books at home, but one thing that I don't know how to speak in German. I was told that Spanish is the easiest to study than any other language.

 

[WizardOfOz]

This video is retarded

 

[CJB]

Because Deaf Teachers are "professionals".

They're all failures.

I don't think it's safe to speak in absolutes, especially when we're talking about a group of people. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Chuck]

I don't think it's safe to speak in absolutes, especially when we're talking about a group of people. Just my 2 cents.

What's there to say? They are stupid and make up for their lack of communication with deaf students by physically reprimanding them excessively.

Just because one knows ASL or SEE does not mean they now know how to communicate with the deaf.

Hearing teachers don't know whats going on in the mind of a deaf child, yet they are qualified to teach us? I can go on. Hearing teachers in the deaf community? Sounds like someone wants to get rich.

 

[CJB]

You probably make excellent points Chuck. I'll be honest and say I don't know much about it, being late-deafened myself. But I did have sighted teachers as a blind child, and some of them did have a good idea of what was going through my mind. Some were also very passionate about their job. They weren't all in it for the money. I am just saying perhaps we shouldn't talk about all educators, cause there are a few out there that really care about what they do. I had some good O&M/Braille teachers and some not so great teachers, and it didn't have to do with their vision status.

 

[shel90]

Because Deaf Teachers are "professionals".

They're all failures.

I am a Deaf teacher.

 

[Frisky Feline]

Because Deaf Teachers are "professionals".

They're all failures.

first of all, did you ever had a deaf teacher before? I did very well in the classes under the Deaf teachers than Hearing teacers. Therefore I don't consider the Deaf Teachers all failures. so I dont agree with you. I dont know where you got the idea like that.