Well said. Perhaps the focus needs to go from not just getting the surgery done in a timely fashion, but insuring that the surgery is done is a safe a manner as is possible. I would also like to see programs for counseling and adjustment issues become mandatory prior to surgery and following surgery. In the case of children, of course, this would include the entire family.
Too many parents have not completely worked through their own issues at having a deaf child before they follow through with an implant. It is then assumed that the implant is the final stage in dealing with these issues, when, in reality, it is only the beginning. We are doing a disservice to both hearing parents and deaf children when we implant them, and then consider that the only follow up services needed are AVT. That attitude of
We've created sound perception, so our job is finished here!" is at the root of the problems that we are continuing to see.
