What is it so bad about CI?

[flip]

No its not fair to say CI is evil. Because I'm totally nice person, I was actively participate with community much as I can, and I'm ASL user. I'm not oralist or any of it. But I still get dirty attitude like I'm traitor or terrorist to deaf community when I'm totally 100% same person only difference about me is I can hear again and its still nowhere near perfect normal hearing. Sure its great and crisp and wonderful help to me but its simply a hearing device and that doesn't change any of who I am. What did I do to deserve this disrespect?

We can't ignore that CI is used as a tool and excuse to deprive deaf people of language. We are talking about really depriving children of language, mark them seriously for the rest of life. It happens, and I have seen it myself. It gives CI a nasty image, even if you use it different. Weapon, drugs, even computers are sometimes labeled evil because they can be used in a manner that hurts. CI is no exception.

I agree that you do not deserve any disrespect for wearing CI.

 

[flip]

I don't know, what other reasons it could be? And nope I know 3 deaf people with CI but they're accepted in deaf community and treat them the same as non-CI-er people. But for no reason they attack on me and disrespect me only for having CI done. I didn't do anything all I did was saying hi and they said bye and signed off and few of them yelled at me in IM for having CI and at the beginning of CI candidacy process I had plenty people got angry at me and one said "*bleep* CI *bleep* you, you want to be hearing!" and so much drama it just suck and some of them were ok but act totally awkward and ask me same questions over and over again like they're waiting for me to say something "wrong" so they can attack me like "Do you still considered urself deaf?" or will make comment like "ok good for you, I'm proud to be deaf so screw CI, not for me, no thanks I prefer stay involved with deaf community and deaf power!" but they have hearing aids!

Ok, I am not going to move to oregon then, though I have allways wanted to visit the Hood river! It's so incredibly stupid to put down people who wear CI when they use HA themselves.

 

[flip]

Rare, but its still out there. I simply said in my initial post that there are people who think that way, and that's true, as sad as it may be.

I can agree on that. It looks like this guy was very bitter on his CI and childhood, so wouldn't take this case too serious. You find racists and excluding people in any community, deaf community as well, but I don't agree it's a bigger problem in the deaf community than other communities.

 

[VamPyroX]

I can't help but wonder why is it so bad about CI?

It's a matter of how you and others look at it. If others look at it differently and you don't like it, just ignore them. For me, it's not the CI itself that I have a problem with, but how the person acts after getting it.

What about it that considered an threat to Deaf Communty/Culture/Identity?

It's almost like a hearing aid. A person who truly follows "Deaf Culture" doesn't wear hearing aids since they are proud to be deaf and see no purpose of doing anything other than being... deaf. That's why there are a lot of "unwritten rules" in Deaf Culture. No cochlear implants. Only ASL. 100% deaf families. Etc. (I knew one deaf guy who actually refused to date a deaf gal cuz she had hearing parents and it didn't meet his vision of "Deaf Pride".)

Also, it's a matter of perception. They feel that those who get CI will stop following Deaf Culture or stop identifying themselves as deaf. Of course, that actually depends on the person... not the CI.

How is it different than hearing aid?

A hearing aid only magnifies sounds as it goes into your ear canal. It also depends on the kind of hearing loss you have. Some people have total hearing loss where they cannot hear anything regardless of what kind of hearing aids they wear. Those are the type of people that are likely candidates for cochlear implants. Others have some loss in hearing, but can hear with the use of hearing aids. I'm someone like that. If you were tlk talk directly into my ear (without wearing a hearing aid), I would be able to hear you. With a hearing aid, I can understand what's being said on a phone. So, I don't see any need to get cochlear implants.

With cochlear implants, it's pretty much the same for everyone. It taps into your nerves and makes you hear. How it differs? I don't really know. I guess it's just a matter of how our nerves can handle the implants.

Why can't you be deaf and have CI?

That's the exact same question I ask everyone else. Even if you got CI, you're still deaf... period. What is "deaf"? It's when you cannot hear like a normal hearing person. There are different levels of deafness, but they all are the same... deaf. I might hear better with a hearing aid than another person who wears a hearing aid, but we're both the same... we're deaf.

When you take off your CI, can you hear? No. Exactly. You're deaf. Some people refuse to see it that way. Why? It varies on the individual.

Why it have to be "you got ci? Ur not deaf anymore" or something that implied that we were trying to fix our hearing or to try to be hearing?

Either they are too strong-willed with their own beliefs or they had bad experience with people who got CIs. I've had bad experiences with people who got CI, but I don't let it bother me... until that person actually changes for worse.

Some deaf people have deaf friends who got CIs. After those friends got CI, they would stop signing and stop attending deaf socials. They would start trying to be oral all the time and hang out around hearing people. When they are around deaf people, they will talk orally and not sign... with an attempt to show that they are "hearing" or "better". These things result in ending friendships. So, when it happens to these deaf people... they get defensive when another deaf person gets CI.

Again, it varies on the individual. I was simply stating the most common excuse that I've heard from a lot of deaf people.

 

[deafdyke]

SkullChick, thank GAWD the attitude that CI is antiDeaf is dying. I know it does hurt thou. ((((hugs))) to you. I think in ten or twenty years, the anti CI militants will be as small as the anti HA militants.
The people on the East Coast tend to be a lot more libral abt CI. I think you should try to get involved with the East Coast Deaf scene. I know there's at least one member on here who is heavily involved in the Maryland Deaf Scene.
Vampy I disagree with your definition of "Deaf"......That's like saying that only Nation of Islam believers are really "black".......................There ARE dumbass extremists, but I mean I think you'll find dumbass extremists in ANY social movement!

 

[rick48]

I'm going to go all out and say this - It is not a controversy, it is an invasion on personal choice.

In my personal life - work, school, home, activites - I have heard nothing, but positive remarks. Even from hoh/deaf people.

In the wonderful word of cybersystem - negative comments and deafism from some. The majority show support. It is less of a "hot" topic with adult implantees.

I have learned to go with the flow of things. I just go out and live my life. It is less about "oh, I can hear." "oh, listen to this" and more about my quality of my chosen life. It also means less time in a negative environment. If you are around people that you have to justify your CIs then get away from them. You can't do that. Just get out and enjoy your life. There are others who understand this and do not place judgement.

As for children with cochlear implants that is another topic all together. Since I am an adult and do not have a child with implants, I can't really figure it out.

Vallee,

Its the same for children and their parents just that it is an invasion of their parental rights.

 

[jillio]

Yeah young children I understand but older child, teenager and adult? I'm adult and I went with CI and I lost majority of my deaf friends from my home state, Oregon because of that. My parents were originally against idea of CI but I went with it cuz its my own personal choice and now they're happy and support me for it. And I sometimes get random dirty attitude toward me about CI from people and I'll see other people attitude and comment about CI I'm just tired of it I just want people to realized I'm same person and I'm starting to hang out with hearing people more often since CI because I feel rejected from majority of deaf people in Oregon. I didn't do anything, I still haven't tried hang out with Maryland/Delaware deaf people yet because I've been too chicken to go there since I got enough bad experience from other people.

Teenagers will reject each other because of something as simple as the clothes they wear. I am really sorry that you are having such a tough time with it, though. Don't let a select few color your opinion, or make you afraid to seek out friendship with others. Perhaps the group you were close to before was simply too judgemental. That doesn't mean that all deaf are. And remember, if you go into it expecting to be rejected, you will be. Its a self fulfilling prophecy. I say reach out to the deaf/Deaf community, and try not to hold any preconceived ideas based on prior experience. You may be pleasantly surprised.

 

[jillio]

We can't ignore that CI is used as a tool and excuse to deprive deaf people of language. We are talking about really depriving children of language, mark them seriously for the rest of life. It happens, and I have seen it myself. It gives CI a nasty image, even if you use it different. Weapon, drugs, even computers are sometimes labeled evil because they can be used in a manner that hurts. CI is no exception.

I agree that you do not deserve any disrespect for wearing CI.

I agree, flip. It is not the CI itself. It is when the CI is used an excuse to deprive children of language and to keep them in an environment that ultimately handicaps them in more ways than their deafness ever could. This usually does not apply to adults that have chosen CI for themselves.

 

[Sceptre71]

Arrogance and ignorance go hand in hand.People like that,who insult and criticize ya,you won't ever need to be friends with anyway.They won't ever understand nor care.Just a bunch of bad apples you don't pick and move along to better ones.Its what you think and do with yourself for self improvement that counts.

 

[vallee]

I don't care how many times I ask my mom, dad, and sisters to repeat themselves on the phone. I just love to hear their voices. I text them, but that is not the same to me. CI or HA does not matter, just hearing them is priceless to me. (I live over 6 hours away)

 

[Raykat]

Rick.......No No No No

Jillio...........No No No No

Didnt you both read in Skullchicks first post that she does not want this thread to descend into name calling and dissrespect like so many other have.

And here once again we have you two taunting each other. You are both right in your own way and both have the right to make your own choices for your children. There is no one "RIGHT" or "WRONG" way and I do wish you would both accept that and move on.

From what I have read I had very much the same oral education as Shel9, however she chose to live more in the signing world whilst I chose to stay in the oral world.... neither of us is right or wrong, we just chose what is right for US.

As regards phone conversations, I have never had one, the most I can do is distinquish between ringing tone, engaged tone etc on a phone. If my CI does enable me to hear on the phone I will be thrilled,, but if it doesnt then so be it, I have managed this long without.

 

[Banjo]

Rick.......No No No No

Jillio...........No No No No

Didnt you both read in Skullchicks first post that she does not want this thread to descend into name calling and dissrespect like so many other have.

And here once again we have you two taunting each other. You are both right in your own way and both have the right to make your own choices for your children. There is no one "RIGHT" or "WRONG" way and I do wish you would both accept that and move on.

From what I have read I had very much the same oral education as Shel9, however she chose to live more in the signing world whilst I chose to stay in the oral world.... neither of us is right or wrong, we just chose what is right for US.

As regards phone conversations, I have never had one, the most I can do is distinquish between ringing tone, engaged tone etc on a phone. If my CI does enable me to hear on the phone I will be thrilled,, but if it doesnt then so be it, I have managed this long without.

Ditto.

 

[SkullChick]

Rick.......No No No No

Jillio...........No No No No

Didnt you both read in Skullchicks first post that she does not want this thread to descend into name calling and dissrespect like so many other have.

And here once again we have you two taunting each other. You are both right in your own way and both have the right to make your own choices for your children. There is no one "RIGHT" or "WRONG" way and I do wish you would both accept that and move on.

Raykat, thank you.
I want you guys jillio and rick to calm down and don't start arguing or anything this is not about babies and young children, language deprived or choice of eduaction its about CI itself and its threats to deaf community ok?

 

[Roadrunner]

Mod Note:


Please respect the creator's thread and stick to the topic for which it relates to--





~RR

 

[shel90]

I am sorry that people are giving u a hard time about your CI. There are a lot of CI users here in the MD Deaf community and I havent seen anyone picking on them nor making snide comments about them. Of course, if they came to a deaf event saying that they dont need ASL, that they are better because they can hear and that their lives are better than those who dont have CIs, then yea, there will be a big problem. However, in my experience the ones who I have met dont do that. From reading your posts, u dont behave that way since you say that you are still the same person before implanting.

Maybe those people who are giving you problems are probably just jealous and angry people and just using your decision to get a CI to pick on you. Ignore them ..yea, I dont blame u for the hurt. Life goes on and it does sound like you have a wonderful mother and fiancee so as long as they are there for you, that's what counts.

Hope everything gets better.

As for the CI being a bad thing...to many deaf people it represents the views and attitudes of the oralists saying that ASL and being a part of the Deaf community is something to be avoided at all costs. That was in the old days when many deaf people were abused or put in environments where they were treated like 2nd class citizens. I am one of them but I dont see the CI as evil...just the views and that kind of attitude by the oralists is what turns me off.

 

[Banjo]

I can't help but wonder why is it so bad about CI?
What about it that considered an threat to Deaf Communty/Culture/Identity?
How is it different than hearing aid?
Why can't you be deaf and have CI? Why it have to be "you got ci? Ur not deaf anymore" or something that implied that we were trying to fix our hearing or to try to be hearing?
There's a lot of questions running around in my head. But I'll start with basics to see and maybe I'll understand or still confused about why CI is such a controversy and that it has to be single sided. And I see it all time "I don't need CI I'm proud to be deaf" or "I don't need CI I'm proud to be deaf and hearing aid is good enough" or anything related to it like it somehow cancel out the deafness in some sort.
Well please submit your opinion, explaination or whatever that might help me understand better.

And please be respectful in this thread and stay in calm manner to keep this from spinning out of control.

I don't see CI as a bad thing at all. I would say it is the attitude that I see coming from both camps. Sometimes it can get pretty bad. The thing is, some people are unable to be tolerant of each other's opinions so they both begin to get hostile toward each other. People will take offense to either praises or criticisms of the technology itself.

Often, all it takes is one cheap shot from one side to spark off a war. That's often the case here.

I find it disturbing when some people are unwilling to listen yet spew out all these hateful comments and expect to be respected for it. That's why I don't bother debating these issues because of the hostility and belittlement that many people here receive from some.

I am not a CI user. I have friends who are. In fact, I have at least one friend who is fluent in ASL and CS and a CI user. He is a friendly fella, yet strongly opinionated. He love both ASL and English. Hey, I love both languages too! If I didn't, I wouldn't be a v/blogger.

By the way, I see that I'm on your blogroll.

In fact, I have noticed that I am on several blogs of CI users. It's nice to know that I have some fans who use CI. I love diversity.

 

[jillio]

Raykat, thank you.
I want you guys jillio and rick to calm down and don't start arguing or anything this is not about babies and young children, language deprived or choice of eduaction its about CI itself and its threats to deaf community ok?

Gotcha, Skullchick. My aplogies. I considered the reply to flip to which I responded to be rude. I'll mind my manners from here on out.

CI, in and of itself, is not a threat to the deaf community. The deaf community does not object so much to the devise itself, but to the attitudes that often accompany it. As long as there are deaf people on this earth, implanted and non-implanted, there will be deaf community. Perhaps those you have encountered that have objected so strongly simply see it as a judgement against their choices. Of course, that is a misperception, but those misperceptions are frequent in the teen aged and young adult years.

 

[Sceptre71]

Gotcha, Skullchick. My aplogies. I considered the reply to flip to which I responded to be rude. I'll mind my manners from here on out.

CI, in and of itself, is not a threat to the deaf community. The deaf community does not object so much to the devise itself, but to the attitudes that often accompany it. As long as there are deaf people on this earth, implanted and non-implanted, there will be deaf community. Perhaps those you have encountered that have objected so strongly simply see it as a judgement against their choices. Of course, that is a misperception, but those misperceptions are frequent in the teen aged and young adult years.

Theres a truth to this...I went to Gally right after they elected I King Jordan during their Deaf President Now campaign.Just about any Student in Gally with a hearing aid was labeled a wannabe hearing person and a form of discrimination/or say "prejudice" was at an all time high against those that were oral,new signers,HOH,CI,or mainstreamed that went to school there and wanted to learn more about being deaf they never had before.

CI students were shunned horribly as well.I was a Aid wearing Deaf/HOH student from a deaf family going there and was criticized and insulted like I never expected.

I wasnt allowed to fit in,and was labled a hearing wannabe outcast.The deaf community attitude against anything percieved anti deaf was at an all time high.

The age group you referred to is the norm in gally,from teens to young adult.
Times have changed since then but theres still alot of it going on today.I simply learned to ignore those people that feel the need to insult or put down anyone that doesnt hold with their ideals of what being deaf means.

 

[rick48]

Raykat, thank you.
I want you guys jillio and rick to calm down and don't start arguing or anything this is not about babies and young children, language deprived or choice of eduaction its about CI itself and its threats to deaf community ok?

Sorry, you and the others are right.

 

[flip]

Rick.......No No No No

Jillio...........No No No No

Didnt you both read in Skullchicks first post that she does not want this thread to descend into name calling and dissrespect like so many other have.

And here once again we have you two taunting each other. You are both right in your own way and both have the right to make your own choices for your children. There is no one "RIGHT" or "WRONG" way and I do wish you would both accept that and move on.

From what I have read I had very much the same oral education as Shel9, however she chose to live more in the signing world whilst I chose to stay in the oral world.... neither of us is right or wrong, we just chose what is right for US.

As regards phone conversations, I have never had one, the most I can do is distinquish between ringing tone, engaged tone etc on a phone. If my CI does enable me to hear on the phone I will be thrilled,, but if it doesnt then so be it, I have managed this long without.

Thanks for the post!