I am jumping in late on this thread, but I want everyone to be aware that I am Fragmenter's mom and I am proud to see him carrying on this discussion and my husband and I stand by him and his wife all the way... We found out over a week ago about their considering CI for their son, our grandson and now we are convinced they are moving in the right direction for him. Mind you, we have been SO against CI ever since it begun up until our first conversation with Fragmenter and his wife. My husband and I are very willing to keep an open mind and listen to their reasonings and I have discussed with a few deaf peers and for the most part, I have found them to positively respond. An oral school here in our city has been graduating their students (most of them have CI) at the fourth grade level and sending them on to public schools AND that school used to graduate the students up to the 8th grade level! I was very surprised to hear (well, yes us deafies are allowed to use that word, aren't we?!?) this bit of news.
Very good thread! Just don't mind those trying to stir up the pot without opening up their minds and consider the facts.