Coclear implant controversy essays

Coclear implant controversy essays Cochlear implant technology has advanced tremendously over the past 20 years. Deaf adults, deaf and hearing parents of deaf children, and family members have strong feelings regarding cochlear implants. There are some who say "My child should remain deaf and part of the deaf community. However, some individuals who belong to the hearing world view cochlear implants as a magnificent advancement in technology to help the deaf to hear. I believe that both culture and community have a major impact on an individuals life. If the parents of a child who is deaf believe that cochlear implants will change or distort the childs sense of culture or community, the child should remain without the implant until he/she is able to make their own decision. A cochlear implant is an electronic device that restores partial hearing to the deaf. It is surgically implanted in the inner ear and activated by a device worn outside the ear. Unlike a hearing aid, it does not make sound louder or clearer. Instead, the device bypasses damaged parts of the auditory system and directly stimulates the nerve of hearing, allowing individuals who are profoundly hearing impaired to receive sound. The most common language among individuals who are profoundly deaf is American Sign Language (ASL). However, many children who received their implant at a young age have learned to talk and have not needed signs. A number of these children are fully integrated into their neighborhood schools, socialize with normally hearing children, talk on the telephone, learn popular words and slang from watching and hearing their videos, and in general are living lives as hearing and speaking children. Members of Deaf Culture do not view their deafness as a disability. Individuals belonging to Deaf Culture believe that cochlear implants are a threat to their identity and their language, American Sign Language (Koch, 2001). Yet, many times individuals want to orally communicate ...