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Cochlear Implants
In 1984, the FDA approved the first cochlear implant -- a small, highly-complex electronic device that would be surgically-implanted in people who with severe hearing impairment. The news media dubbed it the Bionic Ear.
The cochlear implant is very, very different from traditional hearing aids that amplify sounds. It does not truly restore the hearing for a deaf person, at least, hearing as we know it, but in my opinion, it is a modern miracle nonetheless. A cochlear implant bypasses the damaged or missing part of the delicate inner ear and transmits signals directly to the auditory center of the brain, where these electrical impulses will be interpreted much like the brain processes speech through a normal-hearing ear. A microphone picks up environmental sounds; a computerized speech processor recognizes the "useful" sounds; a transmitter receives those useful sounds and converts them to an electronic signal and sends it on to the brain. Our adaptable brain does the rest and most important job.
In the United States, thousands of adults and children are now using cochlear implants. Children are often excellent candidates for implants, can help them acquire excellent speech and language skills. The happy little girl, pictured in the Blog, came into my office for other medical reasons. Until I noticed her cochlear implant, carefully concealed by her beautiful hair during my exam, I had no idea that she had one. Her speech comprehension and mannerisms were like any five-year-old. She was very proud of her implant.
Many in the deaf community have not embraced this new technology. Why? There are many reasons, but primarily deaf people have already adapted to their silent world; quite well I might add. For anyone who considers a deaf person "handicapped", does not understand the deaf community. They don't feel sorry for themselves at all. They are among the happiest, most-contented, chatty people I know. Many deaf people would not want it any other way. They use Sign Language and read lips. They know more about body language and subtle nuances and visual cues of communication than anyone. They are keen observers, avid readers, quick-witted, and some of the fastest note-writers that I have ever seen.
Some of my deaf patients will bring a sign interpreter with them to my office; most will not. Although medical encounters take a bit longer when you are using written communication, the communication is just as rich and rewarding. When I finally leave to attend to the next patient, I embarrassingly admit that I am still enunciating my words (although I keep my mustache trimmed short, my facial hair can make it a bit difficult for lip-readers), and talking way too loud. Please don't tell any of my deaf patients.
Over the years, I have had numerous deaf couples (one couple even had a deaf cat that they called by stomping on the floor) with hearing children who even whine in sign language. My children were not hearing impaired, but you wouldn't know it if you observed how they ignored me all the time. A child can't ignore a deaf parent - they are in their face, and those kids listen! Seeing a deaf Mom yell at a misbehaving child is a thing of beauty.
Marvin was about 18-years old, deaf, and was on his own for the first-time. Anxious to date, he asked if he could meet with me privately so that I could answer some "sex questions". Of course, I agreed. Counseling is an important part of my primary care practice. A week later, Marvin showed up with a list of questions that would have embarrassed a porno actor. To make matters even more uncomfortable, Marvin bought a little, weeny guy with thick glasses and a bow-tie from the local School for the Deaf to interpret for him. As I read some very explicit questions that Marvin had prepared, I saw this little guy increasingly sweat and squirm in his chair. The question said, "Is masturbation harmful?"
I looked at the interpreter and was very amused by the sign for masturbation -- basically a clinched fist rapidly moving back and forth. Although I do not understand sign language, ANY person would have got that one. I looked at Marvin, repeated the masturbation sign, followed by the universal thumb and index finger circle-sign for "okay". Marvin and I could not stop laughing. The sweat-drenched interpreter did not share in our levity.
Now, back to cochlear implants, which has nothing to do with the previous story. Not all profoundly deaf people are candidates for cochlear implants; and as I mentioned, not all hearing-impaired individuals really see the need. For the people that do have cochlear implants, they seem to love them.
Insurance companies are not fond of anything that costs more than a dollar. Not all insurance companies will pay for cochlear implants; and unfortunately, not all families can afford to pay for them outright. Cochlear implants are very expensive, but life can be just as rich without them.
Related Links: Cochlear Implants Are Better Early in Life, Deaf People Can "Feel" Music
Technorati Tags: Cochlear Implants, Sign Language, Deaf
The cochlear implant is very, very different from traditional hearing aids that amplify sounds. It does not truly restore the hearing for a deaf person, at least, hearing as we know it, but in my opinion, it is a modern miracle nonetheless. A cochlear implant bypasses the damaged or missing part of the delicate inner ear and transmits signals directly to the auditory center of the brain, where these electrical impulses will be interpreted much like the brain processes speech through a normal-hearing ear. A microphone picks up environmental sounds; a computerized speech processor recognizes the "useful" sounds; a transmitter receives those useful sounds and converts them to an electronic signal and sends it on to the brain. Our adaptable brain does the rest and most important job.
In the United States, thousands of adults and children are now using cochlear implants. Children are often excellent candidates for implants, can help them acquire excellent speech and language skills. The happy little girl, pictured in the Blog, came into my office for other medical reasons. Until I noticed her cochlear implant, carefully concealed by her beautiful hair during my exam, I had no idea that she had one. Her speech comprehension and mannerisms were like any five-year-old. She was very proud of her implant.
Many in the deaf community have not embraced this new technology. Why? There are many reasons, but primarily deaf people have already adapted to their silent world; quite well I might add. For anyone who considers a deaf person "handicapped", does not understand the deaf community. They don't feel sorry for themselves at all. They are among the happiest, most-contented, chatty people I know. Many deaf people would not want it any other way. They use Sign Language and read lips. They know more about body language and subtle nuances and visual cues of communication than anyone. They are keen observers, avid readers, quick-witted, and some of the fastest note-writers that I have ever seen.
Some of my deaf patients will bring a sign interpreter with them to my office; most will not. Although medical encounters take a bit longer when you are using written communication, the communication is just as rich and rewarding. When I finally leave to attend to the next patient, I embarrassingly admit that I am still enunciating my words (although I keep my mustache trimmed short, my facial hair can make it a bit difficult for lip-readers), and talking way too loud. Please don't tell any of my deaf patients.
Over the years, I have had numerous deaf couples (one couple even had a deaf cat that they called by stomping on the floor) with hearing children who even whine in sign language. My children were not hearing impaired, but you wouldn't know it if you observed how they ignored me all the time. A child can't ignore a deaf parent - they are in their face, and those kids listen! Seeing a deaf Mom yell at a misbehaving child is a thing of beauty.
Marvin was about 18-years old, deaf, and was on his own for the first-time. Anxious to date, he asked if he could meet with me privately so that I could answer some "sex questions". Of course, I agreed. Counseling is an important part of my primary care practice. A week later, Marvin showed up with a list of questions that would have embarrassed a porno actor. To make matters even more uncomfortable, Marvin bought a little, weeny guy with thick glasses and a bow-tie from the local School for the Deaf to interpret for him. As I read some very explicit questions that Marvin had prepared, I saw this little guy increasingly sweat and squirm in his chair. The question said, "Is masturbation harmful?"
I looked at the interpreter and was very amused by the sign for masturbation -- basically a clinched fist rapidly moving back and forth. Although I do not understand sign language, ANY person would have got that one. I looked at Marvin, repeated the masturbation sign, followed by the universal thumb and index finger circle-sign for "okay". Marvin and I could not stop laughing. The sweat-drenched interpreter did not share in our levity.
Now, back to cochlear implants, which has nothing to do with the previous story. Not all profoundly deaf people are candidates for cochlear implants; and as I mentioned, not all hearing-impaired individuals really see the need. For the people that do have cochlear implants, they seem to love them.
Insurance companies are not fond of anything that costs more than a dollar. Not all insurance companies will pay for cochlear implants; and unfortunately, not all families can afford to pay for them outright. Cochlear implants are very expensive, but life can be just as rich without them.
Related Links: Cochlear Implants Are Better Early in Life, Deaf People Can "Feel" Music
Technorati Tags: Cochlear Implants, Sign Language, Deaf
8 Comments:
My hearing children and I have studied American Sign Language. Our teacher is totally deaf, but more aware of her environment than most hearing folks I know. She is most definitely NOT handicapped - or interested in a cochlear implant.
It always amazes me that not only can she tell when the hearing folks in her sign language classes have been speaking while her back is turned to write on the blackboard but she always knows who, too.
I'm proud to say that I have hearing children who can whine in ASL, too. It's much less annoying to those around us than whining out loud.
Sadly, most Deaf ("Deaf" from Deaf culture is spelled with a capital "D" BTW) children that use ASL will finish high school with a fifth grade reading level. Most teachers are not fluent in sign language, and end up learning signs the night before they teach their classes! We live in a world that uses oral language to communicate. ASL is used sporadically throughout parts of our country. Another item about ASL is that it is its own language with its own syntax and structure. Different Deaf cultures throughout the world also use different sign systems. Deaf people do feel that the CI is going to destroy their culture, but it is really the decision of the deaf child's parents as to whether they want their child to be an oral communicator, or to use sign language.
Many Deaf users of ASL have very good English. Research is showing that bilingual/bicultural, or bi/bi, education results in very high English skills. Deaf children who learn ASL as a first language, have good teachers, and teachers that sign well, and then learn English as a second language in these bi/bi programs do very well.
The issue is not with ASL. It's with poor teachers and the education system and parents that do not learn to sign and are not involved with their child or their child's education.
And actually the children that I've met that have succeeded well with cochlear implants are all ASL users as well. When I observed some speech oriented schools the children did not have language barely at all.
I'm majoring in Deaf ed, and am hoping to get into the bi/bi program. From what I've observed that is best for the children whether they use cochlear implants or not.
anonymous #1: Consider what they average reading level for most plain jane high school students is . . . not very high, most at about 9th grade, if that.
there is a Deaf man at my work who is smarter than I could ever hope to be.
Cochlear implants are an indiviuals choice, but I would choose nope.
Is sign language a language for deaf babies or knives on deaf leader's backs?
Beneath the Planet of the Deaf
http://www.deafadvocacy.org/blog/2007/09/beneath-planet-of-deaf.html
You be the judge.
Richard Roehm
I am a Deaf student in high school getting ready to leave for college. My reading is advanced and so are my science skills. I am severe-profound deaf, nearly completely deaf. I have always been in a public school. I personally choose to peak orally. My mother told me I refuse to use sign language, but today I love to learn it. I am going for a acochlear implants because my hearing is failing and to hear things for me is very valuable. I love to talk, I am good at reading others body language, and I love reading lips (which is a sole way that I understand people). and NOT ALL people in the Deaf community are against the implant. I know tons and tons of people with the implant. It does not ruin the Deaf community because, wake up, we are still deaf and always will be deaf. Just some, even most, of us still like to hear things. And please don't make assumptions unless you yourself is H.O.H or Deaf. Everyone has a different opinion about the Deaf and Hearing world, about CI, and even hearing aids.
.....and sorry about my typos, I am in school and I am trying to speed things through
My daughter, Isabella, was deafened by bacterial meningitis at the age fo 7 weeks. She was bilateraly implanted at 6 1/2 months and I wouldn't change it for a minute. The devices are true miracles!
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