Appreciating the cochlear implant

[Adam Frost]

Ha! The same thing could be said with hearing aids as well, which was  
thought to be the cure-all of deafness much like many think cochlear  
implants are now. Interesting how the arguments throughout history  
stay the same, it is just the toys that change. ;-)

Adam

On Dec 6, 2008, at 12:27 PM, Bill Reese wrote:

> Gerard,
> Perhaps I should not mention that I have a cochlear implant as I'm  
> late-deafened and don't really fit into the category of a born or  
> cultural deaf person whose first language is sign language.   
> However, I and others in my ALDA-Suncoast support group have  
> cochlear implants and we all still sign.  It's pidgin sign, not ASL,  
> and used to get across what we are saying in English.  The implant  
> doesn't help any of us hear 100%.  For some, it's more like they're  
> deaf as opposed to stone deaf.  For others, they can enjoy music.   
> But when we're together as a group, sign language, speechreading,  
> writing notes (total communication) is what we do.
>
> I believe, just by the nature of that fact, it may be imputed that a  
> born or cultural deaf child who gets an implant and who is immersed  
> in Deaf culture would still naturally use sign language.
>
> A few things to consider:
> 1. At night, the implant is usually turned off and the deaf person  
> is deaf.
> 2. When swimming, the device is off and the deaf person is deaf.
> 3. When the implant's battery dies and the person has no spare,  
> they're deaf.
> 4. When they just don't feel like wearing the implant, they're deaf.
>
> In short, the implant isn't used 24/7 and sign language is still  
> needed.
>
> Bill
>
>
> Gerard Meijssen wrote:
>>
>> Hoi,
>> In several discussions about sign languages and SignWriting, the  
>> subject of the cochlear implant was mentioned. I have been doing  
>> some reading on the subject. I find it hard to learn what a  
>> cochlear implant does for someone who gets an operation and has one  
>> implanted. I learned that the operation is not without risks and  
>> the soundfiles that I listened to on the Internet do not give 22  
>> channel quality.
>>
>> The Wikipedia article is deemed to be not good enough. So I am  
>> really looking for an improved article and also in a better  
>> appreciation of such devices.
>> Thanks,
>>      Gerard
>>
>> http://ultimategerardm.blogspot.com/2008/12/cochlear-implant.html
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochlear_implant
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
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