feeble attempt at an unbiased opinion about the cochlear implant...

Sun Dec 7 16:28:20 UTC 2008

SignWriting List
December 7, 2008

Thank you, Peter, Kelly Jo and all the contributors to this topic on  
cochlear implants...No matter what, I suspect we all agree, that with  
or without hearing or hearing-supportive-devices, sign languages and  
writing sign languages still has value for the world...

So when it comes to sign languages and SignWriting, the invention of  
the cochlear implant does not change the need for both.

If, when you are having conversations about SignWriting with someone,  
and they mention the cochlear implant as a reason not to write sign  
language, be sure to explain to them, that languages, and writing  
those languages, are valuable to everyone, no matter whether they are  
hearing or deaf...

So SignWriting's existence is not dependent on how many deaf people  
there are in the world...It is useful for anyone who uses a sign  
language....

smile...

Val ;-)

----------------

On Dec 7, 2008, at 12:48 AM, Peter DeHaas wrote:

> Embrace  a more diverse communication model.  I know MANY people  
> well assimilated in the "D" Deaf world with cochlear implants.
> They have no hesitancy or delusions about it;  they simply enjoy the  
> best of both worlds.
> I know people that grew up with speech therapy and the oral method  
> and they have no issues in the Deaf community whatsoever.
>
> If a child is born deaf, there are undoubtedly some hard decisions  
> to make.  (Whether you're a hearing or a Deaf parent.)
>
> I know a Deaf family that has two children, one who is profoundly  
> deaf and the other who is HH. The HH child has two
> high tech hearing aids, receives speech therapy, is oral, and signs  
> ASL with great fluency.  He coexists in both worlds.
> I don't think deaf kids of hearing parents always have this luxury.
>
> Parents resist learning sign, or refuse to expose their children to  
> it, or they become paralyzed by the perceived "disability".
>
> When I went to school I was taught that the cochlear implant was  
> taboo and the Deaf Community would shun you if you got one,
> and you wouldn't have a strong identity in the Deaf community.   
> That's a bunch of hooey.  A person with a cochlear implant has every  
> chance to become
> an active participant in the Deaf world and to become fully  
> assimilated.  It's a choice.  Parents must be good advocates and  
> understand the richness and diversity
> of the Deaf culture and the importance and richness of ASL.  I  
> understand the paranoia and pride issues; we must transcend for  
> we're all humans just trying to coexist.
>
> I think much of the fear of the cochlear implant, oralism, and the  
> pathological view is that it will inherently destroy OR taint Deaf
> Culture and devalue the importance of ASL.
>
> Diversity is essential in all cultures.  I serve adults with  
> deafness and developmental disabilities and it is my job to break  
> down walls
> and barriers that separate them from the Deaf culture and the  
> hearing culture.
>
> Historically it is understandable why the cochlear implant is  
> problematic in the Deaf world.  It reinforces the pathological view  
> and possibly
> is symbolic in some way of the oppressive hearing society.  "D" Deaf  
> doesn't want "H" Hearing to dictate how their culture should be
> evolving.
>
> ...I tried to be unbiased....
> On Dec 6, 2008, at 10:24 PM, KJ wrote:
>
>> I don't think anyone can give an unbiased opinion about cochlear  
>> implants!
>>
>> KJ
>>
>>
>> .  ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Adam Frost
>> To: SignWriting List
>> Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2008 1:31 PM
>> Subject: Re: [sw-l] Appreciating the cochlear implant
>>
>> Well, I don't know how much help I can be with providing neutral,  
>> factual information as I am biased being a Deaf person strongly  
>> imbedded in the Deaf World and still very successful in the Hearing  
>> World such that getting a cochlear would be unneeded. I can tell  
>> you this much that I know that besides all of that, I am ill  
>> candidate for a cochlear because my deafness is as a result of  
>> auditory nerves that never developed correctly. I do have to agree  
>> that many people get very passionate about this topic. Not really  
>> much can be done about it and is expected when something seems to  
>> destroy a way of life. I know that hearing aids were viewed with  
>> the same passion when they first came out.
>>
>> Adam
>>
>> On Dec 6, 2008, at 6:04 AM, 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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>
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