Re: Deaf and Cochlear Implants

August 2, 2006

Dear ,

I understand what you mean by that. I even saw a program on TV about that a

couple of years ago, where deaf parents refused to implant their deaf children

only because they were afraid of losing the deaf culture. I am of course very

much against blocking the childrens' way to success with an implant, a thing

that can for sure enhance their ability to integrate in the world. Yet, those

parents and everyone that expresses hostility and contempt to those who choose

to be implanted are afraid of losing their own " deaf heritage " . They're afraid

that their own children will look down at them once they can hear almost

normally and " go with the hearing people " . Personally, I know it's impossible to

do so when the children are raised to be tolerant and have an endless love for

their parents. But it's still something they fear. Every parent wants its child

to follow him, even if it means to live in the darkness of not being able to

hear when there's a " cure " for it. I'm so thankful

for every day I can hear with an implant (I heard another new sound just

yesterday!) and wouldn't giveu p on that now I know how it is to hear for real!

Don't let those people take your motivation away with their hostility and

contempt. There are so many other deafs who will support you, especially people

from this group! Keep up the way of obtaining yoru own CI with pride and

determination. Good luck and many blessings!

Yours, Gilad

Gilad Borisovsky

Implant: Advanced Bionics, HiRes 90K

Implanted: April 10th, 2006

Activated: May 8th, 2006

11 Malkin st. apt. 9

46403 Herzliya

Israel

+972 (0)9 9552 656

+972 (0)52 4893 277 (SMSs only)

Additional e-mail addresses:

borissovsson@...

borisovsson@...

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

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August 2, 2006

CI's are NOT a " cure " for deafness. do you use ASL or are you

Oral? The negative attitudes towards CI's in the Deaf community is

much due to opressive attitudes of hearing people, the audology

profession itself and many so called professionals who unethically

provide only a one sided and ofter limited or overly optomistic

representation of Cochlear Implants. They large majority of the

" professionals " have Zero understanding of Deaf Culture! I had to

educate my own CI Doctor on Deaf Culture too. Fortunately he was very

interested and understanding about it and willing to learn about it.

He was willing to listen and change his preception of Deaf Culture

and ASL.

Second the attitudes in the Deaf Community are changing and have

changed significantly in the last several years in regards to CI's.

Don't Judge Us based on one movie made intentionally to be

controversial by people outside of the Deaf Community because that is

what sells TV programs.

I know several Deaf friends personally who have CI's including myself.

we are still totally accepted within our culture. A hope for

curing tinnitus has prompted some Deaf to get CI's.

Last CI success or failure is individual result. also it requires

years of speech and language therapy and additional practice to have a

chance to be successful in most profoundly Deaf children. I also know

several Deaf students who have CI's and never use them because they

were not effective and/ or appropriate after implant services were not

provided. The parents of a couple of these students also were led to

believe that the CI was a " cure " and a quick fix with very little

follow up needed. Hence my first statement about unethical practices

but " hearing professionals "

DJ

Deaf Pride!!!

>

> Dear ,

>

> I understand what you mean by that. I even saw a program on TV

about that a couple of years ago, where deaf parents refused to

implant their deaf children only because they were afraid of losing

the deaf culture. I am of course very much against blocking the

childrens' way to success with an implant, a thing that can for sure

enhance their ability to integrate in the world. Yet, those parents

and everyone that expresses hostility and contempt to those who choose

to be implanted are afraid of losing their own " deaf heritage " .

They're afraid that their own children will look down at them once

they can hear almost normally and " go with the hearing people " .

Personally, I know it's impossible to do so when the children are

raised to be tolerant and have an endless love for their parents. But

it's still something they fear. Every parent wants its child to follow

him, even if it means to live in the darkness of not being able to

hear when there's a " cure " for it. I'm so thankful

> for every day I can hear with an implant (I heard another new sound

just yesterday!) and wouldn't giveu p on that now I know how it is to

hear for real!

>

> Don't let those people take your motivation away with their

hostility and contempt. There are so many other deafs who will support

you, especially people from this group! Keep up the way of obtaining

yoru own CI with pride and determination. Good luck and many blessings!

>

> Yours, Gilad

>

> Gilad Borisovsky

> Implant: Advanced Bionics, HiRes 90K

> Implanted: April 10th, 2006

> Activated: May 8th, 2006

>

> 11 Malkin st. apt. 9

> 46403 Herzliya

> Israel

>

> +972 (0)9 9552 656

> +972 (0)52 4893 277 (SMSs only)

>

> Additional e-mail addresses:

> borissovsson@...

> borisovsson@...

>

> ---------------------------------

> Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and

30+ countries) for 2¢/min or less.

>

August 3, 2006

Hi ,

Sure, it is a loaded question, but it's a complex

issue and one that I think needs discussion. Of

course, on this forum there are going to be mainly

folks who are either thrilled to have some manner of

hearing in their lives via CI or those who are

seriously contemplating the possibility of having the

procedure done in an effort to gain such hearing.

My experience with Deaf folks (and I refer here to

people who by need or by choice use ASL as their

primary means of communication) has been mixed. The

ones I have met or read about who take issue with

getting a CI seem to be very concerned that the

culture and community that has developed among Signers

is going to come under attack. I imagine it is hard,

with this perceived threat, for there to be a show of

respect and appreciation for the decision to attempt

to utilize the CI. Many, especially older persons,

have experienced years of discrimination and isolation

from the hearing world and perhaps the thought of some

of them gaining the ability to communicate aurally

presents a feeling that this technology will somehow

create the sense that being Deaf and part of a Signing

culture is no more than a well honed compensation for

a disability. I am not suggesting this is true,

although an argument could be made for it, as could an

argument be made for any number of cultural

developments born of special circumstances. I am only

suggesting the thought process for some. Of course,

it's ludicrous to believe this will occur, because as

you have said in your own manner, many Deaf will never

be able to benefit from this technology (although we

may be amazed in the years to come to see how many

do!) and even among those who can, many will not be

able to use it compensate entirely for a lifetime of

non-aural communication and as a result will continue

to use ASL as their primary means of communication,

using the CI to assist with locating environmental

sounds and such. I think that the flip side of this

coin is important too, to develop a respect and some

understanding of why some may not choose the CI even

if they are deemed candidates, and why some will

choose not to implant their children. I agree, from

where I sit, it feels unfortunate to me that any child

who could benefit from the technology would not have

access due to a parent's decision, but I could say the

same about a lot of choices parent's make for their

children. I don't think that any of us can sit in

judgement, not Deaf who ostracize Deaf who get

implants, nor those of us who experience the joy of

hearing with CI observing the decisions made by others

for themselves or their Deaf children not to attempt

to utilize the technology.

I'll end as I began (and it's the middle of the night

so I hope I made some sense here!) it's a loaded and

complicated issue, inextricably linked to the

emotional aspects of what it means to be a deaf

person.

Deb

--- Vacks <vacklist77@...> wrote:

> I realize this is potentially a loaded question.

> Why is it that those who

> are Deaf and choose not to get a cochlear implant

> often treat those with an

> implant with complete contempt ? Honestly the

> treatment I have recieved from

> so called Deaf friends and peers since starting the

> process of getting an

> implant has been downright hostile and degrading.

> You would have thought I

> was sneaking into their rooms at nights and forcing

> implanting them against

> their will. The fact is as implant technology

> improves more and more people

> will want them. Deaf Culture will not fade away as

> there will always be

> those who do not benefit from an implant so what is

> the intent of this

> hostile treatment ? All it serves is to isolate the

> Deaf from the rest of

> the world. They want respect for the right to choose

> not to have an implant

> ? Then fine how about respect for the right to

> choose to have an implant.

> Sorry if I seem hostile but I am very disapointed in

> my treatment by what I

> thought was a supportive community.

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

__________________________________________________

August 3, 2006

DJ,

This was interesting and important perspective from a person within Deaf

culture and with a CI too! I heard just the other day, that there is a

negative sign (ASL? Not sure) that is made somewhere near the chin, and is

derisive toward people with CI's, meaning " Hearing wannabe " . Is this true?

Or just rumor?

Binns

----Original Message Follows----

From: " DJ " <soutthpaw@...>

Reply-

Subject: Re: Deaf and Cochlear Implants

Date: Thu, 03 Aug 2006 04:48:29 -0000