Guest guest Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 , it sounds like your daughter is off to a wonderful start! They've done amazing work around the issue of the importance of providing young brain cells with the concept of language and they've found that a signing language is equal to speaking language. It's just that early start that is so important. Sort of like getting a garden ready to plant. The more nutrients you put in there and the earlier you do it, the more productive will be the garden in the long run. Even the idea of giving a child a CI very early and letting them learn oral communication/language will provide the necessary components for them to be able to learn sign later if they want to. For those interested Oliver Sacks' book called " Seeing Voices " written in the early 90s will give you a clear picture of why ASL is so important to the Deaf Culture and why they are having a hard time accepting CIs. ASL is a beautiful language, it belongs to the Deaf and they are very fortunate to have their own language. It actually provides all they need to communicate and is even more descriptive than our own English language. It would be a crime to let it vanish from use. Pam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Hello, I just wonder about this. Of course I know all that you say is true, about ASL being a beautiful language, expressive, etc; I just wonder if it really provides 'all they need'. Of course it does, among themselves. But what about, say, for example, out in the working world, trying to be successful in the job market, etc? How does only knowing ASL help one, in the career arena, outside of the Deaf culture? Binns ----Original Message Follows---- From: coronacrone <coronacrone@...> Reply- Subject: /Re:OT Deaf > CI Date: Wed, 10 May 2006 12:47:14 -0800 , it sounds like your daughter is off to a wonderful start! They've done amazing work around the issue of the importance of providing young brain cells with the concept of language and they've found that a signing language is equal to speaking language. It's just that early start that is so important. Sort of like getting a garden ready to plant. The more nutrients you put in there and the earlier you do it, the more productive will be the garden in the long run. Even the idea of giving a child a CI very early and letting them learn oral communication/language will provide the necessary components for them to be able to learn sign later if they want to. For those interested Oliver Sacks' book called " Seeing Voices " written in the early 90s will give you a clear picture of why ASL is so important to the Deaf Culture and why they are having a hard time accepting CIs. ASL is a beautiful language, it belongs to the Deaf and they are very fortunate to have their own language. It actually provides all they need to communicate and is even more descriptive than our own English language. It would be a crime to let it vanish from use. Pam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Ok, thanks for clarifying. I agree with you that the child needs to be given language skills immediately and that is what I was saying, too. It definitely cannot stop at ASL. My little nephew is being taught sign as a way to give him language prior to gaining speaking skills. I support teaching sign to all babies as I believe it only helps them, but it is not a language to rely on past the early formative years. Like you, I was born hearing and had a considerable decibel loss when I was 7 years old. I continued to go forward and live my life as a hearing person even as my hearing worsened. My brain has been and is still wired for hearing. Even now as I sit here in " silence " (tinnitus never really allows for true silence " between surgery and awaiting activation.... my brain is putting sound to everything around me. I've done the Deaf community thing off and on over the years and finally concluded it was not for me, including one year at a school for the deaf during my 6th grade year (my choice..it was a cultural experience...definatately not an academic education experience.) I also did a month long visit to Gallaudet during High School. My last round was during my freshman and sophomore years of college where I had people (hearing and deaf) telling me how to be deaf and that I should embrace " my " language (ASL.) My language is English, thank you. That was it for my Deaf community days for me. I've realized I am a hearing man afflicted with deafness...not a Deaf man...and I'm satisfied with that. I will work to gain back my hearing until the day I die. My love of music and sound is too great to do anything but. From: coronacrone Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2006 2:45 PM Subject: Re: /Re:OT Deaf > CI No Dave, my whole premise is that people should be encouraged to give their child a language from birth.. and then give an implant or whatever they decide is best. Each circumstance is different and it should be stressed that the brain needs language and that shouldn't wait until the child is old enough to implant with a CI if that is the route the family chooses. Children born deaf are not exposed to language or a means to communicate unless someone provides that for them. Is it ok to wait 3 years? I don't think so.. 3 years without knowing that people use language to communicate is too long to wait. My recognition of sign as a beautiful language does not mean that I think it is the only way, the best way or any such thing. Please read carefully before jumping to conclusions. (smiles) I see the good in all languages. Pam (in Alaska) PS.. I'm an RN and I've worked with mostly hearing children for 30 years in residential treatment so I say these things with some experience behind me. Myself, I've been profoundly deaf since 1994. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Thanks Dave; Those must have been very difficult days for you. I can only imagine what it would have been like to lose my hearing so young! However you very definitely learned your language as a hearing person. I agree.. that whatever language you learn first is the one that remains dominant. At 50 years old I had a terrible time trying to learn ASL and really never mastered even a " See Dick, See Jane " version of it. For me being oral and verbal is what my brain is wired for. I couldn't believe the number of people who immediately asked me " Do you sign? " , as soon as they heard I had lost my hearing... as if the ability to communicate fully in sign happens over night and automatically with the loss of ones hearing. Pam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 10, 2006 Report Share Posted May 10, 2006 Hi Pam, I had a similar encounter when someone asked me if I could sign. I have taken ASL courses, and signed as much as I could for almost a decade. I still feel that I am not fluent; however, most deaf people, who saw me sign, would say that I was doing a great job! I still struggle with the interpretation part because there are more to the signs or to the concepts. I still say that I am still learning how to sign, but I can try my best to communicate. For the late-deafened issue, I get upset when somebody tries to suggest that we learn ASL when we should be using our dominant language through Cued Speech. Cued Speech would have been VERY helpful because we are cueing speech. I'm still fine with anyone who choose to learn ASL. I just want to make certain that everybody all the information and materials to choose. We really have choices. Kent coronacrone <coronacrone@...> wrote: I agree.. that whatever language you learn first is the one that remains dominant. At 50 years old I had a terrible time trying to learn ASL and really never mastered even a " See Dick, See Jane " version of it. For me being oral and verbal is what my brain is wired for. I couldn't believe the number of people who immediately asked me " Do you sign? " , as soon as they heard I had lost my hearing... as if the ability to communicate fully in sign happens over night and automatically with the loss of ones hearing. --Mekutochi Left Ear -- Cochlear Nucleus Freedom Implanted: August 15, 2005 Activated: August 23, 2005 Right Ear -- Pending --------------------------------- Love cheap thrills? Enjoy PC-to-Phone calls to 30+ countries for just 2¢/min with Messenger with Voice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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