This post is a response to
the video we watched in class of a Deaf girl hearing for the first time. It focuses on the extreme joy that she feels as she is able to hear simple things that we take for granted, such as the sound of her own laughter. However, I feel videos such as that one only show one side of the issue.
I have studied American Sign Language for five semesters. As I learned about Deaf culture, we discussed cochlear implants extensively. It is a very controversial topic for Deaf people. To condense a very complicated discussion into a nutshell, Deafness is considered a cultural identity rather than a disability. There is a whole culture around being Deaf that is more than simply not being able to hear. Cochlear implants are problematic for several reasons. Perhaps the most significant is that they actually have a very low success rate-- especially for people who have been born deaf. This means that people who have cochlear implants are in between two worlds: they don't fit into the hearing world because they still have difficulty hearing and speaking, and they don't fit into the Deaf world because they have rejected that identity in favor of being accepted by hearing people. Additionally, when cochlear implants are inserted, what little hearing a deaf person started out with is completely destroyed.
This video, The Sound and the Fury, shows a couple of different families struggling with the decision of whether or not to give their children cochlear implants. It's really very eye-opening.
Now, the reason that I bring this all up is that I think it's easy to be exposed to only partial information-- one side of the story, if you will. Technology and digital culture are great and they have improved many people's lives. However, I think that we need to be careful when researching issues to make sure we are getting all of the facts, rather than just one person or group's opinion. This can apply to any topic, such as politics or education, not simply cochlear implants. However, we need to make sure we are making informed decisions, no matter what the topic.
I agree with you, Cheri. I was thinking about this when he showed the video in class, too. I took American Sign Language in high school. My teacher, who was deaf, talked a lot about cochlear implants and how it was actually not very acceptable for people to get when they live in a deaf community.
ReplyDeleteI found that to be really fascinating; you'd think that if you are missing one of your five senses you'd want to find a way to get it back. But it's not the case. They don't feel that they need it because they are already part of a strong community, and if they did get an cochlear implant, it's like they are turning their backs on their communities, and, as you said, they don't really belong anymore. Great post! Thanks for sharing that insight.
I sensed that this would come up. You also see this same mentality in blind persons. Personally, it makes me uncomfortable. What I've discovered is that it's OK to ask for help if you have a limitation, but you shouldn't be so insistent that you reject being a part of the world around you. Yes, accept your limitations, but don't be a snob about it.
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