Tonight, I had a conversation with a friend about...Cochlear Implants. Once upon a time, this is something I truly wanted for myself. Cochlear is not widely embraced by the deaf community. But before you all (deafies) start getting mad at me, or pointing fingers-- this is not something I want now.
One would have to put themselves in my shoes to understand my former desires. If a hearing parent with a deaf BABY were to come to me now. I have no clue truly how I would reply. But I would be honest about how I wanted one when I was a teen. and how I do not want one now and I'm glad I never recieved one. I see, know and understand the pros and cons of cochlear implants and I understand why latened deaf adults want them. We shldnt criticize. Many deaf haven't gotten to experience our way of life.
I wasnt always deaf. I was born hearing...my views through the years have changed as I have grown and gained knowledge. When I was 16--I begged my parents for a cochlear. I wanted one so bad. I was seriously afraid of becoming deaf--even though I was attending a deaf school.
Not that there was anyting wrong with being deaf--i loved my school, and I loved my friends! But--I relied sooo much on my hearing.
You see, At the age of 5- I had to wear hearing aids, because my hearing was slowly going away. When I say slow--I mean extremely gradual. When I was 16, I was wearing ONE hearing aid in my left ear. I could still talk on the phone, and undersatnd a conversation over the phone. I could hear birds singing, Ic ould hear my mom hollar at me from the next room over, I could sort of follow a conversation if too many people were not talking at once, AND if I knew what the topic of the conversation was.
I cried everytime my hearing got worse and worse. How would I be able to live life without being able to hear? But u know? Its not so bad at all!
I became Miss. Deaf Oklahoma in 1993. I attended college. I had jobs. I have and continue to live a full life. Today, I am happy that my parents couldn't afford the cochlear in the 80s. I'm a very good eligibility for cochlear to be sucessful if i were to accept it now. But you know? I am just fine without it.
I consider myself an asset to the deaf community. With or without a cochlear.
But let me say this. EVEN if i were to get a cochlear--the deaf community would still be a part of my life. I wouldnt get a cochlear--so I could be "hearing" again. I wouldnt be getting it to leave the deaf world and become a "hearing person". No. Just to hear sounds again, and hear my sons voice again. But thats okay no worries because its not gonna happen :)
As a deaf person without cochlear, I consider myself sucessful. A full time mom, an advocate, a deaf interpreter, a QAST Evaluator for the State of Oklahoma, and much much more.
Just for any moms out there reading this--theres nothing wrong with the deaf way of life. :) Even if ur considering cochlear for your child-let them be a part of the deaf community in some way. This could turn out to be a positive experience, for you, and for your child.
With much love. :) I'll always be in full SUPPORT of ASL. But if a hearing parent wants to give their child a cochlea implant--we can't stop them---we can embrace their decision--and encourage them to support ASL and be a part of the deaf community somehow.
Your thoughts and opinions are welcome :)
Dont forget to mention the positive psychological impact on the Job \ Employment scene, for some reason, prospective interviewers are more "open" to discussions of accommodations needed under the ADA or hearing your recommendations of approppriate accomodations after selling's one's job-related profile and skills to the Interviewer.
ReplyDeleteIn the past, we deaf as a people had an ongoing joke created as a result of history repeating itself often enough....
It goes like this:
A Deaf Individual, with an Engineering Degree, applied for an Civil Engineering job, and apparently wasnt taken seriously enough when his deafness was "discovered" during a job interview.
Having learned the reason for his failure to "sell" his technical expertise, He requested, and was granted a second interview the next week.
When he came back the following week, of course, he was wearing his hearing aid, even though he was known to be profoundly deaf and of course, subsequently, hired for the job as the best technical engineer among all applicants.
Moral of the story?
Human Resource Interviewers are human!
Their protective "fears" while using their "best judgment" is always factored into an interviewing angle, its not the Deafness per se that has anything to do with it, its just a "human concern" that the concept of deafness brings out in interviewers that has to be addressed, no matter how mythical it is.
The advances of Time and Technology has now shift this from the "hearing aid" marketplace onto the shoulders of the Cochlear Implant field of opportunities
For Adults who are immersed in a working climate surrounded by hearing co-workers, its a "developmental plus", but the jury is still out when the issue of cochlear implants being added to children is considered a "benefit" ( I dont see how it is)
~Roadie~