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Getting my first cochlear implant was a very big deal for me and one the biggest event that has happened during my 17 years of life. The process that lead me to being diagnosed bilaterally profound deaf and if I would be eligible to get a cochlear implant also tie with this significant event. I do not necessary remember how I got diagnosed as deaf but I do remember wearing hearing aids when I was around two or three but I was not catching everything my parents or other people were saying. For example, I have one vivid memory of me and my mom in my house on the staircase leading to the second floor and I remember mom talking to me but I did not know exactly what she was saying. However, as my hearing continued to decline the hearing aids were
At a young age, I witnessed my younger brother lodge an eraser in his ear and later have it removed by a doctor. A year later he had tubes inserted and a year or so after that, I saw those tubes fall out of his head. Besides thinking that my younger brother was really a robot with metal parts falling out of his brain, it was where my fascination of the human ear began. Since then I’ve helped my grandfather and father with their hearing aids, especially replacing the small batteries which was difficult for their large farmers’ hands. I’ve also observed my older sister, an Audiologist in California, for two weeks as she worked with patients, letting me do hearing aid cleanings, help with sales, file patient records, observe ear molds being
Cochlear implants are amazing feats of biomedical engineering, and have helped many people regain the ability to hear. While there are some ethical dilemmas that go along with them, there is no denying just how amazing these implants really are. By understanding how the ear works, what causes it to stop working, and using science and engineering to fix that problem, there is now a way to give someone a sense they might have never been able to experience. It can be costly, but it could drastically change someone’s life. Some people may say for worse, but there will always be someone else to say it was for better. Overall, cochlear implants are an incredible invention and will continue to grow and only get better with technology.
Lane, Harlan (1992). “Cochlear Implants are Wrong for Young Deaf Children.” Viewpoints on Deafness. Ed. Mervin D. Garretson. National Association of the Deaf, Silver Spring, MD. 89-92.
Many individuals have different views surrounding cochlear implants. Most of the Deaf community tends to be against them whereas most of the hearing community tends to be in favor of them. It is important to understand not only want a cochlear implant is, but how the different communities view the implants so that we can gain a better understanding of Deaf culture.
Cochlear Implants are frequently thought of as an end all solution to hearing loss, a cure for deafness. However there are a couple things wrong with this line of thinking: First CI’s are not a perfect replacement for fully functioning ears. Second, they will only work for a few deaf people.
Tucker, Bonnie. “Deaf Culture, Cochlear Implants, and Elective Disability.” Hastings Center Report. 28.4 (1998): 1-12. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 9 Dec. 2013.
Weise, Elizabeth. "Cochlear implants can be 'magic device' if put in early enough; Kids learn
Marie Jean Philip was born on April 20, 1953, in Worchester, Massachusetts. She was the first-born child. Although she was born to deaf parents, Marie’s deafness came as a surprise for her parents. She had two sisters whom were also deaf. Deafness was hereditary in her family, however not everyone in her family was deaf. Marie’s father had one sister who was deaf and her mother had two siblings who were also deaf. When Marie was 11 months her parents noticed that she wasn’t responding to all noises. Her parents decided to test her hearing one day by creating noises behind Marie to see if she would respond. When Marie responded only to the loudest of noises, such as pots banging together, they found that at times she could hear with her right ear, but she could not hear anything out of her left.
In my life, I've had a major setback that has changed how I live life day to day. When I was five, I was diagnosed with permanent hearing loss. I have hearing loss in both ears, mostly in higher frequencies, but I still have some hearing loss in the lower ones too. Since I was 5, it has only gotten worse, just in the past year there has been drastic changes in the frequencies that I can't hear. Hearing loss affects me day to day, for example if anyone whispers something to me, nine of ten times I can't hear what they are saying. My academics also get affected because sometimes I can't hear what we have for homework over all of the background noise of people packing up, so sometimes I just don't do homework because I never heard it in the first place. Not doing homework because I can't hear it affects my grades as I will get zeros for not doing it.
When I was four I had a brain tumor. The surgery left me with a paralyzed arm, crossed eye and a deaf ear. To make matters worse, the paralyzed arm was also my writing hand and I had to learn to be right-handed. When I was transferred from North Shore Hospital to Rusk Institute for Rehabilitation in New York City, I learned to use a wheelchair and was fitted for a brace that extended from my hips to my ankles.
The Bionic Ear, which is an artificial hearing device, intended to directly stimulate the implant recipient’s auditory nerve. It is implanted surgically into the ear, and is activated by a device that is worn outside of the user’s body. The purpose of the Bionic Ear is to bypass the normal hearing mechanism within the human ear and convert speech and sounds into signals that are sent to the hearing centres of the brain. This technology was first researched and devised by Professor Graham Clark in the 1960s to 1970s and since then, a range of implants have been devised by the Nucleus Cochlear division. As opposed to the traditional hearing aid which makes use of sound vibrations, the Bionic Ear converts these vibrations into electrical stimuli that are picked up by the auditory nerve and transmit them to the implant recipient’s brain.
What does living a life with hearing and vision loss entail? In the 1800's many deaf children were seen as an embarrassment and disposition for their families, but in 1880 a child was born that would change the depiction of impaired children forever. On June 27, 1880 Helen Keller, a perfectly healthy child was born into a wealthy family. Unfortunately, 19 months later she fell incredibly ill resulting in the loss of both her sight and hearing. Due to her inability to effectively communicate as a child she soon began to act out in extreme manners. In attempt to find help for their beloved child, Helen's parents sought out the advice of well-known inventor Dr. Alexander Graham Bell. As a result of their meeting, the family hired a personal educator by the name of Anne Sullivan who came to work with Helen beginning March 3, 1887. Thanks to her incredible determination and the guidance of her governess, Helen Keller became a world-wide influence for both disabled and average individuals when she overcame both blindness and deafness to succeed as an author, political activist,
Having a hearing loss can affect both our physical and mental lives. The best way to help most people with hearing losses is getting a hearing aid. In my life, I have conductive hearing loss which is caused by infections and, in my case, scar tissue. From third grade to middle of my fifth grade year, I was having trouble hearing my parents and the teachers at school trying to talk to me. I would not hear what they were saying; therefore, I was hearing mumbling sounds. I had to try to piece the words together to try to figure out what those around me were saying. My parents noticed I was having a difficult time, and that was when I went for a hearing test. The audiologist mentioned it would be a good idea if I would get a hearing aid. I was hesitant at first about getting a one. I did not know anything about them; besides, they were for elderly people. I was in fifth grade. I did not know anyone who wore one that was my age; however, I needed to get over that fact. I needed one, and it was probably one of the only instruments that would help me hear.
First of all, when I was a baby, my Mom noticed that I was not responding when she called my name. Each time Mom took me to the doctor, the doctor said everything was fine. One time the doctor clapped behind my head to test my hearing. I turned to the doctor and the doctor told Mom, “See, he can hear.” When I was 18 months old, Mom asked the doctor, “shouldn’t he be talking by now?” The doctor said,” Boys are slow. My son never talked until he was 2 ½ years old and then he just started talking in sentences.” But, Mom didn’t give up. She took me to an audiologist to have my hearing tested. The audiologist diagnosed me as being deaf. This is where I was truly my own body, being deaf without a cochlear implant. My parents showed they loved and cared about me by not giving up when they thought something was wrong. This is kind of ironic because I was my own body and my parents wanted to change it for the good. Meaning that they want to give me a cochlear implant so I can hear.
One thing I would have to cope with is learning how to get around without hearing and learning how to be in the world with strength. I have to be able to lip-read and learn to face challenges in the world where many people and public are surrounded, even in schools and jobs. learning to understand people is one way, when talking or explaining because a deaf person can't hear well. I would have to understand not to say anything or give a response until their is an understatement between both people, especially me who would have to lip-read. Learning to use hearing aids would