In individuals with profound sensorineural hearing loss, the hearing mechanism, specifically the cochlea, does not function properly and is incapable of transmitting sound signals to be processed in the brain. Fortunately, a relatively recent medical innovation involving cochlear implants allows these individuals, who would otherwise be deaf, to perceive sound. Cochlear implantation is a safe procedure performed on individuals with profound sensorineural hearing loss in which an electric device is surgically embedded behind the ear. The cochlear implant acts as a transducer, collecting sound and converting it to an electrical signal that bypasses the defective hearing mechanism and directly stimulates the acoustic nerve and continues throughout …show more content…
It is important to note that the controversy mostly lies in performing cochlear implantation in prelinguistic children, rather than in individuals who once had normal hearing and had already developed a language. This paper will identify the arguments of both sides of this controversial matter: those that are against in favor of cochlear implantation, and those that are against it. Additionally, I will outline my personal view on this matter, which is that deafness is considered a disability and that cochlear implantation should be performed in prelinguistic children. Finally, responses to potential objections to my view will be provided. For people in the hearing community, it might be difficult to comprehend why anyone would detest the procedure of cochlear implantation. After all, for most people, hearing is a crucial sense that is fully utilized on a daily basis, whether it be listening to music, waking up to an alarm clock, or conversing with others. Nevertheless, there are many that completely oppose cochlear implantation. For one, cochlear implantation appears to endorse the notion that deafness is a disability, as it is performed with the intent to “fix” deafness. To obtain a better understanding of why the deaf might not
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.
Cochlear implants are electronic devices that sends signals directly to the auditory nerve. Cochlear implants consist of external parts which include the microphone, speech processor, and the transmitter. They also consist of internal parts that must be surgically placed under the skin including the receiver and electrical array. In order for the implant to work, the microphone
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.
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.
What I found most interesting about Jarashow’s presentation were the two opposing views: Deaf culture versus medical professionals. Within the Deaf culture, they want to preserve their language and identity. The Deaf community wants to flourish and grow and do not view being deaf as a disability or being wrong. Jarashow stated that the medical field labels Deaf people as having a handicap or being disabled because they cannot hear. Those who are Deaf feel as though medical professionals are trying to eliminate them and relate it to eugenics. It is perceived that those in that field are trying to fix those who are Deaf and eliminate them by making them conform to a hearing world. Those within the Deaf community seem to be unhappy with devices such
A cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that can help to provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly Deaf or severely hard-of-hearing. The implant consists of an external portion that sits behind the ear and a second portion that is surgically placed under the skin. Usually, Deaf people are against the implant, because it would destroy the unique characteristic of themselves. Another point is that, the implant does not restore normal hearing. Instead, it can give a Deaf person only a representation of sounds in the environment and help him or her to understand the speech. Of course, the implant can change lives, but it is an individual choice. If a Deaf person does not want it, the decision must be respected. Audists feel that they have to force cochlear implants on Deaf people regardless of whenever they want it or not. Why would someone prefer to stay deaf? Simple: Members of the Deaf culture do not see themselves as disabled, and resent any discrimination or inference that they are disadvantaged. Their culture is wonderful and they are very proud to be part of
My essay topic is the language development of deaf infants and children. In my opinion, this is an important topic to discuss, due to the lack of public knowledge concerning the deaf population. Through this essay, I wish to present how a child is diagnosed as having a hearing loss (including early warning signs), options that parents have for their children once diagnosed (specifically in relation to education of language), common speech teaching methods used today, typical language development for these children, and some emotional, social, and mental difficulties faced by the deaf child and the child’s family that have an immense effect on the child’s education.
Although attempts to stimulate hearing with electricity date back to the 1950s, the modern version of the cochlear implant did not appear until the 1970s (Wilson & Dorman, 2008, p. 3). The earliest versions relied upon a single electrode to translate sound into electrical impulses and relay them to the brain. Engineers were steadily making progress, however, and by the 1990s implants in young children had become fairly routine (Wilson & Dorman, 2008, p. 3). The modern cochlear implant currently ...
The medical field is notorious for providing cures to deafness, such as cochlear implants, which then leads people to believe that it is something that must be fixed and therefore labels deafness as a disability. While Tina Gianoulis was comparing the similarities between Queer and Deaf experiences in her article mentioned earlier she declares that, “most painfully, both groups have traditionally been forced to try to become “normal”. Well-meaning parents, determined that their children not be labeled “different”, have sent thousands of deaf children to speech pathologists and mainstream schools where they spend their youth feeling lonely, bewildered, and deficient.” which is the negative effect that the deafness should be cured thought has on those that actually experience hearing
Weise, Elizabeth. "Cochlear implants can be 'magic device' if put in early enough; Kids learn
The Cochlear Implant The cochlear implant is possibly one of the greatest inventions designed to benefit the deaf community. A cochlear implant is a device implanted internally behind a deaf persons ear with an external microphone, and is designed to provide artificial sounds to people who have nerve deafness in both ears and show no ability to understand speech through hearing aids. Since the development of the cochlear implant in the 1960’s, more than 10,000 people worldwide have been implanted with this device. Although this may seem like the perfect device to aid deafness, a lot of controversy still exists about the cochlear implant.
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.
From a deafness-as-defect mindset, many well-meaning hearing doctors, audiologists, and teachers work passionately to make deaf children speak; to make these children "un-deaf." They try hearing aids, lip-reading, speech coaches, and surgical implants. In the meantime, many deaf children grow out of the crucial language acquisition phase. They become disabled by people who are anxious to make them "normal." Their lack of language, not of hearing, becomes their most severe handicap. While I support any method that works to give a child a richer life, I think a system which focuses on abilities rather than deficiencies is far more valuable. Deaf people have taught me that a lack of hearing need not be disabling. In fact, it shouldn?t be considered a lack at all. As a h...
Nicholas, J. & Geers, A. (2007). Will they catch up? The role of age at cochlear implantation in the spoken language development of children with severe to profound hearing loss. Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, 50(4), 1048-1062. Retrieved from
Then, when I was three years old, I had surgery to get a cochlear implant at the University of Minnesota. A cochlear implant is a small device which bypasses the damaged parts of the ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerve. Signals generated by the implant are sent by the auditory nerve to the brain, which recognizes t...