Controversies surrounding Cochlear implant Deafness is defined under the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) as the following; “An inability to comprehend verbal language due to an inability to hear characterizes deafness. A hearing impairment that is so severe that the child is impaired in processing linguistic information through hearing, with or without amplification.” I think acknowledging the definition of deafness is very important. The reason being that the way deafness is defined by people who are of hearing and the way people with this disability define deafness, after watching the documentary “Sound And Furry”(2000) consist of two very different outlooks on definitions. As well as two different outlooks on enchantments …show more content…
Through this documentary, I learned that most people who are categorized as “deaf” view them self as being part of their own special community/culture. This documentary was released in 2000 and is about two American families with young deaf children and the conflict they and their families face over whether or not to give their children cochlear implants, is the right choice for their children. Cochlear implants are surgically implanted devices that may improve their ability to hear but at the same time viewed as a threat to their deaf identity. The main question that the implant brings to the table is “if you could make your deaf child hear would you?” To me, a person who is of hearing, if I had a child who was born deaf, the response would be easy. I would be all for my child getting the cochlear implant. The cochlear implant has done wonderful things for many children. For example, on one of the family’s that consist of both parents being part of the deaf community go on a journey to find their answer as whether or not they should give their daughter Heather the cochlear implant. Being very skeptical of the implant; they meet up with a family from New Jersey who, just like Heathers family is completely deaf. Heathers family travels to meet with this young girl named Nancy, in hopes of getting an answer as to whether they should provide Heather with …show more content…
They believed that getting the implant for their 18 month old son was best decision for their son Peter. After much controversy between the family. As well as Heather not getting the implant and baby Peter getting the implant. Baby Peter’s parents believed that they made the right decision by giving Peter the cochlear implant. The documentary ends with Peter’s parent’s saying they were so happy that Peter now had this sense of freedom and opportunity. That he now obtained the key to the world. He continued on to say that deaf culture as we know is done. Which I would have to agree with. As years pass and technology improves I really do think that there will be cures that form for certain disabilities or at least technology that makes living with a certain disability easier.
After watching this documentary and hopefully being a future special education teacher. It really got me thinking more about the deaf community as well as my overall thoughts on the cochlear implant. With that being said I decided to do my own research about how the implant works, how it’s different from a hearing aid and the risk that come along with getting the