Cochlear implants represent a relatively new approach to treating deaf and partially deaf peoples via surgical implantation of a device which receives sounds from the environment, and transmits them via electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve. The cochlear implant represents an effective way to treat the hearing impaired on a case-by-case basis, offering successful results to those who otherwise may never be able to hear.
We must disregard the population who have had both positive and negative reactions to the surgery to understand the surrounding controversy, which does not focus on the efficacy and success of the cochlear implant on the recipient, but rather on the deaf culture and whether the use of such a device imposes a societal standard which marginalizes the hearing impaired and categorizes them as “disabled”.
Those who are pre-lingually deaf with ASL being there first language are often the most critical of the procedure. Cochlear implants have the highest rate of success when they are implanted in early childhood when the brain is in its most critical stage of development, therefore encouraging a non-deaf sociocultural upbringing and identity.
The
…show more content…
The strength of deaf identity may be present in parents, but by deciding against cochlear implants for children, they may be jeopardizing life and/or career opportunities in the future. One can clearly survive and function in the hearing world as being deaf or hearing impaired, but to what degree can one do so in comparison to their non-deaf counterparts? Is it merely prejudice to offer employment to a person of sound hearing capabilities due to better performance, or is this the myth of disability? Would the difficulties of assimilating with the hearing world as a deaf child and person strengthen character and other interpersonal skills that others would not have, or would it limit them from greater socioeconomic