Katt,
I agree with others here who say the school district has no business pushing cochlear implants on your family. The same goes for any professional whom you come in contact with, doctors, audiologists, therapists, etc. Cochlear implants are a very personal decision, one that is not necessarily "right" for every person. Having said that, I do think it is something to be
considered.
I am a deaf mother of a deaf daughter who is now 12. We both have bilateral cochlear implants after having worn hearing aids for years. We have been very successful with them and are able to hear and understand speech without lipreading, talk easily on the phone, understand many public address announcements and are able to hear noises from distances (sirens, people calling us, etc.) These are not things that happen magically with cochlear implants. It takes time, perserverence and auditory rehabilitation in order to achieve great results. In a word, cochlear implants are a commitment.
When it comes to children, the younger they are implanted and learn to use their CIs, the better the outcomes are in general. This does not mean that your 9 year old will not benefit. But it does mean that he/she may have to work harder than the other two children.
Getting cochlear implants does not mean that your children have to stop signing or be immersed in Deaf Culture. Those are really separate, individual choices. They will find it easier to learn to speak orally though and should have therapy to help them do so. Getting a cochlear implant (or two) and not giving the child the tools to help them use it effectively, learning to listen and speak, just doesn't make sense. It is not a "miracle" device that you pop in and suddenly comprehension soars. It takes time and practice and perserverence as I mentioned above.
In order to make any decision about this, I recommend that you research it by gathering facts, not just opinions. All of the FDA approved manufacturers put out marketing materials (dvds, books, etc.) that you can get for free. While they are truthful, remember that they are marketing materials and not everyone achieves the same results. Here are the links to their websites where you can get free info:
MED-EL
Advanced Bionics
Cochlear Americas
I recently posted on my blog about stories from Deaf/deaf people who have gotten cochlear implants. You can read it online here:
No Cochlear Implant Stories? Think Again!
Consider having your children evaluated for cochlear implants at a reputable cochlear implant center in your state. Most large hospitals have them and you can search the manufacturers' websites for the contact info. Write down and bring all of your questions to the appointment. Tell them you want to connect with other parents with children of similar ages and hearing histories who have already undergone the procedure. Find out if they have any upcoming events with parents and/or children speaking on panels. If not, give the center your phone number or email address and tell them to have two parents contact you.
Join cochlear implant groups online. Read their discussions and ask questions of the people there. You will probably be able to find other parents with similar backgrounds. Contact me at
info@hearingexchange.com to find out which online groups are my favorite. You can also do a search for them on
Yahoo! Groups - Join or create groups, clubs, forums & communities!.
Please understand, this post is not to convince you to implant your children. As I said, I firmly believe that it is an individual choice for parents. I am offering resources for you to use to make an educated choice.
Feel free to contact me at anytime.
Good luck with your decision,
Paula Rosenthal
HearingExchange
Blog and Resources for People with Hearing Loss since 2000