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This is interesting and comes from a deaf mother of a deaf daughter. They bot have bilateral CI's.
Source: How to Decide on Cochlear Implant Surgery for Children | HearingExchange - Helping Adults and Parents Deal with Hearing Loss since 2000
How to Decide on Cochlear Implant Surgery for Children
Submitted by Paula Rosenthal on March 1, 2008 – 9:55 amPlease Comment
At some point or another, parents of children with severe or worse hearing loss may be encouraged to have cochlear implant surgery for their child. The suggestion may come from school professionals, medical professionals including doctors or audiologists or speech therapists. They also may receive strong opinions from deaf adults or other parents telling them not to “fix” their child, that if they were born deaf, they are meant to be deaf. Cochlear implants are a very personal decision, one that is not necessarily “right” for every person or family. Having said that, I do think it is something to be carefully considered using a variety of resources.
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 cochlear implants, the better the outcomes are in general. This does not mean that an older child will not benefit. But it does mean that he/she may have to work harder than younger children. Whether the child was able to hear speech with hearing aids prior to cochlear implantation can also determine the ease of adjustment.
While many parents who choose cochlear implants for their kids also use oral communication, getting cochlear implants does not mean that children have to stop signing or not continue to 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 – The Hearing Implant Company | Cochlear Implants | Middle Ear Implants | Electric Acoustic Stimulation!
BionicEar.com – Harmony Cochlear Implant by Advanced Bionics!
Cochlear: World leader in advanced hearing solutions. Nucleus cochlear implants and the Baha system.!
For those who are concerned about implanting children who use sign language, 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 child 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 at least 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. My favorite cochlear implant support groups online are CICIRCLE with over 1500 parents which can be joined online here and CI Hear, also with over 1500 members which can be found online here.
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 at info@hearingexchange.com.