"The fact is that when my wife and I were considering the implant for our daughter we heard the same basic arguments against the cochlear implant: they do not work, your child will never develop speech with a ci, you are trying to turn your child into a hearing person, you do not love your child, you do not accept your child, what effect will it have upon Deaf Culture, you are trying to cure her deafness, you are being brainwashed by the professionals, etc. Much of the same misinformation that is still out there today.
But we did our research, met with deaf people both pro and con, met with professionals both pro and con, met with ci adults, parents of ci kids and ci kids themselves (although at that time there were not so many) did a lot of soul searching and made a decision that we felt, was with our daughter's best interests in our minds and in our hearts. Mind you too that all our wonderful implant team ever told us was that it might give her some access to sound and at all times emphasized that it was our decision to make and ours alone. I know I am condensing a process that took over a year into a few sentences, so please forgive me but in the end, we chose to give our daughter the benefits and opportunities of the cochlear implant. We knew we had no gurantees.
Our daughter was born into a rather large and extended family who have always loved her unconditionally and we felt it was important that she be given every opportunity to be a part of her family, her neighborhood and her community. We also wanted her to have the best education possible. We chose what we thought was best for her but we have never felt or stated it is the only way for all children or that every child should have a ci. It is a personal decision to be made by the child's parents and it is not our place to comment upon the decision others have made.
For us, the cochlear implant has exceeded all of our hopes and expectations. Our daughter is becoming a young adult (although even we question that at times!) who has unlimited opportunities ahead of her. She has great relationships with her parents, her sister, her grandparents and the rest of her family. An honor student in high school, a dean's list student in college, scholarship winner, multi-sport athlete, works and someone who possesses the most positive outlook about herself and others that I have ever met.
The complete antithesis of the negative stereotype she paints of ci teens and young adults.
So when I think of that in light of the relationship my wife and I enjoy with our daughter, my response to you about someone who says I am "destructive" to society is twofold: a wee bit melodramatic and consider the source.
To me, as I have said before there is no one way to raise any child and while we may have taken different paths we probably all share the same goals and desires for our children. Also, while a ci may not be for everyone, every parent should have the right to consider it as an option for their child.
Regards,
Rick
keep it up!
