Deaf infants getting cochlear implants younger than ever

Miss-Delectable · 01-23-2010, 08:11 PM

Deaf infants getting cochlear implants younger than ever | Dallas - Fort Worth News | wfaa.com | Health News

Surgically implanted electronic devices called cochlear implants help some 200,000 people hear every year.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the implants for children as young as 12 months old. However, some doctors are now going outside FDA recommendations, saying earlier can be even better. Doctors are also implanting cochlear implants in both ears at the same instead of doing them one at a time.

"Then the brain is better able to learn to use both ears together for added benefits such as sound localization, better hearing and background noise, things of that nature." said Dr. Bob Peters, an otolaryngologist at Forest Park Medical Center in Dallas.

While implanting a nine-month old with cochlear implants is still rare in the United States, in Europe infants as young as six months old have received the implants. That knowledge helped Kemper and Helen Johnson decide to get bilateral cochlear implants for their profoundly deaf son, who is just nine months old.

"I'm sure he could live a happy life as a deaf person," Mr. Johnson said. "But, any advantage we can give him to hear and to go to normal schools, we wanted to take that opportunity.

Kemper Johnson Jr. was the youngest child to be implanted with a cochlear implant at Forest Park Medical Center.

His parents hope their son will grow up never knowing anything except the gifts of sound.

Bebonang · 01-24-2010, 08:28 PM

Juli-terp-to-be · 01-24-2010, 08:38 PM

I hate it when the father kept saying 'normal'. His child was born deaf. He was naturally nomal. Abnormal is putting an electronic device in the infant's head to make him hear.

**shel90** · 01-24-2010, 08:40 PM

"I'm sure he could live a happy life as a deaf person," Mr. Johnson said. "But, any advantage we can give him to hear and to go to normal schools, we wanted to take that opportunity.

That is an insult to those who go to deaf schools or are in deaf programs. Sure, they are abnormal.

Stupid asshole.

Juli-terp-to-be · 01-24-2010, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shel90

"I'm sure he could live a happy life as a deaf person," Mr. Johnson said. "But, any advantage we can give him to hear and to go to normal schools, we wanted to take that opportunity.

That is an insult to those who go to deaf schools or are in deaf programs. Sure, they are abnormal.

Stupid asshole.

Great minds think alike Shel. That was what ticked me off about the father also.

01-24-2010, 09:26 PM

Quote:

"I'm sure he could live a happy life as a deaf person," Mr. Johnson said. "But, any advantage we can give him to hear and to go to normal schools, we wanted to take that opportunity.

That is ignorant.

Lighthouse77 · 01-24-2010, 10:48 PM

What's normal?

DGirl101 · 01-25-2010, 01:37 AM

Quote:

"I'm sure he could live a happy life as a deaf person," Mr. Johnson said. "But, any advantage we can give him to hear and to go to normal schools, we wanted to take that opportunity.

Oh yeah...an asshole through and through. Just like my ex hubby who said I was not normal like everyone else, day after day.

Frisky Feline · 01-25-2010, 05:01 AM

they need to be careful using with words "normal" if they say that then things wouldn't go normal what they thought it should be. it could leads to a disappointment. oh well

Mrs Bucket · 01-25-2010, 05:20 AM

This is where cultural sensitivity really comes in.

"normal" -

Quote:

nor⋅mal [nawr-muhl] Show IPA
Use normal in a Sentence
–adjective
1. conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural.
2. serving to establish a standard.
3. Psychology.
a. approximately average in any psychological trait, as intelligence, personality, or emotional adjustment.
b. free from any mental disorder; sane.
4. Biology, Medicine/Medical.
a. free from any infection or other form of disease or malformation, or from experimental therapy or manipulation.
b. of natural occurrence.

The baby was not born normal therefore for the parents to assume a CI will reinstate the state of normalcy for their child is hilarious.

**Foxrac** · 01-25-2010, 07:12 AM

Not surprised because hearing parents with no experience about deaf babies would say like that.

I hopefully this baby's CI surgery is going smooth without expose to meningitis.

I noticed that more deaf babies who born in 2000's are receive CI than any babies that born in 1980's and 1990's, even I know some HoH babies got CI instead of try new hearing aids.

**TXgolfer** · 01-25-2010, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bebonang

I agree

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juli-terp-to-be

I hate it when the father kept saying 'normal'. His child was born deaf. He was naturally nomal. Abnormal is putting an electronic device in the infant's head to make him hear.

I strongly agree

Quote:

Originally Posted by shel90

"I'm sure he could live a happy life as a deaf person," Mr. Johnson said. "But, any advantage we can give him to hear and to go to normal schools, we wanted to take that opportunity.

That is an insult to those who go to deaf schools or are in deaf programs. Sure, they are abnormal.

Stupid asshole.

I strongly agree

deafdyke · 01-25-2010, 07:13 PM

It's very sad. Many parents who chose oral only are still grieving. THESE parents are. It's SO freaking obvious that they never knew dhh kids.

Pinky · 01-26-2010, 08:21 PM

It's not sad. That's good for baby to hear with CI. You guys shouldn't judge on baby's parent's decide. It's their decide. We can't change them. That's stupid to be pissed off at them.

You don't need to debate with me.

LakeTahoe · 01-26-2010, 08:25 PM

I had to disagreed with that parent because their child was forced to get CI. I rather to let the child make a decision not ours. I also felt that doctor brainwash parent cuz of MOOLA! Asshole doctors who are greedy!

Lighthouse77 · 01-26-2010, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinky

It's not sad. That's good for baby to hear with CI. You guys shouldn't judge on baby's parent's decide. It's their decide. We can't change them. That's stupid to be pissed off at them.

You don't need to debate with me.

What is the opposite of normal? and what is this father's view of what normal is? It appears to me that this father judge deaf people and deaf school and making it seem abnormal.

faire_jour · 01-26-2010, 08:28 PM

What is wrong with giving a child the opportunity to hear?

Normal is a bad word to use. Better would have been "neighborhood school". The father is an an asshole, he simply chose a poor word.

And Julie, if you want to be an interpreter, perhaps you should refrain from calling a large part of the Deaf community "abnormal" for their, or their parents choice to give them an implant. It is incredibly offensive.

faire_jour · 01-26-2010, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lighthouse77

What is the opposite of normal? and what is this father's view of what normal is? It appears to me that this father judge deaf people and deaf school and making it seem abnormal.

Going to a deaf school is very far from average. In fact, a very tiny percentage of people ever attend a deaf school, therefore it would be "abnormal" meaning outside the average. Doesn't mean it's bad. Having an IQ of 175 is abnormal, but not bad.

Lighthouse77 · 01-26-2010, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faire_jour

Going to a deaf school is very far from average. In fact, a very tiny percentage of people ever attend a deaf school, therefore it would be "abnormal" meaning outside the average. Doesn't mean it's bad. Having an IQ of 175 is abnormal, but not bad.

you know very well what the father mean. Deaf and deaf school is not good enough for him.

**KristinaB** · 01-26-2010, 08:39 PM

In my mind, it is reprehensible!! This is an infant we are talking about. What if the child grows up and is upset with parents for doing this to him? What's he to do then? Yeah he could turn them off or whatever you do, but it's still there and it's still major surgery for something that is not considered life-threatening.

faire_jour · 01-26-2010, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lighthouse77

you know very well what the father mean. Deaf and deaf school is not good enough for him.

Actually, I have no idea what he was thinking, and neither do you. For all you know, he is profoundly Deaf himself, but made an informed decision based on his life experience.

You (general you) would prefer to crucify him because it makes you (general you) feel better to think that parents are ignorant, stupid, or evil, rather than acknowledge that informed people can make a different choice than you.

Lighthouse77 · 01-26-2010, 08:41 PM

Quote:

You (general you) would prefer to crucify him because it makes you (general you) feel better to think that parents are ignorant, stupid, or evil, rather than acknowledge that informed people can make a different choice than you.

true...

faire_jour · 01-26-2010, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KristinaB

In my mind, it is reprehensible!! This is an infant we are talking about. What if the child grows up and is upset with parents for doing this to him? What's he to do then? Yeah he could turn them off or whatever you do, but it's still there and it's still major surgery for something that is not considered life-threatening.

The best chance for a child to learn to use an implant is as soon as possible. If you wait, you choose to make the implant not work. If you want to give your child the opportunity to learn to listen and speak, and do it without delays and struggles, it must be done at a very young age.

What is "reprehensible" about giving a child an opportunity? Opening a door?

**KristinaB** · 01-26-2010, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faire_jour

The best chance for a child to learn to use an implant is as soon as possible. If you wait, you choose to make the implant not work. If you want to give your child the opportunity to learn to listen and speak, and do it without delays and struggles, it must be done at a very young age.

What is "reprehensible" about giving a child an opportunity? Opening a door?

You can give a child the chance to speak and "listen" by whatever mean without MAJOR surgery. Why put a child through that? There are other avenues that have worked time and time again for hundreds of years, there's no reason to subject a child to this.

Pinky · 01-26-2010, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lighthouse77

What is the opposite of normal? and what is this father's view of what normal is? It appears to me that this father judge deaf people and deaf school and making it seem abnormal.

How can you tell that He judge on deaf people and deaf school???

Lighthouse77 · 01-26-2010, 08:47 PM

If he is deaf and teaching his kid ASL and knows that implant is not a cure, that's all it matter. But if he think it will make his kid "hearing" then he need realize what he is putting his kid into.

Lighthouse77 · 01-26-2010, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinky

How can you tell that He judge on deaf people and deaf school???

you tell us not to judge, but he judging too.

Pinky · 01-26-2010, 08:49 PM

It remind me of deaf child's dad was member of AD. His sn was DrewsDad. The deaf people criticized on him for forced Drew got CI at age 9 months I think. Now Drew's parents lost interest into AllDeaf because they blamed on them to implanted Drew. Drew has usher syndrome with hearing loss.

faire_jour · 01-26-2010, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KristinaB

You can give a child the chance to speak and "listen" by whatever mean without MAJOR surgery. Why put a child through that? There are other avenues that have worked time and time again for hundreds of years, there's no reason to subject a child to this.

Because research shows that less than 10% of profoundly deaf children and learn to listen and speak with hearing aids. The other 90% need visual language and can not get past "word level" with their aids.

The exact opposite is true for CI's. Close to 90% of young implanted children learn *language* through audition alone. They catch up, or never fall behind, with spoken language.

You are quite wrong. What people have been doing for hundreds of years DOES NOT WORK! Ask anyone here!!

Pinky · 01-26-2010, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lighthouse77

you tell us not to judge, but he judging too.

Whatever. I am sorry. I didn't know that Normal is bad word. That is strange to me.

01-23-2010, 08:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
Miss-Delectable V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 17,174 Blog Entries: 3	Deaf infants getting cochlear implants younger than ever Deaf infants getting cochlear implants younger than ever \| Dallas - Fort Worth News \| wfaa.com \| Health News Surgically implanted electronic devices called cochlear implants help some 200,000 people hear every year. The Food and Drug Administration has approved the implants for children as young as 12 months old. However, some doctors are now going outside FDA recommendations, saying earlier can be even better. Doctors are also implanting cochlear implants in both ears at the same instead of doing them one at a time. "Then the brain is better able to learn to use both ears together for added benefits such as sound localization, better hearing and background noise, things of that nature." said Dr. Bob Peters, an otolaryngologist at Forest Park Medical Center in Dallas. While implanting a nine-month old with cochlear implants is still rare in the United States, in Europe infants as young as six months old have received the implants. That knowledge helped Kemper and Helen Johnson decide to get bilateral cochlear implants for their profoundly deaf son, who is just nine months old. "I'm sure he could live a happy life as a deaf person," Mr. Johnson said. "But, any advantage we can give him to hear and to go to normal schools, we wanted to take that opportunity. Kemper Johnson Jr. was the youngest child to be implanted with a cochlear implant at Forest Park Medical Center. His parents hope their son will grow up never knowing anything except the gifts of sound. __________________ "Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light." - Helen Keller

01-24-2010, 08:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
Bebonang Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Manitoulin Island on Lake Huron in Canada Posts: 7,007	__________________ I HAVE BEEN DEAF SINCE BIRTH, AND IT IS STILL AWESOME TO BE . (thumb up) (very happy)

01-24-2010, 08:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
shel90 Let It Snow!!!! Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: A place where crabs are popular Posts: 40,274 Blog Entries: 3	"I'm sure he could live a happy life as a deaf person," Mr. Johnson said. "But, any advantage we can give him to hear and to go to normal schools, we wanted to take that opportunity. That is an insult to those who go to deaf schools or are in deaf programs. Sure, they are abnormal. Stupid asshole. __________________ "Wine improves with age. The older I get, the better I like it." --- Anonymous

01-24-2010, 10:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
Lighthouse77 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 4,167	What's normal? __________________ Good thing about standards is that there are so many of them to choose from.

01-25-2010, 07:12 AM	#11 (permalink)
Foxrac Need Stormtroopers? Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Zaphias Posts: 32,402	Not surprised because hearing parents with no experience about deaf babies would say like that. I hopefully this baby's CI surgery is going smooth without expose to meningitis. I noticed that more deaf babies who born in 2000's are receive CI than any babies that born in 1980's and 1990's, even I know some HoH babies got CI instead of try new hearing aids. __________________ In Moto We Trust

Today
Deafness	Sponsored Links __________________ This advertising will not be shown in this way to registered members. Register your free account today and become a member on AllDeaf.com

01-24-2010, 08:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
Juli-terp-to-be Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 1,413	I hate it when the father kept saying 'normal'. His child was born deaf. He was naturally nomal. Abnormal is putting an electronic device in the infant's head to make him hear.

01-25-2010, 05:01 AM	#9 (permalink)
Frisky Feline Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 20,207	they need to be careful using with words "normal" if they say that then things wouldn't go normal what they thought it should be. it could leads to a disappointment. oh well

01-25-2010, 07:13 PM	#13 (permalink)
deafdyke Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Trebekistan Posts: 13,078	It's very sad. Many parents who chose oral only are still grieving. THESE parents are. It's SO freaking obvious that they never knew dhh kids.

01-26-2010, 08:21 PM	#14 (permalink)
Pinky Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5,898	It's not sad. That's good for baby to hear with CI. You guys shouldn't judge on baby's parent's decide. It's their decide. We can't change them. That's stupid to be pissed off at them. You don't need to debate with me.

01-26-2010, 08:25 PM	#15 (permalink)
LakeTahoe Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Lost somewhere in the outer space!! Help me to find my way back home to earth!! Posts: 14,205	I had to disagreed with that parent because their child was forced to get CI. I rather to let the child make a decision not ours. I also felt that doctor brainwash parent cuz of MOOLA! Asshole doctors who are greedy! __________________

01-26-2010, 08:28 PM	#17 (permalink)
faire_jour Banned Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 7,202	What is wrong with giving a child the opportunity to hear? Normal is a bad word to use. Better would have been "neighborhood school". The father is an an asshole, he simply chose a poor word. And Julie, if you want to be an interpreter, perhaps you should refrain from calling a large part of the Deaf community "abnormal" for their, or their parents choice to give them an implant. It is incredibly offensive.

01-26-2010, 08:39 PM	#20 (permalink)
KristinaB New SDIT Deacon Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Land of the backstroke Posts: 13,767	In my mind, it is reprehensible!! This is an infant we are talking about. What if the child grows up and is upset with parents for doing this to him? What's he to do then? Yeah he could turn them off or whatever you do, but it's still there and it's still major surgery for something that is not considered life-threatening. __________________ Taking life one day at a time.

01-26-2010, 08:47 PM	#26 (permalink)
Lighthouse77 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 4,167	If he is deaf and teaching his kid ASL and knows that implant is not a cure, that's all it matter. But if he think it will make his kid "hearing" then he need realize what he is putting his kid into. __________________ Good thing about standards is that there are so many of them to choose from.

01-26-2010, 08:49 PM	#28 (permalink)
Pinky Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5,898	It remind me of deaf child's dad was member of AD. His sn was DrewsDad. The deaf people criticized on him for forced Drew got CI at age 9 months I think. Now Drew's parents lost interest into AllDeaf because they blamed on them to implanted Drew. Drew has usher syndrome with hearing loss.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode