Well, I'll just sum everything up about me - I was born hearing, but was deafened when I was baby. My whole family pointed out that cochlear implant would be a solution and a "cure" for my deafness. But my mother, who is a coda herself refused to go ahead with an implantation. My first language is Auslan (Australian Sign Language), and my first word I signed was when I was 6 months old. I have a really good language start when I was younger, with an excellent "deaf intervention" programs that my mother have "installed" on me. I went to a first bilingual primary school in Queensland, Toowong State School, and everything was going very well and I was so happy with my life. Now... I am a deaf high school student, and I am aiming to go to university when I finish school (in 2012). I use the sign language for most of my life, and I am happy about it. I have a lot of signing and oral deaf friends, along with hearing peers. I grew up with the usage of total communication (signing and talking) but it wasn't until when I was Year 5 (10 years old) when I found my deaf identity and its culture. That's when I decided to stop talking and take off my hearing aids.
For five years, as from when I stopped talking, my identity on deafness grew and I made a lot of new deaf friends. I moved to Sydney in 2008 to go to The Hills Grammar School under the scholarship program and mainstream with other hearing people. The reason why I moved to Sydney, is because my mother refused to let me to learn Signed English. Signed English is an english-coded sign language... well, actually, it is not a "sign language" anyway. Queensland Government have spent $37 million toward a transition program and bilingual development from Signed English into a complete Auslan education.
Now... I am 16 year old, and I grew up extremely opposed to Cochlear Implant and I don't believe the ideology that it would be a benefit or "good enough" for deaf people. But recently, I just "switched on" my mind, and changed my attitude, perspective and beliefs on the CI almost immediately.
Just this year, I decided to go ahead with cochlear implant. My mother, who herself is opposed to CI (not opposed but don't believe in them) is still struggling with my decision. She, herself, really don't want me to get one but she will just follow what I want, for myself.
I am now on the second stage of CI assessment, but one thing is hitting me off is that "will the CI benefit me?" "what will happen if it fails?" and so many unanswered questions.
My speech and listening have dramatically improved in last 3 months when I started an extensive speech therapies and a new hearing aid "to practice for CI". I was able to order double cheeseburger meal for my maccas lunch. I am starting to interpret for my deaf friends, and I really love it. My audiologists and speech therapiest couldn't believe how fast I am improving lately, a new words I've learning how to speak every day. I was able to recognise many sounds with my hearing aid. I firmly believe that CI will be good for me, and I firmly want it.
My mother kept telling me "what if it fails?" "You can't assume that it will cure your deafness?" In reality, I think all of her information she have told me is a fifteen year information. She always remind me of my deaf friends whom their CI have failed, with damaged facial nerves, but I also try and remind her that all of my failed CI friends was operated 15 years ago. Nowadays, there are a technology to warn doctors whenever if they are cutting too close to my nerves.
In the conclusion, after my operation (which it could be held in Christmas holidays), I will still be using sign language but I am only asking for a CI to open more doors for me. According to my friends, peers, deaf community and my hearing friends, I am classified as "academically deaf". I do hard subjects at school, such as advanced english (grammar is still a problem, but I am doing well in Adv English anyway :P) and modern history. I believe that cochlear implant is vital for me, because I am aiming to go to university and gain a degree (or masters) on architecture.
Cochlear Implant do not cure my deafness, but I am just using it to open more doors, and reduce the communication barriers. Even after the switch on, I will be still a deaf person. No matter what. Just a signing deaf person who can talk.
I think I've given you enough information, whenever if CI would be good enough for me. Advices? Feedbacks? I am willing to listen your ideas, or whatever.
For five years, as from when I stopped talking, my identity on deafness grew and I made a lot of new deaf friends. I moved to Sydney in 2008 to go to The Hills Grammar School under the scholarship program and mainstream with other hearing people. The reason why I moved to Sydney, is because my mother refused to let me to learn Signed English. Signed English is an english-coded sign language... well, actually, it is not a "sign language" anyway. Queensland Government have spent $37 million toward a transition program and bilingual development from Signed English into a complete Auslan education.
Now... I am 16 year old, and I grew up extremely opposed to Cochlear Implant and I don't believe the ideology that it would be a benefit or "good enough" for deaf people. But recently, I just "switched on" my mind, and changed my attitude, perspective and beliefs on the CI almost immediately.
Just this year, I decided to go ahead with cochlear implant. My mother, who herself is opposed to CI (not opposed but don't believe in them) is still struggling with my decision. She, herself, really don't want me to get one but she will just follow what I want, for myself.
I am now on the second stage of CI assessment, but one thing is hitting me off is that "will the CI benefit me?" "what will happen if it fails?" and so many unanswered questions.
My speech and listening have dramatically improved in last 3 months when I started an extensive speech therapies and a new hearing aid "to practice for CI". I was able to order double cheeseburger meal for my maccas lunch. I am starting to interpret for my deaf friends, and I really love it. My audiologists and speech therapiest couldn't believe how fast I am improving lately, a new words I've learning how to speak every day. I was able to recognise many sounds with my hearing aid. I firmly believe that CI will be good for me, and I firmly want it.
My mother kept telling me "what if it fails?" "You can't assume that it will cure your deafness?" In reality, I think all of her information she have told me is a fifteen year information. She always remind me of my deaf friends whom their CI have failed, with damaged facial nerves, but I also try and remind her that all of my failed CI friends was operated 15 years ago. Nowadays, there are a technology to warn doctors whenever if they are cutting too close to my nerves.
In the conclusion, after my operation (which it could be held in Christmas holidays), I will still be using sign language but I am only asking for a CI to open more doors for me. According to my friends, peers, deaf community and my hearing friends, I am classified as "academically deaf". I do hard subjects at school, such as advanced english (grammar is still a problem, but I am doing well in Adv English anyway :P) and modern history. I believe that cochlear implant is vital for me, because I am aiming to go to university and gain a degree (or masters) on architecture.
Cochlear Implant do not cure my deafness, but I am just using it to open more doors, and reduce the communication barriers. Even after the switch on, I will be still a deaf person. No matter what. Just a signing deaf person who can talk.
I think I've given you enough information, whenever if CI would be good enough for me. Advices? Feedbacks? I am willing to listen your ideas, or whatever.
it seems to me that you know the answer. Go for it. are you still in australia? i notice that you registered it in sept. what took you to make post within 3 months later?
