Retinal implant and cochlear implant

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Mrs Bucket

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At this stage of my life and the stage of my rapid progression of my blindness/deafness.. I have been discussing this with my husband and my doctors. The cochlear implant, the retinal implant and their benefits.

So far I know I do want the CI, it will assist me much more towards my independence considering I have lost so much sight. The retinal implant, I still get puzzled why I am received differently when I discuss "retinal implant" compared to "cochlear implant".

When I say "retinal implant", I get ooh's and ahh's, praises and encouragements.

When I say "cochlear implant", I get looks of disgusts, disdain and even to the point when others will try to say it will not work for me.

Why the difference between those two wonderful tools of communication?

It is like taking my cane & intervenor away by saying, "They don't work for you!" This is what I'm constantly puzzled by the attitude.
 
It's probably because of the type of people that you're asking.

The people you mentioned cochlear implants and retinal implants to... were they mostly deaf or blind?
 
I'm deaf. I don't have a CI yet. I will get a CI soon. I am waiting someone to call back for schedule. I has Retina and usher syndrome. I never hear of Retinal Implant before. Do you have a RI and CI?
 
I did not hear of the retinal implant before now either. And I have bad scarring in the macula of the right eye.

I would go for a retinal implant if it is really happening. Wow.
 
In my experience, I've talked to adventitiously totally blind people who welcome the idea of having a retinal implant and say that they'd opt for the procedure if they were given the opportunity.

However, people like me who were born completely blind (I was born completely blind due to retinopathy of prematurity/ROP) are less enthusiastic about them (for ourselves) since we don't feel as if we need to be "fixed" or need sight to live a happy, successful and productive life.

The same can be said of CIs. Most people who are late deafened tend to have better attitudes when it comes to CIs as opposed to those who are prelingually Deaf.

I think in both cases, congenitally totally blind and prelingually Deaf people view these implants as a means of "fixing" what isn't broken. They don't view them as a tool to help one's independence and communication. Instead, they look at them as a possible threat to their existence.

If you're truly interested in getting a CI or a retinal implant when it is released, I wouldn't let anyone stop you from doing so. After all, the decision is yours in the end and you're the one who needs to be happy with the decision you've made. :)
 
Although I'm a prelingually deaf adult, I have a CI. However, I must note here that I wasn't always pro CI. I wonder if the people you asked were mostly prelinguals as most don't see themselves as defective or in need of fixing. I wouldn't tell them to get a CI as I consider it a personal decision and it'd be very disrespectful to them if I were to insist they get a CI.

Despite my CI, I'm still very much a Deaf person even though I can hear at 20 dbs with my CI. I still need help with certain phone calls like for example I don't cope well with background noises so I use relay to order pizza even though I'm certain I can call most offices or my parents without much difficulty.

If I were to become blind, I'd certainly want surgery to restore my sign as I'm a very visual person. Lisa on the other hand would not and I can see where she comes from.
 
deafskeptic said:
If I were to become blind, I'd certainly want surgery to restore my sign as I'm a very visual person. Lisa on the other hand would not and I can see where she comes from.
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deafskeptic,

I can completely understand your position as well. Since you've become used to relying on your sight to do things, it only makes sense that you would want your vision to be restored.

Since I don't know any differently, it really makes no difference whether or not I'm able to see in the first place. Aside from that, if I were to receive a retinal implant, I would have to learn how to read, recognize everyday objects, drive (not that this would necessarily be a bad thing :)), travel outdoors without being distracted by visual stimuli, the list goes on and on.

I'm perfectly happy being totally blind. If I ever decide to change my mind and opt for a retinal implant, it would most likely be due to the fact that I'm curious to know what it's like to be able to see -- not because I want to be "fixed" or turned into a sighted person.
 
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