One of the recent development in medicine and science is the cochlear implant, a permanent device, which works around the damaged auditory nerve to send sound signals to the brain, something that many within the Hearing community consider a “cure” for being deaf (ASHA). Such devices, however, are controversial within the Deaf and Hearing communities because they are permanently implanted through brain surgery and destroy any natural remaining hearing an individual has. While many within the Deaf community are against the use of cochlear implants, in general, most of the debate surrounds the use of cochlear implants in deaf children by hearing parents. As children, our parents are trusted as our guardians to make our medical decisions, yet how is the implantation of a irreversible, unnecessary device on a child a decision that can be made by a hearing person? This is a decision that should be reserved for a child to make once he/she has reached “adulthood” at age eighteen. 

A cochlear implant is a device that “replaces the function of the damaged inner ear” and interacts in replacement of the auditory nerve with the cochlea to create and send sound signals to the brain (ASHA). One portion of the implant is on the outside of the head, behind the ear, the other part of the implant requires surgical implantation, underneath the skin in replacement of the damaged auditory nerve (NIDCD).  To qualify for an implant one must be profoundly deaf, and at least twelve months of age, as well as be open to receiving the implant and want to be part of the Hearing community. Also to hear successfully with an implant one must be prepared for not only brain surgery, but also extensive therapy, and for some speech therapy (NIDCD).  Cochlear implant are a very expensive upgrade and ASHA reports that a single cochlear implant can cost anywhere between $40,000 and $100,000, they also report them as “consistently ranking among the most cost-effective medical procedures,” which would make sense for those removed from the Deaf culture, because they are a permanent “fix” and take away the need to invest money else where like in ASL classes (ASHA).

According to the Baylor College of Medicine the use of a cochlear implant will “destroy any residual hearing within that ear,” which for those who are profoundly deaf, but still have some hearing, removes the chance of going back and attempting to use a hearing aid instead (“Cochlear Implants”). In a 2002 study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention it was found that children with cochlear implants were at higher risk of getting bacterial meningitis, a disease that is can kill a patient within a few hours; than children without them (CDC). This study was repeated again in 2004 and basically the same results were found. Yet to this day there are countless individuals within the United States that are still receiving cochlear implants without understanding the risk of permanent hearing loss, and for meningitis (NIDCD). Then there was the case of Dr. Lisi, who after implanting a cochlear implant on a 45 year old man, found that the right half of his face was paralyzed, and after 6 months the patient’s face still had not completely regained nerve function (Lisi, 1). Even though this was a rare occurrence, the “complication occurred despite proper operative technique (Lisi, 2).” What if that procedure had caused the facial paralysis of a child who hadn’t asked for such a device, yet they would still have to suffer the consequences. 

Children as young as twelve months can be considered candidates for cochlear implants and ASHA explains that “the younger a child implanted, the greater the benefit achieved in the areas of speech perception and speech and language development,” yet making such a permanent decision for such a young child is hard. As Andy Phalen mentions, this “can bring a deaf child into the mainstream hearing world, helping them develop speech and improve their lip-reading skills (Phalen).” And while the implantation may pull a child from its Deaf culture, it can also open many doors of possibility for them. For people like Ashley Chism, student, it has worked well for her as she mentions how, "I can hear people talk and hear other sounds well (Phalen).” The implant enabled Ashley to go to a hearing school and to be able to communicate with most. This has also caused a drastic change in Chase Crowder, who within two years after getting the implant he went from being completely silent, but to talking and interacting with others (Phalen). For these people cochlear implants have been successful, and has changed the ways these families are able to communicate. Yet at the same time it is taking these children out of the Deaf culture and removing the likelihood of them ever using sign language. 

Within the Deaf community they don’t view themselves as disabled, and according to Derosia, the “Deaf community has a rich culture, consisting of its own language and social dynamics (Derosia).” Deaf culture encourages the use of sign language, and views deaf children as the future of Deaf culture. They have their own traditions, as well as films, folklore, literature, and organizations. Deaf culture has rules on what is proper behavior in conversation, like maintaining eye contact and not walking through a conversation (“American Deaf Culture”). Deaf culture is also much more open than Hearing culture, with things such as income, bodily functions, and personal questions being acceptable topics in conversation. In the Deaf community they have their own schools just for deaf children, including college. The main or more commonly heard of college for the deaf tends to be Gallaudet University. It offers classes taught in both sign language and English, while accepting primarily deaf or hard of hearing students they also accept hearing students (Gallaudet). Gallaudet offers a variety of majors including interpretation and American Sign Language. I want to see the Deaf community and culture embraced, shows like “Switched at Birth,” which is the story of a deaf girl who was switch at birth, helps give some insight into the culture and spread the interest in it. Through the use of actual deaf/ hard of hearing actors and actresses “Switched at Birth” has also brought awareness to the use of sign language as well. 

American Sign Language is the primary language and form of communication within the Deaf community. Yet even with 1 in 8 people being deaf, American Sign Language is normally only offered as an optional class, that doesn’t fulfill the foreign language requirement (Eisert). American sign language is even currently offered at USC, but without it counting for a foreign language credit, many students will not or can’t fit it into their college schedule. The main point of the debate on whether or not American Sign Language should be accepted as a foreign language is the fact many people do not realize that it is not a direct translation, but rather an interpretation of English with its own grammatical makeup. Especially considering that American Sign Language is specific to our country, with each country having its own version of sign language, each with it’s own grammar and signs. 

A lack of people learning sign language encourages, Oralism, which is when the Deaf are not taught to sign, but instead are taught how to speak and expected to use spoken language (Berson). The AG Bell association’s mission is to attempt to make independence for those who are deaf by combining cochlear implants and programs such as speech therapy, and while this sounds good in theory. I see this as an effort to continue the practice of oralism, which makes things such as learning hard on those in the Deaf community. Deaf people shouldn’t have to spend hours learning to speak and read lips, while being denied the accommodation of sign language and an interpreter.

I think that the use of a cochlear implant is an easy fix for what these parents consider to be a disability, according to Lindsey Heale, “at least 90 percent of deaf and hard of hearing children are born to hearing parents who usually want their children to be like themselves,” instead of parents making the effort to learn sign language or employing other natural methods to communicate (Heale). Why should they get to take the easy way out, while complicating their child’s sense of identity? This lack of identity places a child in a liminal state, part of, yet not part of, both the Hearing and Deaf community. These cochlear implants take a child away from the unique culture they were born into and removes the choice of them ever getting to be apart of it, as most of them will never learn how to sign. 

A parent’s job is to protect his/her child and to make sure their needs are met, but when does that give one the right to determine if a child needs to be fixed of something that isn’t an illness? Why is there not a stronger movement to accept the Deaf into the Hearing community? Instead of looking to “cure” a child of something that makes them who they are, lets look more towards accepting them for who they are and helping them find their place in society. 
