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Introduction
Can cochlear implants magically improve the lives of deaf people by giving them hearing again? There are children who are deaf when they have scarlet fever or another high fever illness after birth. High fever can damage the structures of the inner ear, especially the hair cells and nerves, through high inflammation or infection. In most of the world, deaf people have experienced use of cochlear implants from around the time they are a baby through age 5 or after high fever. The deaf children use cochlear implants to help them hear again. Some deaf children don’t like to use cochlear implants, and some other deaf children like to use cochlear implants. One side of the argument is to use cochlear implants because of their parents, who forced them when they were little. Most hearing families don’t want their children to have hearing loss because they don’t know how to communicate, or they want their deaf children to be “normal” children like hearing children. But most families do not understand why some deaf children don’t like to use cochlear implants because families can’t understand how deaf children feel. On the other hand, deaf people like to use cochlear implants because it is their choice for their life and changes their life in the future. Some people with hearing loss want to take a “second chance” at hearing again because cochlear implants can improve the quality of life for people who want to hear again. They want to improve communication and social interaction to renew their passions and enjoyment of life. Most families or deaf people should understand both the advantages and disadvantages of cochlear implants before deciding.Perspective #1: The Disadvantage of Cochlear Implants
Many families’ experts suggest their deaf children use cochlear implants to help them hear again and hope to “cure” them of “deafness.” In her article, “Cochlear Implants - A Cultural Threat,” Michelle Jay emphasizes that most parents are hearing and their child is deaf, so hearing parents force their deaf child to use a cochlear implant. A parents “believes they are improving a deaf child’s life by giving them the ability to hear” (Jay, sec. 2, par. 2). Most deaf people who have the same experience are concerned about families trying to force their deaf children to become hearing children again. Jay knew most deaf people suffering from deafness feel heavy weight down on their shoulders for being “forced into the hearing world” (Jay, sec. 4, par. 2). Deaf children are forced to enter the hearing world to learn how to be normal people again, but deaf children may miss out on the Deaf community because they are not aware of that deaf culture. This is important to some deaf people’s lives. The deaf children are not fitting into the hearing world because cochlear implants do not make them perfect enough to become hearing people. Most hearing families thought cochlear implants would cure deaf people, but cochlear implants can affect deaf people. For example, deaf people who have experienced problems with cochlear implants often cause static noise or headaches. Deaf people have a lot of experience using cochlear implants to hear and speak like hearing people, but most hearing people don’t understand how deaf people suffer from this.Perspective #2: The Advantage of Cochlear Implants
On the opposing side, children can use cochlear implants because it is their choice for life. When deaf children use cochlear implants, then they can increase their hearing ability, which makes it easier to communicate with their families. In her article, “How a Cochlear Implant Restored Hearing and Connection: Kristin’s Story,” Pinky Pradeep Khatri explains that there is a young woman, Kristin, who became deaf. She used a hearing aid before, but it was not enough to understand. She was anxious when her hearing loss became worse and never heard again. She felt like everything was lost when she started experiencing hearing loss. Her doctor suggests trying to use a cochlear implant for help and better hearing. When she uses a cochlear implant, it changes her life because she can hear again like before (Khatri). Her patient Kristin explains how a cochlear implant changed her life because she wants to hear again. She expresses frustration about growing up with hearing aids that did not work well until receiving a more advanced cochlear implant. Most deaf children want to know how to hear in a different way and rediscover sounds. They use cochlear implants to help manage their hearing better and to learn different sounds. Also, cochlear implants are considered a positive life change and are beneficial for communication, independence, and emotional connection.
Points of Agreement
However, both sides have challenging points of agreement because both sides do not agree together, but both sides have similar thoughts. Both sides know what a cochlear implant is and that it can improve hearing. Also, here the authors from both articles agree about referring to hearing as a distinct sensory experience. These similarities about cochlear implants are better and stronger hearing than hearing aids because hearing aids do not provide enough help to hear again. While the authors frame the belief in different contexts, both sides agree on the core facts about what cochlear implants are and that they can improve access to sound beyond what hearing aids can offer.Points of Disagreement
There are several similarities and differences between Jay’s and Khatri’s points of view about cochlear implants. One of the biggest differences is their explanation and understanding of long-term cochlear implants. Jay points out that most deaf people can view “cochlear implants as a threat to their culture” (Jay, sec. 9, par. 5). Deaf people feel threatened because their deaf identity was lost or stolen from their families. And hearing families reject using sign language and force deaf children to speak. Jay explains that “[t]hey are often isolated from other deaf children” (Jay, sec. 10, par. 7). Jay provides that most deaf children/people struggle to learn about the hearing world over the deaf world. But Khatri disagrees with deaf people who have a hard time learning in the hearing world. In contrast, Khatri points out that cochlear implants can change life because they can restore hearing, learn to speak, reduce isolation, reconnect with relationships, allow enjoyment of listening to stories or music, allow the pursuit of careers, and allow participation in social life. Khatri’s patient stated, “Not only did her hearing clarity improve dramatically, but her ability to converse in social settings and enjoys everyday sounds returned” (Khatri, sec. 7, par, 1). Khatri points out that many people who have hearing loss, become hopeless, and still are not well with hearing aids. She knew they were nervous about cochlear implants because of this risky surgery, but people are ready to take the next step to get cochlear implants for a better life and hearing (Khatri). The two authors disagree on whether cochlear implants help or harm deaf children’s lives.Strengths and Weaknesses of Source #1
It’s important to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each side. Jay’s strengths in the argument were strong, and there weren’t any weaknesses. One of the greatest strengths of Jay’s argument about deaf culture. She knew that a lot of deaf people don’t want to use cochlear implants for the future, but they did learn about deaf culture. Deaf people must understand social and cultural aspects that are important for their life. According to StartASL, “Children should not be “fixed” to be like hearing people, but should be introduced to deaf culture where he or she was born to belong” (Jay, sec. 2, par. 8). Jay shows hearing families can’t try to “fix” or cure “deafness” and become a hearing person, but some families want to show their deaf children to learn about deaf culture to help accept their identity. But many deaf people have the same experiences of being forced to learn how to hear and practice speech by their parents. This is because when they are young and they don’t want to learn about the hearing world, but their parents force them to learn, they have no choice but to follow what their parents say. There is no powerful evidence or argument about how the deaf world is important to deaf people with their hearing families. Jay’s show points out how her strengths about deaf culture are more important than being trapped in the hearing world. There weren’t any weaknesses in her article.
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Strengths and Weaknesses of Source #2
Khatri, on the other hand, provides a claim that is based on a real-life story; many people have hearing loss at a late age and use cochlear implants, but it is not easy the first time because it’s challenging to understand how to overcome them effectively. Khatri explains, “Assessments allow us to understand each person’s hearing goals and lifestyle, while consultations set clear expectations and provide guidance on procedures and outcomes” (Khatri, sec. 6, par. 1). Khatri knew her patient, Kristin, tried to help people with hearing loss emotionally connect with the same experience and understand how cochlear implants affect changing lives.Compromise
Both articles were very successful, and both were very convincing. They both present evidence-based arguments and at the same time have strong claims, so one can conclude that the answer to this debate lies somewhere in the middle ground. Both sides would agree to let the people with hearing loss choose for themselves. Some people want to use cochlear implants to change their lives, as Khatri declares that cochlear implants have the power to change lives for the better. Cochlear implants affect people with hearing loss, improving communication, sound again, social health, independence, and lifestyle. Other people don’t want to use cochlear implants because they feel forced by their families. As Jay declares, cochlear implants do not help deaf people when they don’t want them, and they might make them feel they are missing out on a part of their life. Most families want to make their deaf children be “perfect” children without a deaf identity.In my opinion, after having examined both sides, I understand how people with hearing loss feel about which one is a better choice for life. I’m deaf, and I have a cochlear implant, but I’m still in the deaf world and the hearing world at the same time. In the past, my mother kind of forced me to use a cochlear implant when I was little, but now my mother lets me choose what I want. So, I chose to use a cochlear implant because I want to learn new sounds. I know how deaf people feel when they don’t want to use cochlear implants and learn to fit into the hearing world because they feel forced down. And deaf people want to have pride for their deaf identity, which is more important than being a “perfect” person. I can see how all people do not have the same goal and experience because they have different choices in their lives. I understand that both sides of the articles have different reasons for people’s opinions. In conclusion, some people want to hear again, and others don’t want to hear. Cochlear implants don’t necessarily help deaf people with what they need because some deaf people want to be “free” from audism. Cochlear implants can help some people with hearing loss to hear sounds again, but they don’t meet people’s needs like communication with sign language or connection to deaf culture. Ultimately, it’s someone else’s own personal choice and they should be able to make their own decision.
I am absolutely intrigued by this topic, I am appreciative of how personal this text feels, the implementation of personal experience is done so well. This is something most may never be able to understand fully, I feel that we should all have some basic knowledge of the deaf community, language, and culture.
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