Day 1

Nicholas Day
Daniel Frank
English 1030
23 November 2014
Should Parents have a say in their childs future of hearing?
Over years and years of life on planet earth, technology has been through many cycles of
evolutions, all the way from the Spinning Wheel to iGlasses now. However over the years
humans have forgotten about the cochlear implant, a cochlear implant is a small, complex
electronic device that can help to provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or
severely hard-of-hearing. Many do not know about the Cochlear Implant because this
generation is all about popular technology, and IPhones and other top technology objects,
which have taken control of most of society, just not control of the Deaf Society, where Cochlear
Implants have taken control of the Deaf Society (or Deaf Community). The Deaf Community is
so caught up in its own world, arguing whether Parents should be able to give consent to choose
if their child gets the cochlear implant or not (Deaf Culture and Cochlear Implant). Carol J.
Erting talks about how being deaf is a way of life and that those who are born deaf should take it
as a gift and cherish it, basically saying to Parents of deaf children to say no to having the
surgical procedure done (NIH, Para.11, Sec. 4), and allow their child or children to live the Deaf
Way (Carol J. Erting).
Carol states that Deaf people are hard to find and are hidden in the world, because of the
traditional labels applied to Deaf Peoplehandicapped, disabled, hearing impairedlabels
originating from a pathological, medical model rather than a cultural one(Intro, Para.1), Carol,
is it so much that Deaf people are hidden in the world, or just the fact that there are a very small

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population of Deaf people, and a large population of normal human beings? Society is so set
on the fact that it matters what they wear, eat, or do, and etc., so parents want what is best for
their children, and without experiment or thought they give permission so that their children may
undergo the surgical procedures and thought to be normal once again, to hear laughter, to
appreciate music, to hear the sound of nature, to feel like just another kid on the playground, and
to live up to their full potential(YouTube, Cochlear Implant Controversy). Music means alot to
society, society just doesnt know it does, but this guy knew it was a big part of who he is.
Austin Chapman, a 23-year-old filmmaker that was unable to hear anything clearly, until now.
It was nearly midnight July 6 when he was able to hear his first song in its entirety: Mozarts
Lacrimosa(Brunell, CNN). Later on in the interview he goes on to say that he remembers the
moment vividly: I was blown away by the beauty of it. At one point of the song, it sounded like
angels singing, and I suddenly realized that this was the first time I was able to appreciate music.
Tears rolled down my face, and I tried to hide it. But when I looked over, I saw that there wasnt
a dry eye in the car(Brunell). Chapman was skeptical and reluctant for a Cochlear Implant, but
later on he goes to say, It was one of the best decisions of my life(Brunell). Now, when he
sees someone singing along or dancing to the rhythm of a beat, he smiles in sympathy. I
understand how it could have such an impact on the listener(Brunell). Hearing is for the better,
Chapman says that he enjoys both worlds, and he hopes that one day hearing people get the
opportunity to experience utter silence (Brunell).
However on the other hand many people that are part of the Deaf Culture, defined and
bound by their deafness and their language(Ohio, Para. 2), believe that their identity, and their
interpretation of the world as the norm. They believe that deafness opens them up to membership
in a community with its own rich history, language and value system rather than a disability that

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condemns them to a world of silence(Para. 2). Those of the deaf culture instead of mourning
and wishing to be able to hear they celebrate their deafness, and many, if given the opportunity
to hear, would choose to remain deaf because they do not see deafness as a disease or a
disability, only as a difference (Para. 4). A difference that does not need to medically fixed, but
a difference that should be celebrated and enjoyed at all times, the Deaf Culture believes that an
attempt to make them into hearing individuals as discriminatory, and as some members of the
Deaf culture have indicated it as an assault on their personhood (Para. 4). Harlan Lane is a
Distinguished University Professor of psychology at Northeastern University in Boston,
Massachusetts, that is arguing that children born deaf to hearing parents are biologically
members of the deaf community at birth, even if they are denied the opportunity to acculturate
(Para. 4). If children that are born deaf to hearing parents are biologically members of the deaf
community at birth, that means that conflict between the Deaf Culture and the Hearing Culture is
going to be at an all time high or increase as a rapid pace, and would create many more problems
that could be detrimental to society, however the Conflict can be good. These problems can
lead to new thoughts, bring up other important questions, build relationships, and opens up the
minds of humans, which in this case would not be a all so bad problem. The problem is just as
always the consent, and the battle between the Deaf Culture and the Hearing Culture, who has
the right and why.
There are already many problems either way the parents decide to go about their childs
deaf situation. Why should a child be deaf until he or she turns 18, when he is able to decide
whether he or she wants a cochlear implant or not? At that point the child might just turn against
both Cultures, because 18 years of his or her life is gone and they cant do anything about it,
cant go back in time and tell their parents that they want a cochlear implant. Individuals who

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receive the cochlear implant dont hear perfectly after surgery(Deaf Culture and Cochlear
Implants), because they are not used to the sound, however this may be better than not hearing
at all(DC&CI), speech therapy will help individuals understand the sounds and noises they hear
(DC&CI). Individuals such as infants dont have the competency to provide informed consent.
But why should that stop Parents from having full consent, and decide whether their kid gets a
cochlear implant? No matter what the Deaf Culture throws at the Hearing Parents of a deaf child,
the truth is that the child will not be able to give consent until its late teenage years, because the
child would need to understand it. Lipson on the other hand agrees that while infants are
clearly worthy of moral consideration, their moral status is one of potential autonomy (Ohio,
Para. 5). Infants; Potential Autonomy; that is quite interesting, As the Deaf Society as a whole,
does that mean that you all will be happy if consent is given to the infant, a human being that has
spent less than a year on the earth, doesnt even know what he or she is doing, cries, whimpers,
and mumbles sounds?
If we just stick to the original Parents have consent and give permission to have the
surgical procedure done, then the CI (Cochlear Implant) would be of enormous benefit to such
families(Sandblom, Para. 4). People hear better over time with practice. It takes a while to get
used to hearing sounds in a new way(HearingLoss), although it takes time, if the child starts at
an early age the better off they will be (Sandblom, Para. 3). Long-term benefits of a CI have
been shown not only to be speech recognition, but even excellent spoken language skills. In a
survey of 176 implanted children 44% of children had greater than 70% open speech
discrimination (OSD), which is using sound alone with no visual clues, 61% had greater than
50% OSD and 84% had greater than 40% OSD(Sandblom, Para. 3). Hladek of Ohio, says that
around 90 percent of deaf infants are born into hearing families who depend on auditory-verbal

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communication, so a Cochlear Implant would give the child the ability to communicate with
family members and interact with the hearing population in general (Sandblom, Para. 4). So a
parent ought to choose a CI, especially since waiting until the child reaches an age where they
could decide for themselves would reduce the efficacy (the ability to produce a desired or
intended result) of the treatment to the point where language skills could not be properly
developed(Para. 5). Yes the child would hear sounds, but not be able to formulate them into a
discernible language suitable for communication. The reason for this is that the child must
acquire these skills while they have the neuroplasticity, the ability to learn the language and to
shape or mold up, before the nerves get old, for language development, normally before the age
of three. The consent, in this case, represents an obligation to the childs future autonomy (Para.
5).
The Consent still lies behind the world today; many still could careless about the deaf,
humans are inherently selfish(AreHumans). And it is true that the Consent is stirring up
everyone in the Deaf Community and the question still lies between the Deaf Community and
the Hearing Community whether Parents should have the consent to choose whether their child
has a cochlear implant or not. Some day a decision will be made and whether that is that these
young children are given consent or parents keep their consent, the truth of the matter is that
these children that are born profoundly deaf should not have to live the Deaf Way, but should be
given the chance to live as close to a normal person in todays world as possible which is a
human being that has all five of its senses. It not only is beneficial for the family, but also for
the child itself, so now they may have a communication device and not have to worry about not
being able to hear the world and what it has to say. Words are being spoken every single
millisecond of every single day and for a child to miss a millisecond of sound can be upsetting,

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from my own personal story, being deaf at certains times in life can suck, it can really make you
feel like you are left out, because you cant hear you are missing out on the great things that life
has to offer. I personally believe that every single child that is born deaf should experience both
sides of hearing, I know I am so thankful and glad that my parents decided for me and my
brother to receive the medical procedures for a Cochlear Implant. That was possibly the most
important and best decision that my parents made, and will be the best decision that any parent
might have to make one day, Chapman towards the end of paragraph two saids that it was the
best decision he has made, If it was the best for him, then it should be the best for all right?
Erting said in paragraph one that those that are born deaf should cherish it and enjoy it, I on the
other hand say that they should enjoy all the technology around them that continues to get better
each and every single day, the technology that allows someone to hear, hear sounds that are not
normal to their everyday life. Allowing a child to undergo the medical procedures for a cochlear
implant, will allow them to be accepted more so, be able to do things that they could not do if
they continued their Deaf Way of life. The point is that if Parents are given consent they should
allow their child to undergo the surgery so that their child may get a chance to experience what
life has to offer.

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Works Cited
"Are Humans Inherently Selfish?" The Premier Online Debate Website. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov.
2014.
Bienvenu, M. J. "The Deaf Way." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
Brunell, Natalie. "Deaf Filmmaker Truly Hears Music for the First Time." CNN. Cable News
Network, 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
"Cochlear Implants." Cochlear Implants. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
"Cochlear Implant Controversy." YouTube. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
"Cochlear Implants | Hearing Loss Association of America." HLAA Updates. N.p., n.d. Web. 12
Nov. 2014.
"Deaf Culture and Cochlear Implants." Deaf Culture and Cochlear Implants. N.p., n.d. Web. 13
Nov. 2014.
Hladek, Glenn. "Tag Archives: Deaf Culture." Deaf Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
"How Can Conflict Be Good for an Organization?" Small Business. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov.
2014.
Hyde, Merv, and Des Power. "Some Ethical Dimensions of Cochlear Implantation for Deaf
Children and Their Families." Some Ethical Dimensions of Cochlear Implantation for
Deaf Children and Their Families. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
Sandblom, Shelley A. "Concerning Whether Parents of Deaf Infants Are." Academia.edu. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.