Ch 13

1. Does the DEAF-World have a good reason to be afraid of science? Why or why not?
The power of the hearing world vis--vis the DEAF-WORLD is nowhere more
frightening than in the application of medical science to Deaf people. Medical
interventions aimed at the cure of deafness have a long history (317). They do have a
good reason to be scared because some hearing people are trying to eradicate deafness.
They can also be scared because it is a major surgery on a person. The past is also scary
for them. In the past they did horrible experiments on the Deaf and they also sterilized
many Deaf people to prevent more Deaf people being born.
2. What do you determine to be the primary issue behind the cochlear implant
debate? Explain.
I think the primary issue behind the cochlear implant debate is that they are trying to make
the Deaf become hearing. Cochlear implants are a way of trying to fix them and make
them hear and talk like they are hearing. The Deaf must feel like the hearing culture is
trying to get rid of the Deaf culture because implanted children are typically not allowed
to use sign language. If the hearing parents of a hearing child deprived their child of the
opportunity to learn language, whatever the intentions, we would all protest, probably
accusing them of child abuse. Likewise, whatever the intentions of the hearing parents of
a Deaf child, when they deprive that child of the same opportunity, it appears to many
members of the DEAF-WORLD is communication violence (372).
Ch. 14
1. Do you believe it is possible to eradicate deafness? Provide evidence to substantiate your
view.
Today I do not think it possible but I do think congenital deafness couldve been eradicated.
Two measures that would reduce the number of Deaf people and are actively pursued
today in many lands are eugenics and cochlear implant surgery in young Deaf children
(379). In this century, there have been movements in the United Statesto sterilize Deaf
people by law and to encourage Deaf people in voluntary sterilization (381). I think now
that Deaf Culture is stronger and more acceptable in todays society, that eradication is not
possible. Even if everyone received cochlear implants not all would work and many people
would still be dependent on sign language. I believe the Deaf are here to stay.
2. What is your view on genetic research on deafness? Do you feel you would have had a
different view if you never became interested in ASL/Deaf community? Explain.
In some ways, I feel like genetic research on deafness is a good thing. This stems from me
working with deaf children, who have parents that never bother to learn their language.
There are so many days, I just want to take them all home and raise them myself. If the
parents used genetic testing then they might not have had this deaf child that is constantly
ignored. At the same time, Im glad they didnt use it because I have these wonderful
children to work with. I dont know what it would be like to not be interested in the Deaf
community because I was friends with Deaf people since 1 st or 2nd grade. Therefore, I have
no idea how I would feel about genetic research.

3. According to the text, how many deaf children have acquired spoken language using an
implant? Does this surprise you? Why or why not?
There is not a single published case, after a decade of experimentation with the multichannel implant and more than a thousand implanted children, of a child acquiring oral
language with an implant (395). This is quite shocking to me. I would think with so many
tries and advanced technology, someone wouldve acquired spoken language through CIs.
I know many adults and children that have had success with implants but I also know many
that were unsuccessful or that later in life they did not use it. I wish more (or any for that
matter) knew this interesting fact.