Friday, February 22, 2013

Cochlear Implant

" Why would you trust the doctors and the parents over the experience and perspective of people with disabilities? Is it an attachment to the soothing prescriptive nature of the medical institution? These comments endorsing the implant for the child demonstrate a willingness to accept this prescription based on fears of deaf and preference for hearing. Cochlear implants do not restore hearing, they do not always work, there is no guarantee the child will learn speech and language, and these parents are saying they will use an auditory verbal therapy approach- which excludes sign language. 

Also- this child has auditory neuropathy, not cochlea hearing issues. Implanting AN children is experimental at this time. How many of you have consoled friends with failed CIs? Taught students with failed CIs, watched them fearfully be pressured into surgeries? Watch students with failed CIs, side effects, language delays and other issues come into the classroom? 

You can trust the ableist institution of medical treatment- but some of us are cleaning up after it and do not appreciate being disrespected here."-Julia

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