CORRECTION: Raychelle does not have a cochlear implant. This is what I get for skimping over the vlogs. Though I do agree with what Raychelle had to share in her vlogs. Regardless, I stand by what I said.
What I am about to say may generate some heat. However, I will not just sit here and say nothing while Raychelle is getting attacked. It's time for someone to stand by her side.
It is tiring to read the complaints about there being too many cochlear implant bloggers on Deafread. If you don't like what you are seeing, go somewhere else. Deafread is a highly diverse blog aggregator. The fact is, we are in the 21st century. It is a changing world. Raychelle is telling the truth about the auditory section of the brain. If you don't take advantage of it within the first five years, it will become far more difficult to acquire a spoken language.
I do have both positive and negative views on the technology of cochlear implants. I have read many stories. Some people are successful with it, some didn't benefit from it. The truth is, a large range of success stories are attributed to strong parental involvement. I don't have a cochlear implant, but I am a successful person because of my parents. I am fluent in both ASL and English. I have deaf and hearing friends.
Anyway, I am not saying all of them will succeed but like I said, it is a changing world. With the advancements made with the technology, it is not getting worse. They are getting better at helping the deaf hear. That's why Raychelle shared a valid concern about how some people believe children should wait until they are old enough to consent to the surgery. Why do children need to be consented? Deafness is a physical disability, that's why we have ears. We are supposed to hear using our ears. So why can't the children be given the opportunity to hear?
Just think about it. Think really hard.
Though I do question the accuracy of hearing tests on infants. Some babies were thought to be deaf only to be discovered that they are moderately hard of hearing or hearing months later. This is the part that really concerns me. Imagine a hearing infant mistaken for a deaf child and is implanted at age of 6 months. Cochlear implant destroys the residual hair cells. So by implanting a hearing child with a cochlear implant, you are in fact forcing deafness upon the infant. There is no way of knowing how many children this happened to because their residual hearing are already destroyed as a result of the surgery.
I do think it is a valid concern that should be looked into. Regardless, I don't think Raychelle was too far from the truth about children being denied the opportunity to be implanted with a cochlear implant. I think it's great that she is spreading the message on the importance of including both ASL and English in every child's life.
We need people like Raychelle to spread message on the importance of language acquisition for the deaf and hard of hearing. Amy Cohen Efron's "The Greatest Irony" is what came to my mind when I watched Raychelle's vlogs. It appears that Raychelle share Amy's sentiments on being inclusive of both ASL and English as a part of a child's language development. I don't think anything is wrong with the idea of giving a deaf child the opportunity to hear better and possibly speak English without any barriers.
It is incredibly sad to see people attacking Raychelle simply because of her opinions surrounding cochlear implants and is talking about it on her blog. Some people are failing to realize what a potential asset Raychelle is to the deaf community. Politics is an ugly game to play and Raychelle is a human being, just like all of us are.
She is an asset to the deaf community and should be treated like one. We can all sit here and complain about how ASL is being eliminated. The truth is, we are causing our own extinction. The parents of deaf children should not be fought against. That's the number one mistake a lot of deaf people make.
Raychelle, don't let it get to you. It took a lot of courage to speak your mind on these matters especially as a Deaf woman and a strong signer. I know it's still a taboo and by speaking up, we can get stigmatized for it. Just keep on speaking your mind. It will make an impact and open some people's eyes.
In the end, we still are all human beings. I do believe it would greatly benefit the children to include both ASL and English even if the child end up not using ASL later in its life. It still does make a difference in the first few years.
Whew. What a lengthy one I wrote today. By the way, feel free to share your opinions and please, please refrain from making personal attacks. We all know that some of us may feel compelled to make some strong and harsh personal attacks toward each other. But what does it really accomplish? Nothing but bitter feelings.
I might lose a few bluegrassers or gain a few as a result. Regardless, it's something I had to speak up on. I just had to.
A tip to the commenters, be proactive instead of reactive.
Bingo. It is what we a few deaf people have been trying to say along... (Mike McConnel, Paotie, Candy, Ann_C, etc...)
ReplyDeleteNow I guess it is a shock to hear someone with close ties to Gallaudet U. is standing up for CI people... acknowledging that they are our future and that we need to embrace them in order for ASL and other visual languages to survive... that the Deaf culture **NEEDS** to evolve.
Deaf schools need to be able to offer aural services to CI children or we'd lose deaf schools.
Etc.
BUT... kudos to Raychelle and now to you for standing up for CI people since we want them to know that they are our future and that we care about them.
ReplyDelete*Hands waving*
Raychelle does not have a cochlear implants. Didn't you read what she wrote?
ReplyDeleteHi Banjo,
ReplyDeleteRaychelle does not have a cochlear implant. She said clearly on her vlog called, "I have a Surgery" - which really intended for her LASIK surgery. She uses processor to demonstrate and provoke the audience's feelings. And she did say clearly that she does not wear one.
I am very pleased with her quality work with her vlog series. I am surprised that there are a wide variety of reactions from the community.
What is more, Raychelle is 4th generation of Deaf families... and how she expresses herself in these vlogs... with current information... requires a lot of research, dedication and passion.
Impressive!
Amy Cohen Efron
Actually, she does not have a CI, You may want to see her vlogs again ;) In the "I got the surgery" vlog, she says the CI she had on is a fake. But you're absolutely right. We do need people like Raychelle to help spread the word.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the correction. This is what I get for skimping over the vlogs. :-)
ReplyDeleteI made a noted correction after reading your comments. Thank you for pointing it out. Though I do still stand by what I said.
thanks banjo and everyone for your support! your support means a lot to me and to the CI ASL users all over the nation.
ReplyDeletethat's right, i don't have a cochlear implant. i am one of the "voices" for many implanted ASL users who want to vlog about their implant but are afraid of being shunned by the deaf community. the information i collected for my vlogs came from them and from the CI Education Center at Gallaudet and i dedicate my vlogs/blogs to them.
i think it's easier for me to take a stand because i come from a 3rd (not 4th, smile!) generation deaf family and graduated from a deaf school and then from gallaudet.
every deaf child, with ci or not, deserve to have access to and use ASL/English (which includes the print and spoken form) from birth, and grow up bilingual in ASL/English.
the principle behind amy cohen efron's "the greatest irony" is exactly the same as the principle behind implanting deaf children at a young age. the irony here is we're disagreeing with them about implanting at an early age, but agreeing that ASL should be used at an early age.
the basic principle here is: languages are to be introduced at an early age, and of course need to be 100% accessible to the child, therefore a combination of ASL and spoken/print English education for a CI Deaf child wins best of both worlds. this means our deaf community, schools and programs MUST embrace CI Deaf children or we are as bad as the people who endorse AVT - denying them ASL.
we're making progress! :0) thanks to you all!
Hi,
ReplyDeletea great blog, Raychelle did a great vlog too. We all have our opinions, and there is nothing wrong with that. I agree, no personal attacks.
I personally disagree with the idea of implanting Deaf children at such a young age.
I have a question,
Is it wrong to take away a child's future of being purely Deaf without CI, and growing in a Deaf community (Deaf school) and learning ASL/English with plenty of BI teachings at Deaf schools.
Is it wrong to take away that from a child and instead, implanting CI?
When a child is implanted CI, it is usually for the child to be able to hear, learn how to speak. It is very rare to encourage the implanted child to learn ASL.
-Ali
Banjo!
ReplyDeleteCan I borrow your instrument so I can use it to thud and thump on Raychelle and her vlogs. I've learned alot about her and the vlogs.
Kudos to Raychelle for teaching all of us about the pros and cons on CI.
There is a *BIG* if. IF I get the CI, I would not make it into the all-state level (before sectionals came), next to the nationals in swimming! I was only 15 years old.
However, about 10-20 years from now, the CI technology would be the "world smallest chip" into the cochlea. CI users can access into any deep water. Anything in the technology that relates to the water is possibly accessible.
Many cats and dogs have the microchips. Think about it.
I am surprised to see there are many negative reactions against her in the deaf community.
I stand firm for you, girl, Raychelle!
White Ghost
That's where you are mistaken, Karen Mayes. You, McConnell, Paotie DOES abuse the deaf community. You all are clouding the negativity towards the deaf community behind those words. You all promote against ASL or any form of sign language. McConnell got some kind of vendetta and you all tag along just for fun. Get lost, Karen.
ReplyDeleteRemember... be proactive, not reactive.
ReplyDeletePretty please.
Raychelle,
ReplyDeleteYour comparison is really not accurate, but ASL is FULLY, 100% accessible to Deaf children, but cochlear implants only provide a very, very limited amount of hearing that is very distored.
It's not right to compare the two situations that way.
Exactly, Banjo, I share your sentiments. I do also have concerns about residual hearing being destroyed and how much of a residual hearing that was there in the first place. Rachel gave out several excellent posts. Awesome!
ReplyDelete:)
Ahhh... anonymous appears to have lost its identity :o)
ReplyDeleteRaychelle did a good job and I am glad to see more open-mindedness. Keep it up.
hmmm your argument is a bit weak
ReplyDeleteshould we buy vehicles that represent the best of technology but give us 10 miles per gallon?
or should we wait ?
i have no problem with raychelle s presentation...
question here: are we making good choices ??
Raychelle is trying to clear up myths that have arisen about cochlear implantation in the d/Deaf community. Her vlogs did not discuss "CI choices". That's for another day.
ReplyDeleteThere are now in clinical trials a hybrid CI that allows an individual to utilize what residual hearing he has in the ear that is implanted. The early results of the trial indicate that a majority retain that residual hearing and get better hearing benefits than those with CI's and no residual hearing. Still only in clinical trials, so we have yet more to learn.
Ann_C
My perspective is different. Were I implanted, I would want to attend a regular school in my neighbourhood and attend a hearing university. If I entered Gallaudet, I would have to utilise ASL day in and day out and would eventually lose the desired quality in my voice. Therefore, it is not worth an investment, attending a deaf university. I might learn some emergent signs, some basic signs, but not ASL. Learning/speaking another spoken language or two is not like learning/utilising SIGNED language.
ReplyDeleteJean Boutcher
User of biaural hearing aids
I attended Gallaudet for *many* years and didn't lose my voice. It's like riding a bike--you never forget how.
ReplyDeleteReally, we have to accept the fact that we cannot eradicate cochlear implants but rather embrace them and say "welcome" in ASL.
Because eventually they will find joy in being able to communicate in ASL, while using their CIs.
We have to let go of the militant thought that "CIs do not belong in our world". We have to let go and accept the fact that there will be some of us who happen to be able to hear. Some may know ASL, some may not. What are you gonna do about it? Continue to bitch and whine? How about teaching them ASL?
I do not advocate for implantation in children, but rather, emphasis on language development. This can mean learning both, ASL and English.
For anyone with a degree of hearing loss, I swear they will find happiness knowing ASL.
I've been there.
I didn't know ASL until I was 16 and at that time, I don't know how I could have survived high school, let alone deal with my plummeting self-esteem. When I learned sign for the first time and met many others, including Raychelle, a light went on in my head and I thought, "My ears are broken, so how can I understand everything in class? Whereas, my eyes are fine and if I go to school with ASL, I'm positive I'll learn better!"
This shook my mother's world and she promptly shipped me off to a deaf school. I haven't looked back since then.
BF
I'm sorry -- I had to burst out laughing on the premise that you thought Miss Harris got the CI.
ReplyDeleteBwahahahahaha!
I still regard all folks who uses CI as Deaf. They try to deflect that term by saying that they can hear, or is hearing. Hell, I'd define them as borg more than hearing person, that s for sure.
R-
I know, I know. Man, it was a boo-boo on my part. Totally my fault.
ReplyDeleteI guess some of you aren't going to let me forget... ever. :-)
anonymous,
ReplyDeletei never would say ASL and spoken English through CI's are equally accessible. i can see why you thought i might have meant that. allow me to repeat what i said earlier below.
"the basic principle here is: languages are to be introduced at an early age, and of course need to be 100% accessible to the child, therefore a combination of ASL and spoken/print English education for a CI Deaf child wins best of both worlds."
the reason i mentioned the term 'access' is because we do not know if an implanted child has full access to spoken English - most of the time they're too young to tell us how much they can hear/understand, but we know FOR SURE any deaf child, implanted or not, has full access to ASL.
and banjo, i thought it was funny too :) i needed a smile after all this craziness anyway, and you sure gave me one! thanks ;)
raychelle
I fully agree with what you just said, Raychelle. I do believe it's a win/win situation to be inclusive of both languages to ensure that the child is able to understand everything.
ReplyDeleteI was going to blog about these issues, but for what it's worth, the ongoing problems of informing the 'Deaf' community of the rights and issues of non-cultural deaf and HI (Raising awareness), is providing considerable angst online.
ReplyDeleteWe read even of acquired deaf being attacked for 'moaning' about the fact it has traumatized them, and being told to go away and bother someone else, or they have mental problems, are negative images of deaf people, there is a very hard core sector around who are very uncaring, ignorant, and hostile, it never used to be like this, where all were once made welcome.
This to me is the unacceptable face of deaf culture, a hatred of those unlike them..
My goodness, with the hundreds of blogs and vlogs we read each week,it is a wonder that there are not more boo boos. I myself am guilty of"skimming", first to see if the blog has any interest to me and then perhaps going back to check on a few sentences that tickle my curiosity. Anyone who has read Kokonut Pundits will understand what I am saying here.
ReplyDeleteMost of the time, "Less is more".
Lantana
I have great support in CI and yes once you take CI out you are classifed as deaf.
ReplyDeleteI for e.g. have been deaf all my life brought up in hearing schools throughout my life went to college for a year and had no difficulty at all as i have great hearing people who help me out no matter how hard i tried they still support me as a human being not a deaf person.
I started to learn sign language at age 14 but gave it up due to schooling committment and sports.
Until age 18 i was floored at all the deaf people they first thing they did to me was shunned me coz they ask me *did you go to deaf school?* i said no and straight away they turn their back on me. I thought gee im deaf ya know dont make a big issue about it. It was ongoing for quite sometime until i met few friends who accept me for who i am.
Now since i been with my hearing partner i still forgot my signing but i know i will remember them its like riding a bike.
I have few friends with CI they were deaf and sign then with CI they said its wonderful to hear the sounds but they will always remand to be DEAF no matter what you think.
As for children i suggest parents should wait until they are old enought to make a decision to have CI or not as it gives them a better value in life in the real world.
ASL and english is very important in your life as it will help in your learning and working skills.
We all know the technology in CI is always improving and im a candidate to get CI in 4 years time. Since the last time i saw CI it was huge but things are getting smaller and smaller and sounds are getting better and better.
These deaf community need to sit back and say ok CI is not a bad thing but dont shunned them just because CI helps them hear but they are still DEAF when the CI is taken out.
Cheers
Tassielady
(australia)
I feel like I'm speaking out of turn here but for those that have concerns about losing vocal skills why not be proactive and consider starting a community group of mixed (hearing and deaf) company for adults and or children? As a new student(hearing) of ASL I have been looking to my community agencies for just such a possibility to no avail thus far. This way both the hearing and deaf benefit from one anothers company while having opportunity to socialize with others that they normally would not.
ReplyDeleteYou are not speaking out of turn.
ReplyDeleteActually, there is a new blog called 'The ASL-Cochlear Implant Community'.
You can find it at http://aslci.blogspot.com/
Should be interesting to see what will happen in the coming weeks.
You are absolutely right, I am a firm believer in being proactive instead of reactive.
Anon, don't think we have not tried to get the ASL community, ASL students, children, late deafened, etc. etc. together. It just doesn't work. Sometimes for a short time, but people tend to lose their patience and dropout due to boredom.
ReplyDeletePeople who lose their hearing late (all of it) eventually lose their inflection and tend to speak in a monotone, that is just the way it is. I myself had speech therapy when I was in my early teens,but ran off and never returned. (I was ten years old when I lost my hearing). An hour a week "practicing" with your voice just isn't going to do it. It has nothing to do with your use of ASL, when you cannot hear yourself speak, your voice begins to change.
We need more input from folks like you who really care.
I can understand both sides. For many years, ASL was banned, frowned on, children even got abused for using ASL in classrooms. That caused a rift amongst Deaf people. How? Those who could speak well were teacher's pets and those who couldn't were treated like scums of earth. There is bound to be resentment after that kind of treatment. We need to remember that it is NOT our fault. It's the school system that needs to be changed. We need to heal from that and learn how to stick together as a Deaf community and embrace the diversity in our community.
ReplyDeleteIt has been proven that the earlier you are exposed to a language, the better. (ie: parents are encouraged to speak to their child from day 1-the same applies to a deaf child using ASL) If a child is born deaf, he/she will automatically use their eyes even though he/she may get implanted or start speech therapy early. So the best way to ensure a deaf child is fully accessible to a language is to use ASL. English is important as well because we all need to use it when we go to school, graduate school, get a job, use it in our daily lives. Without ASL, we can't be sure whether a child will be successful in learning English. With ASL as a foundation to the development of a language, the child can learn English as a second language easily than it would be if they only learned English from the beginning.