SPHR 2108 Lecture Notes - Lecture 25: Cochlear Implant
14 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
A.G. Bell
Position on CIs:
AG Bell has long-advocated cochlear implants for adults. In 1992, AG Bell advocated cochlear
implants for children whose parents have been thoroughly informed of potential advantages and
risks, who have been properly evaluated by qualified professionals, and who have been
declared suitable candidates. Since then, the evolution of cochlear implant technology has
continued to demonstrate the efficacy of these devices in allowing a child with hearing loss to
access spoken language
NAD
Mission Statement:
The mission of the National Association of the Deaf is to preserve, protect and promote the civil,
human and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing people in the United States of America.”
NAD
Position on CIs:
The NAD recognizes all technological advancements with the potential to foster, enhance, and
improve the quality of life of all deaf and hard of hearing persons... Cochlear implants are not
appropriate for all deaf and hard of hearing children and adults. Cochlear implantation is a
technology that represents a tool to be used in some forms of communication, and not a cure for
deafness. Cochlear implants provide sensitive hearing, but do not, by themselves, impart the
ability to understand spoken language through listening alone. In addition, they do not
guarantee the development of cognition or reduce the benefit of emphasis on parallel visual
language and literacy development.
The NAD recognizes the rights of parents to make informed choices for their deaf and hard of
hearing children, respects their choice to use cochlear implants and all other assistive devices,
and strongly supports the development of the whole child and of language and literacy.
Rivalry
A.G. Bell historically:
● Downplay ASL
● Encourage CIs and Hearing Aids
● Make deaf people “hearing”
NAD historically:
● Support ASL
● Acknowledge HATs as a personal choice
● Embrace Deaf Culture
How do those who use CI’s perceive Deaf Culture
● Researchers Wald and Knutson (2000) asked a group of 45 teenagers with and without
cochlear implants about certain issues surrounding Deaf identity
○ The groups were similar in most respects but researchers found that the group with
cochlear-implants rated a hearing identity as more desirable than the group without cochlear
implants
● These results suggest that students with cochlear implants don’t perceive themselves as
being a part of Deaf Culture
○ Those in Deaf culture feel that cochlear implants wage “a war against deafness”
○ Feelings like those may defer those with cochlear implants from wanting to be a part of deaf
culture
How do those who use CI’s perceive themselves in the Deaf World
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Ag bell has long-advocated cochlear implants for adults. In 1992, ag bell advocated cochlear implants for children whose parents have been thoroughly informed of potential advantages and risks, who have been properly evaluated by qualified professionals, and who have been declared suitable candidates. Since then, the evolution of cochlear implant technology has continued to demonstrate the efficacy of these devices in allowing a child with hearing loss to access spoken language. The mission of the national association of the deaf is to preserve, protect and promote the civil, human and linguistic rights of deaf and hard of hearing people in the united states of america. Cochlear implantation is a technology that represents a tool to be used in some forms of communication, and not a cure for deafness. Cochlear implants provide sensitive hearing, but do not, by themselves, impart the ability to understand spoken language through listening alone.
