This article was recently published in The Washington Post, and I enjoyed reading it very much because I share some of his experiences as a CI user. I can relate to his views, such as when he said that his implant changed his life because he has the ability to use the telephone and listen to the radio.
I couldn’t agree more with what he said in this quote: “‘I will be never be completely hearing,’ he said, ‘but at this point I would consider myself more involved in the hearing community than the deaf community.’”
My hearing will never be normal like people who hear normally, unless hair cell regeneration comes out in my lifetime, because I am hearing with a technology that has only 24 channels instead of thousands of hair cells, but I certainly considered myself very involved in the hearing community.
I love this quote: “‘Ever since I was probably about 8 or 9 . . . I realized how much this cochlear implant had brought me. And it wasn’t just the implant; it was all of those doctors and nurses. I made that promise I would do the same for other people.’”
I can very much relate to this quote because it is simply not just my cochlear implant that allowed me to become who I am. It is also because of my parents, my teachers, my therapists, my first surgeon who was willing to be a pioneer in implanting children, and many other people who I can name, and of course, my personality too.
Because of all the help that I received from that “little village,” I am paying forward by sharing my stories on my website and being active in Cochlear Awareness Network volunteer program.
He said: “I will be never be completely hearing,” he said, “but at this point I would consider myself more involved in the hearing community than the deaf community. I do have an appreciation of deaf culture.” And he also is fluent in sign language.
Interesting article. I would have to agree with him that he would present a more well rounded perspective based on the above statement and the fact that he is fluent in sign language.
He is someone we need more of when it comes to hearing parents and their initial shock upon finding that their child is deaf. Because he says he will present all pros and cons of C.I., I also hope that he will also present pros and cons of using ASL as well. The fact that he is fluent in sign language is definitely a boost for someone in that field. And more so, when he says he has an appreciation of the deaf culture. Awesome! Definitely a very well rounded individual.
I think the majority of the deaf people are more involved in the hearing community, more so, than they think. Unless, they work in a deaf related field. Large percentage of most deaf adults’ waking hours are spend in the hearing world by way of Job, shopping, appointments, etc. If anything, their time spend in the deaf community could easily be less compared to the hearing community. I don’t think many deaf people realizes this and I’m sure for everyone it is different.
I spend majority of my time in the hearing community, too. After all, we do live in a hearing community.
Anyway, I did enjoy reading that article. Thanks.
Comment by CANDY — April 20, 2008 @ 3:51 pm
Wow. Maybe I’ll work with him someday. I’m going to be doctor, too. I’m thinking either general practitioner or medical laboratory science. Or even BOTH!
Comment by David — April 20, 2008 @ 5:49 pm
I read this article and it thrilled me. I thought how age and maturity set in, and this young many could “get it”. He knew what his CI was doing for him. I know Ethan will not go one waking moment without his devices and even at five years he gets it too.
Comment by elizabeth — April 22, 2008 @ 1:08 am