Reply to Beachboy
Waves to BB. π Love the new photo! Tom Hanks in "Big" comes to mind. So funny. Kid wishes he was "Big." I'd wish for my hearing.
Yes, dynamic. Very good call. Great topic.
You have first-hand knowledge between these two co-workers. I believe you are a machinist well in years of that career. These two men, in a discussion, will be heated when discussing a C.I. Best advice to you is to stay neutral; otherwise, you may end up with a "tap" (tool) in your butt. π
I have a C.I. - cochlear implant in one ear. I was a "hearie," born hearing. IBD at age 25 robbed me of all hearing then. Well, inflammation from it if you want to split hairs.
Therefore, I am not Deaf, but deaf later in life as it is written.
Did you catch the capital D? NOUN, a person from a culture. Therefore, that 30-year-old is a Deaf machinist.
The other man's son is deaf, small d. Think of it as a verb. Assuming his parents are both hearing.
Fact: Often hearing parents will have a deaf baby once in a blue moon. Non-genetic, no gene for it, or a great-great-great-grandparent was deaf.
Fact: Deaf parents will likely have a hearing baby and a deaf one.
The former being Deaf parents above - a mixed blessing. The latter a wet dream.
Yeah, it's like that. Dynamic.
Political correctness too. And believe me, as sincere a witness to multi-cultures, hearing and Deaf, and late-deaf, hard of hearing, a lot of people need education and open minds on these subjects.
Deaf 30-year-old above, like many in his culture, despise C.I.'s, thinking their culture is doomed, disappearing, like cheap gasoline. Gone, baby. I get that. Strong Deaf values he has. Likely his parents are Deaf? That's where he got it from, being raised that way. Lucky him, he can speak, has a voice.
The father, his deaf son, 4 years old, wants or expects a better life. The C.I. will guarantee that. Different schooling will make a huge impact on him.
No judgments here. The ability to hear is better than no hearing, hands down. Safer too.
My C.I. gives me awareness, not identification of sounds. It is not my hearing aid; it's my awareness aid. I remember what sounds I knew at age 25. Those same sounds today are not the same for me.
I often explain using Peanuts and Charlie Brown as a back story. That teacher in the classroom? Waa waa wa waa waa, right? Only the students understood. We did not.
Story of my life.
Successful implants, like reversals, have pros and cons.
More successful implantees can rule both cultures. You have oral deafies, non-signers, voice.
You also have true culture ASL signers, no voice.
I. King Jordan, pictured in my profile, was president of an all-deaf college.
Gallaudet in Washington, D.C.
He was late-deaf. The mostly all-cultured Deaf students loved this guy so much. Upon his leaving and a hearing replacement president caused an uproar. Google it. Fact.
I'd like THAT on my resume.
Will you ever see a Deaf teacher teaching class other than sign language?
A pilot flying a plane?
The C.I. candidate will answer.
Definitely. π