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Newsgroups: bit.listserv.deaf-l
Date:         Wed, 11 Nov 1992 16:39:00 +1300
From:         IS30124@OTAGO.AC.NZ
Subject:      Re: 60 Minutes, Angels and Outcasts, etc

Esther Paris:-
>       - The NAD's main point (from what I saw and heard) was that they
>         are concerned with the emotional health of the child above all.
>         If the child is constantly probed, examined, tuned, tweeked,
>         adjusted, tested, probed, interviewed, adjusted, tested... instead
>         of just being a child who is loved 100%, then the child is being
>         robbed of a big part of childhood.  Normal children don't constantly

Is there a way people can complain about TV programmes in the United States if
they perceive such programmes as unbalanced? In New Zealand, there is a
broadcasting standards board and people phone up the TV company (TVNZ) with
complaints and also write letters of complaint. Not having seen the programme
myself (yet), I can't say if it was balanced or not.

The 3rd TV channel, TV3, might screen the 60 Minutes segment about CI's here in
NZ. If they do, then I will have it videotaped.

>       - They interviewed the parents quite a bit.  They let the parents tell
>         how they made the decision to try CI.  The parents did not mention
>         other Deaf adults or deaf culture.

I suggest that the medical people and companies that run the implant programmes
have compulsory lessons in Deaf culture and sign language. That would give a
lot of balance to their deliberations on whether patients should have implants
or not. However, the fact that they are not deaf persons themselves, means that
they probably wouldn't give enough balance to the decisions.

>       - VERY TELLING ENDING: the little girl was asked if she wanted to keep
>         on using the CI.  The answer was YES as Steve C pointed out. However,
>         they asked her if she had one wish what it would be and she answered,
>         "I wish I were normal."  Tell me, does this ratify what the NAD has
>         to say, or what?

Being normal depends on the dominant culture in the world. If the dominant
culture was that of people flying in the air with wings, then someone who can't
fly would be considered as "defective, handicapped and disabled". If no-one
could hear, then deafness would be considered normal. It shows that cochlear
implants are more about integrating into a dominant culture rather than to
(relatively) correct hearing loss. This is my considered opinion.

GENERAL COMMENTS: I was surprised to get 40 mail messages today, most of which
were about the CI controversy. I am sorry but I have to reserve my opinion on
whether CIs are "good" or "bad", because the issue is too complicated and
prejudicial. Sure enough, it may benefit a number of people, but I see
it as taking too much precedence over Deaf culture and sign language in social
priorities. Each has to have its proper time on the [theatre] stage :-)

It is my opinion that cochlear implants are not worth the risk at present,
except for special cases. They are just a developing technology. I doubt if the
cochlear implants will become good enough to simply make Deaf people disappear
into hearing society. That would have to be a real vanishing act !! :-)

I wonder if the CI manufacturing companies' shareholders will get a scare if
the companies were forced to release statistics about the benefits and
non-monetary costs of cochlear implants. I think that is something the boards
of directors are worried about.

I think the reason why (at least some) Deaf people oppose CI's is that it
diverts the public's attention away from Deaf culture and sign language, and
reinforces the public perception that deafness is a disability to be avoided.
Ignorance begets ignorance. My opinion is that deafness is just a social
difference, and that is less important than one's own abilities. In other
words, the above reasons are very valid.

>Third and last, I saw Deaf Mosaic this weekend and they had Henry Kisor on!

I have heard of Deaf Mosaic but excuse me, who is Henry Kisor?

Cheers,
Barry Kirkland.
IS30124@OTAGO.AC.NZ
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