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Date:         Wed, 18 Nov 1992 14:37:58 -0500
From:         TWBATSON@GALLUA.BITNET
Subject: Journalistic Irresponsibility: 60 Minutes

This is the other side of the cochlear implant argument that some of
you might have seen on "60 Minutes" recently.  The writer is a deaf
woman who is dean of the college of continuing education here at
Gallaudet University.  I'm sorry for the length of this, but this is
an important issue, and one more example of how misunderstanding by
hearing people is the real handicap that deaf people have to face in life.

Trent Batson
Gallaudet

The message from Roz Rosen follows:
===============================================================

Some of you may have seen last night's 60 Minutes program on
cochlear implants.  The show focused on several issues, one of
which was the cochlear implants on children.  Dr. Harlan Lane and
I appeared, but the show was overwhelmingly biased in favor of
cochlear implants.  The show started with the 7 year old little
girl who got an implant early in life after she contacted spinal
megentisis...now, this girl was truly cute as a button and just as
precocious.

Ed Bradley, the anchorperson for this segment, had interviewed me
for 3 hours.  3 long, gruelling hours.  I am sure he also
interviewed Harlan for hours!

The producer for a segment, not the interviewer, is actually the
one who edits and decides what the major themes are, what stays and
what ends up on the editing floor.  The producer for this was Ruth
Seelman.

Before I consented to do this, Ruth had to assure me that she
understood my concerns and promised to do a fair, balanced show.
One of the issues I raised with her was the need to find a
"representative deaf implanted child" and the importance of leaving
the viewers with an appreciation for diversity in the U.S.A.

What happened is now history.  Needless to say, I am dismayed with
the result, which is an obvious bias towards the implant.  The
segments showing Harlan and me focused on fringe kinds of points,
almost irrelevant in perspective,  rather than the main points,
which are as follows:
l. The risks associated with the implant;
2. The limitations the implant imposes (e.g. contact sports, MRI
head xrays) in addition to making the implantee a patient for life;
3. The fact that the average implanted child will still need
assistive devices and sign language, in addition to intense
training in oral and aural skills;
4. The fact that so much time, energy and money will be devoted to
this instead to family understanding of deafness and beginning the
bonding;
5. The fact that for many, an implant is not significantly better
than an external hearing aid;
6. The fact that many older implanted children hate the implants;
and
7. The fact that diversity in the U.S.A. has become a theme song
and personal diversity is something to be cherished rather than
fixed and erased.

We understand that parents want to do the very best for their
children, and our hearts go out to them.  We want to be allies,
rather than adversaries in this process.  We want these children to
feel good about themselves as Deaf Children, rather than to
perceive themselves as misfits programmed to fit in the "normal"
mold and striving to do so.

If the implanted girl was so successful, why are strenuous speech
and auditory lessons still needed?

It is my understanding that the 60 minutes show sometimes have
letters to the station read within 1-3 weeks after the show, so if
you have feelings about the show, please do write to:

        Ruth Streeter
        60 Mintues
        336 Central Park West
        Apt 14-B
        New York, NY  11025


Also, if you want to become involved with the NAD effort to
enlighten the American public and parents regarding diversity and
acceptance, please do let me know and we sure can use you in our
advocacy efforts!!

Thank you.

Roz Rosen
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU