8 Month Old Deaf Baby’s Reaction To Cochlear Implant Being Activated

Define "needed". Thousands and thousands of deaf people live perfectly full and satisfying lives without a cochlear implant.

It was in no way implied that those who are deaf do not lead satisfying lives, nor was it implied that an implant would be forced upon the daughter.

...(and if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle)...what a totally bizzare statement...

...and what difference does it make?...borderline heartless if you ask me

If ANYTHING is a bad choice, it's your choice to comment something so awful. Whether or not the child can hear EVERY pitch doesn't matter. He heard his mothers voice for the first time in his whole life........ That's beautiful. I can't for the life of me understand how you don't get that. What I would like to know, since we are on the subject of senses... Can't you see?!!!

How could you say it wasn't worth it?

You are absolutely right. Parents need to think about all their options before deciding to get a CI. Please do your research! I hate cochlear implants. I should upload a video of a crying baby who is in pain from the implant, and maybe a video of an adult who struggles to fit in with Deaf culture because they don't sign, and struggles to fit in with hearing culture becuase they still don't hear properly and they have a strange voice or mannerisms.

Not at all. There are thousands and thousands of people for whom a cochlear implant does not work and they are literally stuck with a useless magnet implanted in their skull.

and Gonzolively . . . Sydney is right on. Read my comment above.

Because it may not be.

...lol...the ghost in the PC...yikes...

...in this crazy old world, there are gifts that make the heart soar...I'm with ya, baby...

Good for you, you've shown off how worldly you are to know some deaf people, belittled the astonishing science, ignored that some people find Cochlear implants a life-changing gift, AND been condescending to everyone who recognized the beauty in this child and mother's joy in one fell swoop.

Plenty of deaf people choose not to get cochlear implants for various reasons (they are very old and think it is wasted on them, or do not want to adjust this late in life; they don't have the money; they don't think being deaf is something that needs to be changed; the cochlear implant wouldn't work for them; and so on), but that doesn't mean they should be "beyond furious" at someone else getting one. Those are their own reasons. If you know deaf people who are beyond furious because someone has a cochlear implant, there's not many places I can see that coming from besides jealousy because they can't get one (for emotional, financial or physical reasons), or anger towards the hearing, a feeling of betrayal, or some other personal issue. If there is a rational reason, please explain to me (I mean it, please do, if I'm ignorant of something important like that, I want to know). There can be problems with them, and the don't work for everyone or works to varying degrees, but people know these things (or should).

If the protest is because it is a child, then I think whoever would be "beyond furious" needs to think about/remember the difficulties being deaf in a hearing world brings about. There are things to be gained with deafness in some people's opinion (the culture, the ability to communicate with deaf people around the world -- sign language is approximately universal, perhaps a sharpening of the other senses), but I think that it's a parent's right (especially since the mother and father both sound hearing) to restore this lost sense to their child. How many people do you know resent the fact that they can hear on a consistent basis to the extent that they wish they were deaf? I can respect that plenty of people who have been deaf their whole lives don't want/need to change that, but I don't think someone would resent that they AREN'T deaf when they grow up.

Both my grandparents are deaf, I know many of their friends who are deaf, and I know a girl my age who was mostly deaf but has a cochlear implant, and I was almost made deaf by scarlet fever when I was three. I don't know anyone who is intolerant enough to be beyond furious at someone else's personal decision -- and yes, we have talked about cochlear implants.

cause of the connection thing? like on that episode of house? *tilts head*

...such a beautiful, compassionate post...thank you...

any time

he wrote one line and you responded with an essay. yep... i guess you won *shrugs*

I talk a lot, so sue me. He pissed me off, and I was more gratified by writing an essay then by swearing. *shrugs back*

reasonable enough lol

@ixilight . . . I'll take the same tack with you that you took with Merman. Good for you, you've shown off how worldly you are to have deaf grandparents, belittled the views of an entire community of thousands of people, ignored that some people find forced implantation of those who can't choose to have cochlear implants offensive, AND been condescending to everyone who recognized the beauty of sign language and Deaf culture.

Having deaf grandparents does not make you an expert on all things deaf . . . in fact, there are quite a few pieces of misinformation in your post, the most glaring being that "sign language is approximately universal". Sign language is NOT universal, not even anywhere close to it. Every country has it's own sign language and those languages are as distinct from each other as spoken languages are. Deaf people from different countries are able to understand each other easier than hearing people because they're used to communicating visually and getting their point across without using words, not because the sign languages are similar.

MANY deaf people feel as you said - that deafness is not something that needs to be fixed - and therefore are not jealous of those who can get a cochlear implant. The "beyond furious" that you're concentrating on comes, in most cases, from seeing an infant "made to be hearing". It's from the parents' view that there is something wrong with the child and instead of letting him be as G-d apparently intended - deaf - they feel a need to make him "like them", because obviously he can't have a decent life if he can't hear. It's from the view that communicating visually can't be as good as communicating orally.

"I don't know anyone who is intolerant enough to be beyond furious at some else's personal decision"? Well, you're right . . . you don't know me or probably most of my friends . . . but here's the reason . . . it wasn't JONATHAN'S decision.

Jonathan is an eight month old boy... He can't make decisions for himself. Good job. Let him listen. You are very jaded my friend.

You're right, it wasn't Jonathon's choice to have the cochlear implant installed, you ignore though that it wasn't his choice to be born either, and that is larger than a device that can be turned off, or removed.

Do you feel the same way about circumcision? Well you should, in fact, if you want to go on about choice, circumcision is far worse because unlike the cochlear implant, you can't replace the foreskin. If, when Jonathon grows up he decides he prefers to be deaf and embraces that culture and philosophy, he can turn it off or even have it surgically removed. That's his choice.

As a baby though his parents made a judgment call, and a good one at that. If Jonathon grows up and loves hearing, having the implant done at such a young age gives him a developmental advantage, and will allow him to live a life he chooses.

The reality is it is a parents job to make decisions for their children, especially newborns that are physically incapable of communicating effectively. Since this is something that can help him, and affords the option of not using when he is able to make his own decisions, complaining about choice is moot; he still has that choice.

Just on a quick note, I noticed that you believe in a god, so would you allow your children to grow up without religion and to make a choice about what to believe or would you baptize or otherwise indoctrinate them into your religion of choice? Since you made the point that many deaf people prefer, and enjoy, being deaf that doing this forces hearing on him, how is that different from a parent taking their child to church before they are able to choose what to believe?

great post...last paragraph was perfect!!

I was going to say the same thing about circumcision. I remember years ago they had a fake news report on The Daily Show with John Stewart about a group of men that were upset that their parents took their foreskin without their consent. I'm positive this child will never be angry at his parents for making this decision for him.

You'd be surprised.

...now that's a "Time" cover moment...beautiful...

"Hi! It's Mom. Hi, can you hear me? It's your mom. Hi."

But I guess it would have been too much to ask for her to break into song!

Yes this mom could have said something different but it would not have made a difference. A baby that has heard nothing it's entire life would not understand the word hi, mama, or any other word. Just because the baby now has access to sound it does not mean they will understand everything that is said to them. If she normally says hi to him that would be familiar mouth movements that he is used to so he does not get scared hearing sound with it. I know first hand what that moment must have felt like because I too have a deaf child who has also received a cochlear implant. It is amazing technology.

Honestly, I wouldn't know what else to say because I would be so speechless and happy for my child.

Sorry but after reading your comments full of racism and hatred you just posted on another tread it is very hard to believe you are so sensitive.

ezrierin? A racist? hmmm.

If you find and post it , maybe it will .

girly man

LOL

that's when ol' jonathan turns off his ci

after you see his face light up you cant help but smile