Bilateral Implants - New Standard?
Sunday April 1, 2007
This article in the Kentucky Courier-Journal, "Can you fix my ears?" (Sunday, April 1, 2007) quotes an audiologist as saying that two (bilateral) cochlear implants have become a "gold standard." At the same time, the article raises the question, "is it fair for some to get two implants when there are others who can't even get one?"
What do you think? At a time when we have over 40 million uninsured people in the United States, is it fair to give deaf children two expensive cochlear implants so they can hear better? To put things into perspective, imagine if we had the ability to make born-blind children see by implanting artificial eyes. Would it be fair to tell some blind children, "you can have and see out of only one eye?" while other blind children received two eyes?
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Related article on About.com: Bilateral Implants
Comments
Is it the fault of deaf children that 40 million Americans are uninsured? If a family can afford two implants for their child, therefore giving them the best possible hearing ability under the circumstances, they should have the opportunity to receive bilateral implants, regardless of what other deaf or hoh people receive. Frankly I think it’s extremely left-wing to expect that implants will be distributed fairly when the American health system is clearly biased towards the rich.
This is just one more reason why a comprehensive national health insurance system is vitally necessary to ensure a fair chance for all of our children. If all children were offered at least one implant regardless of their parents’ insurance status or income, dual implants for the more priviledged would be a lot easier to accept.
what’s sad about this whole article is it fails to mention one very importants fact. MEDICAID DOES COVER BILATERAL IMPLANTS. i have a deaf son who will recieve his second implant next week. I had to fight to get my insurance to cover it, they finally did when I threatened to contact a non profit orginiation called “Let Them Hear”. But my friend who has medicaid had her son implanted months ago with absolutely no problem. There are 3 other children in my sons class who have medicaid but they’re parents aren’t interested in the implant even though it would be no cost to them. Why? One parent simply stated “we have enough going on right now”. Another one said “he’s so used to the hearing aids and he said he didn’t want the implant.” Now tell me the problem is that we dont’ offer medical coverage to deaf children. You should all know, just for the record, that if you have a child who is deaf or blind, you can get just about anything that is available out there, and the lower your income the better your choices are. The problem is, parents who are ignorant or simply dont’ care! Take if from someone who is in this every day. This is real people. Whatever else you are hearing about poor little deaf children too poor for implants is hype. Do some research yourself and ask a parent of a deaf child. they’ll tell you!
I want to applaud the other people who have responded to this–they all have great foresight and knowledge.
We found out 4 days ago that our 4 yr old’s hearing has deteriorated more (she already has a bilateral severe loss) and that she should get bilateral implants. When she was initially diagnosed a bit over 2 years ago, we had chosen not to do one implant, esp. since her hearing aids were working wonderfully for her–at that time. Since then, she has had 2 significant drops in her hearing and she will continue to lose her residual hearing as she has a progressive hearing loss syndrome. We decided she should get the implants now, before she loses any more hearing.
We have no idea if our insurance will pay for both implants or not, but we still want both implants. Whatever our insurance doesn’t pay, we are going to have fundraisers and do whatever else we can to raise the money for both implants. My child has NEVER heard birds sing or the wind blow. After hearing that, just try and tell me that she doesn’t deserve to receive two implants!
And Theresa Daum (above) is correct—parents with lower income get WAY more opportunites for fully paid devices than a family with insurance.
Unfortunately, Life is unfair and all you can do is try and get the best out of life. My son is deaf and insurance is telling us he can only hear out of one ear for the rest of his life. That is unacceptable to me. My son is the most important being to me. I will do anything and everything in my power to get 2 ears for him. Regardless if someone tells me it is unfair for other children who do not have insurance. Those are other children and I am not taking their rights way, but I do not want someone else telling me to settle for something less. It is up to the parents to strive and provide.