Deaf Teenager Against Cochlear Implant

"...wish people who really want one can get it, because I hate to see deaf or HOH people not happy because they cant hear..."
—GOFORIT10
"...parent of a profound deaf child...HOH myself...Sometimes I take my aids off because...too much background noises..."
—MICKEYASL1
"...have a choice because their parents gave it to them...parents gave them a better education and opened up a world of opportunities...parent weighs the pros and cons ...If they get their child a CI the child can always choose to simply not use the processor later. But if they don't get one they lose out on all the opportunity..."
—SATINN11
"(Answering MICKEYASL1) ...with CI you have control over what you want to hear...I am ASL deaf, i have high English language!...these parent are giving us a choice for later in life...depends on if the parents are willing to learn to sign...I know a lot of Deaf kids who dont have CI or HA are good with english...There ARE ASL Deaf people who success with life. They never had CI or HA..."
—GOFORIT10
"...Our two-year-old daughter...implanted. I still sign with her...She may decide that she does not want to wear her CI...parents do grieve...For us, we were simply sad...Deafness is a big part of our family, as it is a big part of who she is...some parents...never move out of the denial. And it can drive a wedge between them and their child...family therapy may benefit you and your parents... "
—KATIJA
"(Responding to SIGNINGMOMMY)...You sound like a wonderful caring mother! I congratulate you that you sign to your child, and you don't force your child to speak!"
—TEENHEARIE
"...do "make" my son speak, but, he WANTS to speak...want him to communicate the best he can...on the phone...understood him and he understood me!...hearing his voice makes my heart sing! ...IF he decides in the future not to use his CI or speak that will be fine w/me!...while he is young,...will use any and all resources...want to give him the ability to make those choices later..."
—SIGNINGMOMMY
"...essay on why parents should not be allowed to give their young children CIs...your letter was a perfect example of why they shouldn't be allowed to..."
—FROG177
"...mother of a Deaf teenager...using ASL. I went to school myself to learn ASL and have many deaf friends. When she was 13 ...SHE decided to get a CI. She loves it...with the right support a CI can be a positive thing. I DON'T think parents should put a CI in a baby without a base language of sign but don't be hard on your parents. They, I'm sure wanted the best for you..."
—LORIEBAGBY
"...best friend is deaf and has a CI...She loves it and goes to speech therapy...her parents are fluent in SL."
—MCHAGNON
"I dont believe that parents should put CI in babies,...should wait until their child is old enough to decide... I don't blame my parents, I am just not happy with it...late language developed becasue my parents thought it would be better for me to speak and not sign ...I have never met a person who likes it."
—GOFORIT10
"...NEVER met anyone who didn't LOVE their CI!...guess I'm a horrible, horrible mother for wanting my son to hear all the wonderful sounds of the world!...about signing or not. I told you before we do sign...but I've seen kids who had gotten the CI early in life and are doing WONDERFULLY w/o sign...I think you really DO hold a grudge against your parents like most teens do for what ever reason. Yours is because of your CI... Mine...they wouldn't buy me Gloria VanDerbilt jeans..."
—SIGNINGMOMMY
"...don't hold a grudge...hated my CI ever since...wasn't born deaf, lost my hearing at age 2...got my CI right after...and i hate to hear...doctor...said with all his patients only 25% kept it...awful pain where they put the magnet in my head, i want to get it out, but i am afraid it would cause brain damage...happy that your willing to sign and allow your son to sign...many parents refuse...want doctors to make it clear, your child will always be deaf with CI, and must teach them SL..."
—GOFORIT10
"...YOU hate your CI...to say that it is NOT a parents right...is wrong...MY right as a parent...MY decision not to pull the plug...when the doctors said he wouldn't live...MY decision to give him hearing...what I thought was best...for ANYONE to say otherwise is WRONG!...It didn't work for you, that is too bad...but it DOES work for A LOT of people...deaf adult who said "If it will just make him HOH you've done a world of difference for him!" he told me life as a deaf adult (very well educated, very good job) is extremely difficult...implanted his son...and then himself..."
—SIGNINGMOMMY
"...wanted my research paper to be about the pros and cons of CIs and how SL is more beneficial...can find more who is for it than against it..."
—ARNAE1
"...when people dont like their CI they usually keep it private. Nobody wants to hear from cons of CI because they want people to hear only good things...so they can sell more CI..."
—GOFORIT10