The Bionic Ear Challenged

ently watched a program on television about peopleuse of a magnet and feeds sound to the brain.
who are deaf and consider themselves in what theyThe cochlear device does not itself guarantee that the
call a deaf community. To them their deaf communitydeaf person will function as well as a person who
is considered more of a culture than what we mostdoes not have the disability but it has very encouraging
consider the deaf - a disability.results. Much speech training is needed and generally
Now enter a device that ends deafness and isthis device is only encouraged for young children who
causing, get this, anger in the deaf community. Insteadcan learn at a better rate than adults.
of being happy about such a device the deafHere is where I think the deaf community is concerned.
community is applaud by it. The device we areSince it really is only encouraged for very young
referring to is called the cochlear device or alsochildren they are in fear of losing their relationship with
referred to as the bionic ear.their children. They may feel they are uncomfortable
The cochlear device is an implant that goes inside theoutside of the deaf community and are uncomfortable
head of a person without hearing. The implant insidewith their children being outside of it. I have a hard time
the head connects to the brain's hearing function. Anfiguring if this is an act of love or selfishness.
external unit attaches to the outside of the head by