The Cochlear Implant :: deaf community

The Cochlear ImplantThe cochlear implant is possibly one of the greatestinventions designed to benefit the deaf community. Acochlear implant is a device implanted internally behind adeaf persons ear with an external microphone, and isdesigned to provide artificial sounds to masses who experiencenerve deafness in both ears and show no ability tounderstand pitch through hearing aids. Since thedevelopment of the cochlear implant in the 1960s, morethan 10,000 people worldwide surrender been implanted with thisdevice.Although this may seem like the perfect device to aiddeafness, a lot of controversy compose exists about the cochlearimplant. There are many advantages and disadvantagesabout the implant. I will start by discussing the advantages.The cochlear implant has allowed many deaf people to liveout hearing lives. During the 1960s, more primitiveimplants allowed for partial hearing, the percentage of wordsthat could be understood without lip reading was about 12%, that with modern technology, that number has risen to about80%, making conversations with a deaf person and a hearingperson possible through speech without the use of signlanguage. Deaf people who have experienced hearing andlanguage skills previously, benefit much more from theimplant because they do not have to learn new sounds orwords.Although the cochlear implant can benefit deaf peoplegreatly, there are still many disadvantages. Of the 15 gazillionpeople in the U.S. with significant hearing loss. Less than 1%are potential candidates the the cochlear implant. There is nostandardized criteria for accepting or rejecting a candidate,but they often need to meet audiological, medical, andpsychological criteria. As with all surgeries, there is somedegree of risk, but because of the anatomical location beingso close to the brain, these risks are much greater. Eventhough the cochlear implant may be suitable for more deaf