If only every comment section were ported from a boingboing audience…

Although I don’t work with Cochlear Implant patients I trained in one of the first UK centres and had three weeks placement in another centre. I also have 20 years as an Audiologist & Hearing Therapist.

Severe/Profound hearing loss does not necessarily lead to strong Deaf speech. With a huge amount of effort and input from parents, professionals and a lot of hard work and intelligence on the part of the child speech can be surprisingly normal.

If she had had no auditory input whatsoever all her life I would be doubtful about her responses however that is clearly not the case. I suspect her hearing loss has gradually been progressing and her income has also increased to the point where the decision became an easier one to make.

The implants themselves have also improved dramatically over the years and I would have to say the few switch-on’s I have been privileged to sit in on have mostly been pretty jaw-dropping affairs, even for someone with my background.

Good on her and yah boo sucks to the ill-informed nay-sayers!

Here is the video of the activation where I got to hear my guitar for the first time in years
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc363rpDVIE&feature=player_detailpage#t=1461s

-Patrick

Some one should link the audio of what people “hear” with these things. Hey, for some people it is awesome, but the sad truth is people with them often still need aiding because the sound a lot of people hear from implants… let’s think Linda Blair in a dining  hall lined with tin cans. 

But that doesn’t stop happy doctors from telling parents their kids can be “normal” and won’t need any extra help, and never to teach them anything that might “impair their language” you know, like languages they can understand without hearing.

That being said, it’s great they are working for her and she’s happy. But as nice as it is, it would be nicer if there wasn’t so much ignorance surrounding the whole issue.

http://sarahchurman.blogspot.com/

/not a stalker

It’s also worth noting that in later interviews, she’s satisfied with the implants. There’s a link further up the page.

————————————————–
“Didn’t realize that until I saw a youtube comment. I went to her blog and found this quote about it:

The sound was just so weird, all it was like was this
high pitched, garbled, continuous noise. This was people TALKING. I had
to indicate to get her to stop turning it up, I didn’t even want to
talk, my voice sounded so weird. Then everyone is trying to talk to me
and its so weird and I said “it sounds like aliens!” and just burst into
tears (just like i predicted). Mum and dad got all teary too, I think
they thought I was happy-crying because there was sound but it was
bloody awful.”

Made me sad to hear that.”
—————————————————

Again, there is no direct confirmation from this woman, just a second hand source. Does anyone have a link to her blog to confirm that she really doesn’t like the sounds the cochlear implant produce?

But I’d like to hear it from HER…perhaps she could answer here?

I’m unsure of the mechanism behind it, but I’m guessing it has to do with vibrations.

Also, here’s a Q&A from the person: http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/iveop/i_am_the_person_in_the_cochlear_implant_switch_on/