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From: Ann.Stalnaker@p0.f14.n385.z1.fidonet.org (Ann Stalnaker)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: (2 of 2): Genetic Engineering?
Message-ID: <18502@bunker.isc-br.com>
Date: 4 Apr 91 19:34:23 GMT
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[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

 > I would like to respond to your comment about children
 > wearing cochlear implants.  Cochlear implants are extremely
 > expensive, difficult to take care of, and a lot of responsibility.
 >  These reasons alone should be enough for children not
 > to wear them.  In addition, I strongly believe that the
 > chlld should be old enough to understnad what a cochlear
 > implant is and what it means, and he/she should get an
 > implant because he/she wants it, not because the parents
 > do.  Children, especially very young ones, can use other
 > means such as ASL, other sign systems, and speech therapy
 > to get along in the world until they are old enough to make
 > the decisions themselves (in my opinion, not before late
 > high school age!_)

Yes, it is true that cochlear implants are expensive, but I
do believe they are insurable (at least with most insurance
companies).  I tend to disagree with your statement on a child
should be old enough for one simply because I feel it is better
to start when children are young in this instance to get the
full benefit of the implant.  It's a much harder adjustment
to make when one is older.  The same goes for teaching speech,
lipeading and so forth.

I don't feel children need to make the decision in cases like
this - I honestly feel the parents know what is best for their
child.  Most children will not always do what is best for them
- it is the parents who have to guide them as well as oversee
the children are doing what they should do.  I'm a mother
and have raised a son - so I know how a child will do anything
to get out of doing something they don't want to do simply
because they rather go play or the like.

It is true cochlear implants are in the experimental stages
now with children but aren't many things in life a gamble
anyway?

--
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