A hearing couple has a child diagnosed as profoundly deaf. Their doctor recommends a cochlear implant, emphasizing the importance of early intervention for developing spoken language skills to function in a hearing society. The couple also connects with members of the Deaf community, who introduce them to the cultural richness of their community and the expressiveness of sign language. Analyze the fundamental conflict between these two perspectives. Explain why the medical recommendation might be viewed not just as a choice for the child's hearing, but as a potential threat to the child's cultural identity from the Deaf community's viewpoint.

Clashing Perspectives on Deafness

From the perspective of a community that views deafness as a unique cultural identity rather than a medical condition to be corrected, evaluate the potential long-term social and cultural consequences of the parents' decision to pursue the cochlear implant.

Decision on a Hearing Intervention

A significant value within deaf culture is the continuation of its traditions, including the use of sign language. This cultural viewpoint often favors embracing deaf identity over adopting medical interventions like cochlear implants or oralist methods such as lip-reading and speech training.

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Deafness refers to the partial or complete inability to hear.

Deafness

Deaf culture refers to the shared customs, educational institutions, and languages that characterize communities of deaf individuals, both in the United States and globally.

Deaf Culture

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Deaf Cultural Perspective on Hearing Interventions

Congenital deafness is a condition in which a person is born without the ability to hear.

Congenital Deafness

Conductive hearing loss is a type of auditory impairment characterized by a failure in the transmission of sound energy to the cochlea. This condition specifically involves problems with the mechanical components of the ear, such as a failure in the vibration of the eardrum and/or a failure in the movement of the ossicles.

Conductive Hearing Loss

Sensorineural hearing loss is a type of hearing impairment that occurs when a hearing problem is associated with a failure to transmit neural signals from the cochlea in the inner ear to the brain. It is recognized as the most common form of hearing loss.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

A common perspective views deafness primarily as a physical condition that needs to be treated or cured. Contrast this viewpoint with the perspective of Deaf culture. In your answer, explain how Deaf culture re-frames the experience of being deaf, using at least one specific cultural element as an example.

Perspectives on Deafness: Medical vs. Cultural

Audism is defined in the text as a hegemonic belief that "one is superior based on one’s ability to hear or to behave in the manner of one who hears"

Audism

American Sign Language (ASL) is the primary mode of communication for many deaf individuals in the United States. It is a complete visual language, relying entirely on visual signs and gestures without any verbal components.

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