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Brynne Nicholas
PSY 230: Psy-Indiv Diff & Spec Needs
Southern New Hampshire University
Instructor Victoria M. White
August 14, 2022
7-2 Short Paper: The Deaf Culture and Cochlear Implants
The term "deaf culture" refers to the distinctive traits shared by the deaf and hard of
hearing community, is frequently used by the deaf community, and is defined by their language
and deafness. This deaf community views its members as the norm in terms of who they are,
who they identify as, and how they interpret the world. Instead of seeing their deafness as a
disability that confines them to a life of silence, they see it as an opportunity to belong to a
community or group with its own language, rich history, and moral code (Hladek, 2009).
I believe that “deaf culture” should be considered a separate culture. Everyone has a right
to their respective cultures. It is not acceptable to take away someone's culture, where they feel
supported and a part of something, or to impose it on other people who identify with that culture.
As long as a culture does not cause harm to those involved or others then I do not see a reason
why it should not be considered a separate culture.
Deaf culturists contend that parents should not decide whether their deaf children should
receive cochlear implants; rather, they should be given the opportunity to make this decision
when they are mature enough to do so. Experience has shown, nonetheless, that for a cochlear
implant to work as effectively as possible, it must be implanted as soon as possible. Determining
that a child will not receive a cochlear implant after waiting ten or fifteen years is the same as
making that decision. A deaf child must start learning at a very young age if he or she is to learn
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to talk. At age twelve or older, when the child is presumably old enough to make her own
decisions about how she wants to live her life, a deaf person does not learn to talk. However, a
deaf child who learns to talk while growing up and is a member of the hearing community can
pick up signing later in life and integrate into the Deaf community (Tucker, 1998).
I do not feel as though the deaf culture’s arguments on cochlear implants is valid simply
because of the many struggles that are imposed on the individuals who are hearing impaired and
those around them who are able to hear. I do not feel that a child should be able to make a
decision on whether or not he or she would get the cochlear implants. That decision should be
weighed out by the parents and the child’s doctors to see if the benefits outweigh any risks
involved. The argument that children do not need cochlear implants because it diminishes the
deaf culture is unjustified. The decision to receive cochlear implants should be made by the
family and doctors only.
If I were in a position to make a choice about cochlear implants for myself or my child, I
would make the decision to receive the implants for myself or my child after consulting with
doctors to see if the benefits outweighed the risks of having them. Even if it requires surgery at
an early age, I would want to offer myself and/or my child the best quality of life possible so that
they can grow properly and be able to hear. Medical inventions and technology are created as a
way of improving our standard of living and as long as they are not harmful to the individual
receiving them, they should most definitely be taken into consideration when determining ways
to benefit individuals who may be suffering.
References
Hladek, G. (2009, July 27). “Cochlear Implants, The Deaf Culture, And Ethics.” The Institute for
Applied & Professional Ethics Archives. Retrieved August 5, 2022, from
