[quote Covidworries]@ThePoetsWife
Yes agreed. I am shocked to the core by the lack of transparency and unbiased information parents get from implant teams, audiology, SALT and teachers of the deaf.
The worse thing is when implant results/outcome isn't optimal or as expected it not only comes as a shock to the family, others that got better results believe that it is due to parents and child not working hard enough to develop speech and listening.
My audiologist friend has seen some dreadful outcomes, they believe strongly that if a fraction of funding that goes into Implants went into other hearing aid technology that technology would also be developed to give similar outcomes to the implant. In most things in medical field if a non surgical option can be done it is because of the risks associated with surgery.
I also know many deaf people who find their new better hearing aids are actually worse than the ones they had years ago despite their audiology levels not changing. It is believed by some who are pressured to have an implant because hearing aids are no longer working that this is deliberate so that the implant targets can be met.
I personally know several families who have been threatened with social services for choosing not in implant their child.
Not to mention the countless families (implant or Not) that have been pressurised not to use BSL, refused support to use BSL and have to find and finance BSL themselves.[/quote]
So depressing isn't it. Don't get me started on those switch on videos - argh!
A close family member is a teacher for the deaf working with implanted children and she has some shocking stories - like Bernice and Chesney, so many parents stop using BSL and they're the ones more likely to see poor outcomes educationally, socially and mentally.