Cochlear Implants and Deaf Issue

This article I like because someone finally says that it is ok for them to be deaf and cochlear implants (CI) do not replace who they are. As a hearing aid user, the ability to hear something helps out in different ways like lipreading, listening to music but does not mean that I am hard of hearing. I have been deaf all of my live; however, being deaf does not define me but helps me to be a better person. I'm happy this mother recognizes the potential of her boys to be all they can be.


From the newsroom of the WISC-TV, Channel 3 News, Madison, Wisconsin, Thursday, February 1, 2007 .....

Deaf Brothers Get Implants To Hear For First Time

Implants For 2 Brothers Will Be Turned On Friday

BEAVER DAM, Wis. -- A Beaver Dam mother said she is grateful and looking forward to experiencing a miracle with her sons -- who will hear sound for the first time on Friday.

The brothers, who are deaf, will have cochlear implants. Mother Brenda Mueller said they are anxious and excited about their new journey.

Three of Mueller's four sons -- Casey, Coltin and Riley -- were born deaf.

Their mother said their life is as full and rewarding as any parent could hope for their child. Mueller said that the fact that they're deaf has given them the gift of a place in a special community and is not a setback.

"Being deaf is a way of life and a culture and a beautiful culture in its own self. I've explained to other people you would not feel sorry for someone from Germany if they were speaking German and couldn't speak English," Mueller said.

But cochlear implants will give the boys the choice of experiencing life in both the hearing and deaf cultures.

"I don't feel there's anything wrong with my children. We're not fixing them; they're not broken," Mueller said. "I think the boys are excited, but they don't really know what this is."

Both Coltin and Casey will have their implants turned on Friday, when the will begin to hear sounds for the first time in their lives.

Young Riley is already experiencing life with sound. His implant was first turned on two weeks ago.

"That day when they're turned on, it's not some big epiphany. It's very calm," Mueller said. "Last night, he was climbing on my back and my brother was over and he's making an attempt to make the same sound back, which is huge; it's huge."

Doctors said that actual words usually take three to six months. But just last week, Riley already blurted out his first real word -- "stop."

"I told him to do it, and he did plain as day. I almost fell over with the s and the t and the o and the p perfect. I made him do it again and again," Mueller said. "I waited almost 11 years for Coltin to say his first words. I try to keep my emotions in check. It's not a sad thing; it's a happy thing. But it is emotionally overwhelming as a parent to wait so long."

Mueller said that she had better odds of winning the lottery than having three sons who can't hear. But she said that this turned out to be her lottery and that she can't wait for the implants to be activated.

NOTE: WISC-TV will be with the family on Friday when Coltin and Casey have their implants turned on for the first time, and the story will air during the 6 p.m. news on Feb. 2. Tune into WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for part two of this story. Copyright 2007 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved.