Onici

In my first contribution to the blog I'd like to direct your attention to Onici, an indepedent expert organization on Cochlear Implants (CI). Although the somewhat outdated website may give you the impression that clear communication is not organizations first concern, it does contain some interesting information on the current state of research on CI.

After a first glance at the presentation Onici gave at the beginning of 2009, Onici is clearly (and obviously) enthusiastic about the possibilities CIs offer to hearing impaired people. However, Onici does not shy away to also underline the limitations of the implants.

From what we have learned from the first interviews we have conducted, it seems that the presence of this kind of organization is very much needed. There is a high need for neutral information on CI, as many parents with hearing impaired children have unrealistic expectations towards CI. While the technology is continuously being modified and improved, many children still have difficulties understanding other people in groups. Cognitive issues that are typical for hearing impaired children also arise: difficulties with language comprehension and abstract thinking.

Some years ago, Belgium has introduced newborn screening hearing tests, and as a result CIs get implemented earlier, but it is unclear how this will affect the personal development of deaf people in the long run. Currently, children with CIs still have hearing difficulties in group, and those integrated in mainstream education often feel different from their peers and experience troubles with social integration. These are issues that remain important and that have to be dealt with in specific ways.

CI is also controversial as it is perceived as treathening by some people in the deaf community: they fear that CIs will make deaf and hard-of-hearing school focus solely on oral speach, ignoring sign language and thus can making deaf culture disappear.

To what extent sign language should (still) be teached is a very sensitive issue. Often parents are very reluctant to let their children learn sign language: they want their children to be as normal as possible and they are afraid that sign language will alienate their child from the world and his or her parents. On the other hand, deaf organizations and certain psychologists insist on making sign language a part of the curriculum of deaf and hard-of-hearing children. The decision to whether or not teach sign language is not only controversial, but also important as it determines the future cognitive development, mental well-being and identity of the deaf or hard-of-hearing child.

The decision making here is further clouded by audiologists telling the parents of the children that "the CI will make their child normal again" and CI companies (like Cochlear) ignoring the steps that follow CI implementation.

To avoid further confusion and to be able to make decisions irrespective of all kinds of possibly unrealistic expectations surrounding CIs, an organizations like Onici is important. Therefore, we hope to be able to add their voice to the research data.

Pieter