The dreaded cochlear implant (CI) topic

We've known I've been half deaf (little 'd' for physical) for a long time now, and the time I've been deaf has been even longer than we've known about it. In the time since we've learned about it, there has been one question that people ask that has come to be quite painful. And that is the question of whether or not I have heard of cochlear implants, or CIs, or why I haven't decided to get them yet.

         

I have had this question asked of me from many people, most of whom I had only just told I was half deaf. And most people who are deaf (only physically deaf), Deaf (physically and culturally Deaf), or hard of hearing HATE this question. It's not a matter of some liking or disliking the question, it's more a matter of whether they loathe, despise, or hate the question. And here's a short list of why we hate it:

1.     In most cases when this question is asked, my health choices are none of your concern. If you are not family, or are not a very close friend, it is simply none of your business. If I decide I need a CI, that is entirely up to me, not you. I do not have to explain myself to you, nor do I need to convince you that I don't need one. You're the one trying to convince me to buy a $10,000 device that they surgically put inside my skull.

2.     By offering the idea of a surgery to "fix" our deafness, you are implying that we are not functional without it. And we most certainly are. Otherwise, we wouldn't be having this conversation, would we? It's actually quite hurtful, because it makes us feel like we're verging on being non-human.

3.     Just as I do not offer you a suggestion for you to have a major surgical procedure on a topic about which I know nothing, you should not be offering suggestions to me about life threatening procedures about which you know nothing yourself. Do you even know how much it costs (and no cheating by looking at the first reason on this list)? And do you know the risks?

4.     I've been physically deaf for my entire life. Do you think I have not heard about this procedure from my ENTs, audiologists, well-meaning-nosy friends, family, and complete strangers? If I wanted it, don't you think I'd have tried to get it?

5.     Do you realize that the procedure requires drilling one hole completely through my skull and putting wires into my ear to run an electric current into my cochlea, and then drilling another hole halfway through my skull wall to put in a processor? Seriously, do you have a death wish for me?

Image from : 9GAG.com