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Technology is a beautiful thing yes, that is VERY true, and it was/is amazing to watch the baby react to his mother's voice.
But at the same time that technology is a wonderful thing, so is the Deaf Community. It is a RICH community filled with its own culture and history. Just because a child or a person is deaf does not make them any less smart than the 'normal' human being. I am a hearing person, and i took ASL for 3 years in high school and to learn about the history and the deaf people that i have encountered since learning the language have enriched my life. They are all customers, and the smiles that they give me when they see me and start signing away makes my day. On the same token there is the expression and the joy in the face of a new deaf customer that realizes i can sign and also the relief knowing that there is someone out there who can hear that cares.
In my opinion, Cochlear Implants are put on children by parents who are afraid of being judged, because their child isn't 'normal'. The Community would have opened their arms to both the child and the parents, and helped to teach all of them sign language (and yes it IS a real language. Believe me, the syntax and vocabulary alone are extensive). It is an easy language to learn if you put your mind to it; and its also easy to learn if you 'talk' with your hands anyways.
According to the Alexander Graham Bell association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: "The average cost for the entire procedure, including the post-operative aural rehabilitation process, exceeds $40,000..."
And the cost only goes up from there with repeated sessions to fine tune the implants, speech therapy and lord knows what other costs. I know that if i ever have a deaf or hard of hearing child, I would not have that surgery done.
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