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Deaf Culture, Cochlear Implants, and Elective Disability
Author(s) -
TUCKER BONNIE POITRAS
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
hastings center report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1552-146X
pISSN - 0093-0334
DOI - 10.2307/3528607
Subject(s) - deaf culture , context (archaeology) , psychology , audiology , cochlear implant , hearing loss , medicine , linguistics , history , sign language , philosophy , archaeology
The use of cochlear implants, especially for prelingually deafened children, has aroused heated debate. Members and proponents of Deaf culture vigorously oppose implants both as a seriously invasive treatment of dubious efficacy and as a threat to Deaf culture. Some find these arguments persuasive; others do not. And in this context arise questions about the extent to which individuals with disabilities may decline treatments to ameliorate disabling conditions. When they do so, to what extent may they call upon society to provide supportive services and accommodations?