Deaf community views on paediatric cochlear implantation

There are two models used in the literature to describe those who are d/Deaf: the medical and the cultural models. The medical model describes deafness as an unwanted disability that needs to be treated through the use of medical devices like cochlear implants (CIs). The cultural model describes the word “Deaf” (written with a capital) as a culture and membership of the Deaf community as a privilege. It also places emphasis on the importance of sign language in Deaf culture. Historically, the Deaf community has been opposed to cochlear implantation in children, but little is known about current attitudes, or the attitudes of the Deaf community in New Zealand. This research used an online questionnaire to ask deaf, hard-of-hearing (HoH) and culturally Deaf people in New Zealand about their views on paediatric cochlear implants. Culturally Deaf respondents were compared to those who were not. The study’s findings were mixed, suggesting that there are still reservations about the benefits of CIs for children born deaf. It identified key areas for consideration: a bilingual/bicultural approach to CI habilitation in children, and the need to fully inform parents of all of their options. The study also highlighted the multitude of cultural and non-cultural factors that need to be considered in both the decision-making and habilitation processes for treatment of a deaf child. An understanding of how the Deaf community’s perspective differs from that of health professions in New Zealand is important in considering what is best for deaf children.