Oliver Cochlear Implant Activation 12/2006

Six month old deaf child hears for the first time when his cochlear implant is activated.

www.cochlearimplant.net

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• cochlear
• implant
• deaf
• infant

[dubaipete]

Congratulations little Oliver! I have seen several videos of implant activations. All very very moving, and a credit to science and the dedicated people behind this technology. Oliver is clearly a bright and healthy child, born with a hearing impediment; but an impediment no longer. Well done.

[Kwilinski]

@dubaipete

You are correct-- no impediment here! Again today, a person commented on his clear articulation and vocabulary. This person had no idea that he was born deaf, btw.  At 4, he's a real chatterbox!

[Kwilinski]

We added our older son's activation, also, to our video collection on youtube. He is now 9 and is a hearing, speaking, happy, educated, reading, TV-watching (no captions), phone-calling, typical kid! Enjoy!

[Kwilinski]

NOTE: If you want to use profanity, we won't approve your comment. Though we do take note of the evil behind it, and remember it.

[LynxChan]

Kwilinski, as the parent of a (now hearing *^_^*) child, can you tell me how common this awful prejudice is? I've been looking at a lot of cochlear implant videos because they're so wonderful and emotional, and I'm really shocked to see how many people seem to think that by giving a child one of their senses you are doing something bad!! It would be like telling a parent not to give a double amputee baby legs! Is this a common perception? It just seems to unbelievable!

Congrats you your baby :)

[Kwilinski]

@LynxChan , In the general population, you find almost entirely positive response-- it's an OBVIOUSLY beneficial device! But we get rude comments almost weekly, which we used to delete. Now, my thought is that they should be ashamed of themselves, so I post it. Those in the extremist camp are not rational nor kindly. They pretend to care about deaf kids, when all they really want is to maintain the same way of life they had-- even if it was difficult.

[Kwilinski]

Thank you for validating our choice. We are so proud of Oliver's language skills. He is a happy, hearing, speaking kid. Do you think that being able to see with your eyes and believing that is a good thing... is "visualism?" Cochlear implants do not work for adults who have not had the privilege of hearing in childhood. Not implanting him would be just like failing to take him for annual eye exams, dental care and so on. Fortunately, you are not his parent. God answered OUR prayers.

[BionicGeekChic]

Wow! That is so amazing! I'm happy for you made a decide for your boys to hear with bilateral cochlear implants. I has a cochlear implant and love it. I can't believe that Deaf culture attacked on you over implanted your babies.  That is so wrong! I don't like the word Audism made from Gallaudet University. It's very insulting. The anti-CI from deafhood will be regret big time. Keep it up for your boys with bilateral CIs. God blessing you guys! :-)

[hstg98]

So amazing- I'm instantly just so happy for him, and your whole family! What a total cutie! I have seen so many of these videos, and they are all just amazing! I honestly don't understand any "controversy" over the decision to get CI's. Perhaps if those who are against it had something to compare to total silence, they could understand the choice. You've given your sons another sense, what could possibly be wrong with that??? Congratulations!

[britturk123]

GO OLIVER ,WHAT A HANDSOME CUTE YOUNG MAN I HOPE HE GETS EVERY GOOD THING HE WANTS FROM LIFE GOD BLESS.

[GoldenBlood0]

happy for oliver 

[wilmane1]

To the detractors, who seem to struggle with the written word in spewing their bigoted, hateful vitriol - whatever support people may have found for your so-called stance previously, is rapidly being eroded by your rudeness and foul manners. Grow up please, and keep your jealousy to yourselves. Kwilinski - you have done a wonderful thing , and I wish you and your family all the best.

[wilmane1]

Hi Kwilinski - What an amazing video - and what a wonderful gift to be able to give your child. Well done! He is so adorable, and you can see the joy in his eyes when he hears those sounds...so moving!

[nomilktoday2]

What a relaxed child! I would be so terrified at first but he barely reacts.

[vampgirl55555]

they are so cute haha :) its ad that they were both deaf though but its so great they can now hear :)

[handmiadenofgod]

@mrtokitime Why? Because they wanted to give their child an easier life that could be experienced more richly? There is nothing wrong with the deaf, but I'm sure that most of them would like to have the sense of hearing. If I were to go blind I would want to see. I am certain that Oliver will thank his parents for what they did when he grows older.

[cokerainbows]

i just came across this vid...very cute boy :)....i actually don't understand why people are against this? if this is done when a child is young it allows them to live a normal life, to speak to hear everything around them...why is that bad? science is improving, people should embrace it, it now gives us more choices.