I Wonder...

Once you gain knowledge of something and become passionate about it, you begin to wonder. I am the curious kind that must know why things are in order to trust them. The fist question that was raised when I first became interested in deafness and hearing loss was; why are deaf patients given alternatives for treatment that physicians know will result in no improvement? There must be instances where protocol does not apply and medical professionals go on just pure instinct. What exactly are the steps to treating a deaf patient? If all doctors ever did was follow protocol, our country's hospital systems would crumble. If you are diagnosed as deaf then what are you to do? What are the options for deaf patients after a diagnosis is reached? There are organizations created to help those who have lost there hearing or are deaf from birth. These organizations are supporting those with this disability but can do little to actually "fix" the condition. How can we prevent ourselves from losing our hearing and educate ourselves about deafness? As we go throughout our lives, we are bound to come in contact with someone who has lost their hearing. People ask questions about hearing aids or cochlear implants and sometimes don't realize that it is uncomfortable for some to answer. I know that it is not right to treat another differently because they have one less sense than we do. Is there anything put into place at the educational level to protect those who cannot hear? Are teachers prepared to administer lessons in a different way? Teachers sometimes wear microphones for those who have hearing aids to amplify their sound so that child may hear clearly. Not many people know sign language and communication with someone who cannot hear is challenging on both sides. Maybe I can answer these questions after I conduct more research...

The Story Behind My Passion

Imagine for a moment what it would be like to live in the boisterous muted world of a young deaf child. Understanding such a deficiency to one who hears perfectly is almost impossible. This is the sad reality of my young cousin, Malachi. On his first birthday, he was diagnosed with, "profound hearing loss" or otherwise known as deaf. At ninety decibels this bubbly one year old cannot hear even the faintest whisper. As a family, we all knew what this meant for him. He would never live a "normal" life as any child should, and we would all have to learn to cope with this drastic change in our lives. Malachi has never heard his mother's voice as she tries to soothe him, his favorite Saturday morning cartoons, his own laughter, or even a single note from a radio. A solution was then sought after by an ENT at the Medical University of South Carolina. (An Ears, Nose, Throat specialist) She thought to first try hearing aids after many tests had been conducted. Despite her knowledge of the ineffectiveness of this trial due to his massive hearing loss, she custom fit a pair of hearing aids for him anyway. This step is part of the protocol deemed neccessary to be elgible for cochlear implants. My aunt quickly realized that she had ultimately wasted time and money on a product that would not gaurentee her son's progress. Why did Dr. Thompson decide to take this step and prolong the process further? Hearing aids are just one of the many steps required to eventually, operate and receive cochlear implants. Protocol has replaced what is best for the patient themselves and extends the process, which, is already draining emotionally and financially. After many appointments, hours in the car, prayer, and faith, Malachi's left ear was operated on. Just a month later her was able to be put under for the second time to operate on his right ear. Both surgeries were successful and guarantee restoration of his lost sense and normality. However, were the hearing aids really needed to dictate his eligibility for the implants when the medical professionals' opinions differed? The road restoring Malachi's hearing was strenuous and taxing for the entire family. Is there anything that can be done to reduce the waiting time leading up to operation on deaf patients? The time to operate is now as technology grows almost daily to better the lives of those that have gone without.