A Child with Cochlear Implanted and Deaf Parents

Abstract

Here, we report several problematic aspects in a profoundly hearing-impaired child with cochlear implants and deaf parents. The parents strongly wanted their child to undergo cochlear implantation to enable the acquisition of spoken language, even though they were able to communicate fluently with each other at home using sign language. The importance of a proper environment for the acquisition of spoken language and the difficulties in acquiring auditory skills after the operation were thoroughly explained to the parents, but they did not change their minds. Therefore, we considered that the lack of a spoken language at home might be compensated for by environmental maintenance outside the home; this and a lack of other medical problemsled us to judge him to be a candidate for cochlear implantation. However, a change in his educational environment at home that occurred postoperatively caused his hearing use to stagnate. Cooperation and teamwork among the local community, a day nursery, and a day care center for children with impaired hearing played a critical role in minimizing the deterioration.