Growing Up with Cochlear Implants

The introduction of pediatric cochlear implants more than 30 years ago has changed the lives of deaf children and their families and the field of deaf education, early intervention, and research. However, discussions about cochlear implantation have sometimes come with unrealistic expectations or strong objections. Expectations have sometimes been exaggerated, predicting for example almost full restoration of hearing. At the same time, cochlear implantation has been met by fierce criticism from many deaf people, but also by some professionals and researchers, who feel that cochlear implantation leads to a devaluation of sign language and deaf culture. Although the extremes in the debate concerning the benefits and risks of pediatric cochlear implantation have decreased over the years, nuances in popular, professional, and scientific discourse are sometimes missing. This book provides a comprehensive and balanced look at the prospects of growing up with cochlear implants, primarily based on the results of empirical research. The authors explore the results of implantation on child development , the limitations and risks, the upbringing of children with an implant, and factors that can make implantation and upbringing complex and controversial, such as additional disabilities of the child or growing up in a multilingual and multicultural environment, whether or not with the use of sign language within or in relation to the deaf community.