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Communication efforts
are improved through the more effective use of Speech Therapy.
Speech therapist help to improve communication through oral
structure isolation techniques. For example, if a speech pathologist has a
patient who cannot produce the /b/ sound, the speech pathologist will use
exercises that require the patient to put their lips together and try to blow
air in order to build up a force until they are able to produce a /b/ sound. Being able to properly hear the intended sound aids in the reproduction of that sound. As
the patient begins mastering sounds, their communication improves. Better
communication allows for them to better interact and successfully relay
emotions and ideas to others. Now imagine closing your ears and trying to
produce a new sound that you have never heard before. It would be very
complicated. Many of times deaf and hard of hearing individuals are identified as by the way they speak. Not being able to hear, or having muffled hearing has cause their language skills to develop differently and have not hear the correct pronunciation of many sounds. Implants could help change this. Not only taking my word for it, an expert point of view is posted
below. From a first account of a active speech pathologist working at a local
clinic in Maryland, Kaleena Rogers believes that the bilateral cochlear
implants helps specifically in the area of articulation, voice and language.
One important idea that is pinpointed is the idea that cochlear implants
help to mirror normal hearing. Again,
please note that binaural cochlear implants is a synonym for bilateral cochlear
implants.
Although Bilateral
Cochlear Implants sound like a God sent, there are some residual side effects
that can impair the emotional side of a person.
With the implementation of cochlear implants, the patients
will lose all hearing. While this maybe insignificant for those who are
completely deaf, those who are hard of hearing struggle with the idea of losing
the small amount of hearing that they have. There is always a possibility that
the operation will not work and so in turn cochlear implants is an emotional
risk. Also in relation to the emotional risk, the hearing aid to the cochlear
implant is visible. For those who are uncomfortable with their disability, a
cochlear implant microphone will indicate to others that they have a hearing
disability. A person must be comfortable within their own disability in order
to have the implants. Last but by far not the least, cochlear implants are a
costly investment. This is included in the emotional affects because it is a
conscious decision to help yourself and make the financial commitment to
yourself. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), cochlear implants can exceed $40,000 and for bilateral implants the
cost doubles. These are only a few of the risk and benefits for bilateral
cochlear implants. Check out the Federal Food and Drug Administration
for more facts about cochlear implants.
Bilateral cochlear implants pose many views. While there is
an emotional risk present, the implants can help improve the lives of so many
through an increase in communication. Speech therapists see first hand how
helpful the implants are in therapy sessions. The areas that are specifically impacted
are articulation, voicing and language. These areas are essential for
communication. Communication leads to success. Below is a clip when I asked a
non-expert how important communication is for success in life. This non-expert
works in the financial field and has no background in speech. The importance of
including a non-expert opinion is to show that communication is important in
all walks of life. It is also worth stating that speech therapy is just as
important for those who are hearing as those who are hearing impaired. Please
do not hesitate to test your language skills.
