Deaf Chipmunk

Bad news for you. Your baby is deaf! Sorry!

by webmaster on Nov.02, 2008, under ASL

The Health Care system’s negative approach toward deaf can be prevented! The approach can be changed to positive by  empowering and providing parents healthy information about Deaf resources and Bilingualism (ASL and English).


75 Comments for this entry

  • Darryl Hackett

    Hey David!

    I agree with you all the way. the parents of Deaf babies tend to look at doctors and audiologists as Gods, but the doctors and audiologists are just imperfect human beings like us, not Gods!

  • deafk

    Hi, David,

    Yeah, I never forget the experience I had with a nurse who thought my son might be Deaf. Her reaction was so unprofessional. It was so uncanny! From this experience, I would like to anyone experience the positive regardlessly!

  • John

    David,

    I strong agree with you and that we should do something about it.

    We should contact many parents as we can to hear their experience at that moment and if the nurses, doctors and other medical personal really need to be trained more about how to approach the newly parents and if they need more education, workshop or whatever about that Deaf babies are not defective and can live in a normal life.

    Maybe someone can contact NAD to go to Congress and ask for mandate that all medical people to be taught by the Deaf people, professionals(not the so-call “paper smart” hearing people) that Deaf babies can grow up normal if focus on the educating the mind of the Deaf child.

    Hear and Speak is the vocational aspect towards Deaf babies, we need to focus on the Mind(BRAIN) that desires higher academic education philosophy by getting cognitive development skills to learn how to learn from age of 0 to 8 by learning ASL.

    Yes, DBC will do something about it BIG TIME!

    Walk with DBC,
    John

  • A Deaf Pundit

    Wow. The health professionals sure sound like bogeymen!

  • Mishkazena

    As healers, physicians are trained to treat medical conditions, including deafness. Most of the medical doctors aren’t even aware of Deaf Community and ASL.

  • Jean Boutcher

    Most, I repeat, most parents are not aware that doctors are on Cochlear Implant Corporations’ payroll. CIC even puts the successful implanters on their payroll and have them attend AGB workshops. Doctors cleverly in a most deceptive manner ever imaginable announce, “You have a baby boy” and pause and say, “BUT he has no language. Bewildered parents would ask
    doctors, “What do you mean by ‘no language’?” Then parents
    feel as if they were being crashed by the Empire Building.
    Doctors avoid reading the NAD’s position paper about ASL and
    CI to parents. It is quite frustrating about today’s doctors
    and audists and deaf audists.

  • Don G.

    DeafChip –

    I agree with you 100%! Yes, this is part of where it all starts! Other part is Early Intervention where they present biased information against sign AND pressure the parents to make a choice NOW! Of course time is of the essence but when they rush the parents of course the parents don’t get the time to think and explore other ideas, INCLUDING using sign…..

  • webmaster

    Hi Darryl,

    Great to see you again! Just wanna let you know I have know some audiologists and medical doctors are pro Deaf people. Yes Some of them are not very friendly to Deaf COmmunity based on ASL and Deaf Culture. They need to be trained properly. That will make the difference. Keep in touch. Its great to have you involved!

    Deafchip

  • webmaster

    Hi deafk,

    Yes I have met many parents who have shared similar situation like yours. It is very unfortunately that it has happened all over the world with the kind of attitude. Hope one day, they will be trained properly to respect human beings no matter what. All human beings should be treated equally regardless of their difference. I am glad you have brought it up.

    Deafchip

  • webmaster

    Hi John,

    I am very glad that you and i have shared same view (open minded). Yes medical institution needs to improve their performance and behaviour toward human beings regardless of their difference. Yes I am very much thrilled that DBC is on the roll and has a huge number of membership. That is awesome!

    Deafchip

  • webmaster

    Hi A Deaf Pundit

    Thanks for your response. Will you be able to explain a bit more about that if possible?

    Deafchip

  • webmaster

    Hi Mishkazena,

    Thanks for your response. I want to say that I disagree with your comment. I have been involved in medical institution for more than 2 decades. Evidences are there based on parents’ comments. Honestly I am quite surprised you have seen differently. Yes there are a very few medical specialists are doing great but a huge number of them are not and even refuse to listen to our argument. They already set their belief that sign language is bad. They are highly trained and educated and there is NO EXCUSE for them to make any excuse. I am a manager I know my job and I expect my employees to do professionally without any looking down or putting down people/consumer/client. NEVER putting down anyone.

    Thanks
    Deafchip

  • webmaster

    Hi Jean,

    I am Canadian and I have no idea how the health system work in the states. In Canada, government has health insurance (paid from employers and employees and even taxes). That is why I have no idea how it works.

    Thanks so much for sharing your comment with us. We must be ready and keep our eyes on that. It is very sad that it has happened. It is time for us to make them accountability to that kind of unethical approach. Thanks so much

    Deafchip

  • A Deaf Pundit

    Hi Deafchip,

    Well. They sure sound scary, don’t they? Greedy and they hold ALL of the power! Nothing that we do will ever get through to them. So I’ve seen the light. We must BLAST them with all of our rage, until they go away!

    No?

  • webmaster

    Hi Don G!

    Yes I agree there are many avenues that we need to focus on. We need to change from negative to positive approach on Deaf babies as well as ASL/Culture. We need to eliminate the roots of cause first and then many Deaf children and their parents will appreciate that. We have to restore empowerment to parents and rights to Deaf babies.

    Thanks
    Deafchip

  • webmaster

    Hi A Deaf Pundit,

    Thanks for your quick response. We need to push for a change in medical institution to improve their approach toward parents of Deaf babies. For example Re-defining Deaf is one of the ideas and there are many different avenues to change from negative to positive approach. Anything is possible but for now, their negative approach to parents are unacceptable. They should have known better. Because I have seen some of them are wonderful and there is NO excuse for huge number of others who have very negative views on Sign Language that we value very much.

    Thanks
    Deafchip

  • Mishkazena

    Let me try again. At the medical schools, the doctors are trained to address deafness as a medical issue. The professors at these schools are not familiar with the Deaf Community and ASL. We need people to go to these medical schools and educate them about the ASL and Deaf Community, so these aspects will be explored in the classrooms. This approach had been tried in the past by several Deaf people and the medical students were receptive.

  • webmaster

    Hi Mishkazena,

    Thanks for your clarification Yes we need to work on that approach. Educating them is very important part and we need more than that such as public awareness, human rights, strict code of ethics for medical professionals and many other factors. We know some of medical specialists have refused to change their views on the term of deaf and Sign Languages no matter how hard we try. That is one area we need to work on because it is a very serious issue that has impacted on parents and their beloved Deaf babies.

    Again, thanks for sharing your input with us.

    Deafchip

  • A Deaf Pundit

    Yes. We also must be sure to tell them that if they do not accept what we say, they are evil audists and must be deprogrammed!

    *glares*

  • webmaster

    A deaf Pundit

    I am not interested in your Deaf Radical Boogeyman comment because it does not provide any good argument or discussion. I think you know my answer.

    Thank you

    Deafchip

  • Don G.

    Pundit, I am VERY disappointed in you. We disagree on methods of approach to Hearing communities, but our goals have been the same (I think). But your last two comments, instead of disagreeing with our approach, you are deliberately trying to twist our words and ideas into some imagined evil radical version purely for the sake of trying to turn people against us. What DeafChip pointed out was true and reasonable. He (and I) agree with what MZ said in #18. This is all we are saying. SO WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? You are giving me (and others, I’m sure) the impression that ultimately, you really DON’T want to see change happening. You say you’re an activist and a leader. Fine. Then walk the walk and TALK THE TALK!

  • A Deaf Pundit

    Dong,

    I’m DEAF Pundit. I find it interesting that you keep omitting the deaf from my name.. Guess I’m not deaf to you, eh?

    Yes, I admit I was being sarcastic, and I find it extremely amusing that nobody caught on until my third comment. And tell me, how am I twisting the words? I am merely repeating them back to you. Many of you said those words to me, my friends and many others.

    And this vlog is no different than what I repeated back to you.

    Live with it.

  • webmaster

    A Deaf Pundit

    Actually I know your comments above are insulting on purpose. I responded to your 1st and 2nd comments in “courtesy” until the third one, you are OUT. Your last comment to Don G is degrading.

    You are always welcome to view my vlogs but your comments will not be published in my vlogs indefinitely.

    Deafchip

  • Parents of 2 Deaf children

    Deaf Pundit,

    It is time that Deaf children like mine need good education and we need to work on that.

    Since last summer, you and a few others have developed a reputation of being a troublemaker as you said above, “Yes, I admit I was being sarcastic”

    It is time to change, deaf pundit, you need to start thinking positive directions for our Deaf babies and our children in schools instead of your personal self.

  • deafk

    Pundit…

    Rage is not the answer. Giving Hearing (or Deaf) people hard times is not the answer. So, discussion, or explanation with them is the key to educate them. They need to understand why they need to change. So, they would not change until they understand why it is necessary to change. Thank you.

  • webmaster

    Hi Deafk,

    You got it right. We need to push for a change until they understand. If they do not accept that, then we have to consider options to take appropriate action.

    We have three main tools that are marketing, advocacy and legal, three of them are part of education. It is like a stool with three legs. If we know they are doing wrong, we have to take proper action in proper channel.

    Thanks
    Deafchip

  • Don G.

    Jeannette –

    You are making much ado about nothing. If you’ve followed my vlogs, you know I tend to abbreviate the screen names to save a little typing — Deaf Chipmunk becomes DeafChip, MishkaZena becomes Mishka or MZ, and you have been Pundit — I know, you know, we all know you’re Deaf. So a bit redundant to have to add the Deaf in there.

    It is interesting you feel slighted by the way I refer to you — if I so chose, I could take offense at your continued lack of capitalization of my last initial, transforming my name into a vulgarism. But I don’t care about it and I haven’t brought it up — that’s not what’s important.

    And I also find it interesting that you think nobody caught your sarcasm until the third time. We all caught it the first time, but we chose to address you with, as DeafChip says, “courtesy”.

    You are really losing credibility arguing this point here…..

    But I’m not going to take up more of DeafChip’s space here by quibbling with you. Choose to believe what you want. Do things the way you want and let us try to get what we want our way. Maybe in the end, the two-pronged approach will work better than one single spear.

  • Mishkazena

    Don, considering the significance of being Deaf in the Deaf Culture, I do find your removal of Deaf from Deaf Pundit odd. You kept Deaf in DeafChip, so apparently the word isn’t too redundant. Perhaps you can think about using D.P. or another abbreviation with Deaf in it.

    About the context of the message, D.P. does have a good point. We can educate the Deaf Community the best way to advocate for the Deaf babies without painting a negative image of doctors as manipulative, scheming, taking advantage of clueless hearing parents. That inaccurate image doesn’t reflect their professional training to view deafness as a medical condition. After all, we are talking about medical doctors here who were not given any formal education on ASL and Deaf Community in their graduate schools.

  • observer

    Fascinating.

    PUNDIT, Dr DonG could also take offense at your omitting the Dr in front of his name (notice the lowercase “r,” but I digress) if you are going to get all hissy about that.

    You and a few others seem to be more interested in stirring up trouble than really doing advocacy work. The ASL Think Tank has had no new entries since February, and Amy’s vlog that you keep referring to was done over a year ago. What’s new? Inquiring minds want to know.

    Your bait-and-switch tactics have long since grown old. If you’d pour the energy you expend here online angrily reacting, you could accomplish amazing things… even more amazing things if you work with a group (any group). Time to rethink your tactics, Pundit.

  • Kristen

    Hello Don G

    I must agree with your vlog! Most professionals at the hospital think “deaf” is negative. I strongly believe that some people who work at the hospital or audiologist haven’t experience to work with deaf person or met an adult person or studied about deaf culture. Most professional find the definitions of “deaf” is a medical word and sound negative. Again, most professional believe to “fix” for the deaf babies but we can’t fix for the deaf to become hearing. In addition, professional are focus on money to make deaf babies to become hearing. We must find different ways what deaf babies can be successful by using two language. It is so important for deaf babies have language acquire. It is very significance for babies have language skills! It is important for parents to enjoy the deaf child in their life and it is not easy to say it to enjoy. People need to enjoy with a deaf child will always be happy than focus on the grief, sadness, and angry.
    Thank you :)

  • webmaster

    I have been called Chip, Chipmunk, Deafchipmunk, Deaf Chipmunk and Deaf Chip. I do not have any problem with that.
    What is so fuss about that?

    All I want is to discuss about Deaf babies issue, not lowlife personal stuff and game.

    Please do not do that again for the sake of our Deaf Babies and their family.

    Mishkazena, there are some people out there do not share values of Deaf Culture and ASL. Yes they did manipulate and I have seen that. You cannot argue with my experience. It has happened in hospitals. If you disagree with me, that is fine.

    Even some of medical professionals have made Signing Deaf Boogeyman and parents got that impression. You know some parents looked down on siging Deaf people and even covering their deaf children eyes. Even tell them do not see them because they are no good. That kind of attitude and behaviour is unacceptable and degrading Deaf community. That is the root of cause. You cannot make any good out of some professionals and they still do practise negativly against Deaf community. We should be various options to take action to stop audism same way with other groups with racism, sexism, any other isms.

    Again I want to emphasize that there are many wonderful medical professionals that have saved many people. I do appreciate that. But you must recognize that there are few people are not good to people. Policies, guidelines, regulations should be audism free. ASL should be supported and embraced. If they do not practise or accept that, what should we do? Do it properly, NOT neglect!

    I know you do care about Deaf babies. I know we have shared same vision for Deaf babies. I know we have different view on how to approach.

    I would like to see any personal or irrelevant issue out of Deaf babies discussion for the sake of Deaf babies and their parents.

    I am a very proud to be DBC member. DBC is growing and still does. Yes people are proud to be members of ASL Task Force. That is wonderful. We share same goal. We know approach is different. We need to work together based on goal and we need to leave each other alone about approach.

    If that happened, I would stand on the stage and I open the card and I sign:

    The winners are…

    “DEAF BABIES and THEIR PARENTS!”

    Thank you
    Deafchip

  • Candy

    Let’s not forget the Supreme court views parental rights as fundamental. Let’s also not be “little people” with small minds but “big people” with great minds.

    For a moment, let’s pretend you are NOT deaf and you are a doctor, you have NO clue about the deaf world….you deliver a baby to any parents, deaf or hearing and upon testing the baby, you find out that the baby is deaf. It is clearly understandable that a doctor would be reluctant to share the bad news for he knows no better! Give them doctors a break, will ya. The best thing we can do is to educate them. I have told my doctor beforehand, if my baby is deaf, it is ok. Deafness runs in my family and I’m ok with it. As long as the baby is healthy, hearing or not, it is GOOD news to me.

    I know it is offending to many of us, but, remember! Many hearing parents find the news very upsetting and Hey! You can’t blame them at all. Let’s be open minded about it and try to put ourselves in other people’s shoe.

    Which is why it would be NICE if there are some sort of protocol at the hospital that requires doctors to refer these parents to some program where they will offer all information and resources both that covers ASL and other methods so that the parents will informed decision making. Look at this election, it would be unfair to force one side on an individual, we would do well to inform people of both sides/all sides so that we can make the final decision on our own. Likewise, it would be wrong to force the idea of ASL on babies, we need to make sure parents are given ALL possible information, both pro and con on language choice and methods, including tools.

    Kudos to Deaf Pundit for making you all think! We need great discussions from great minds! You all ARE capable of having GREAT minds! :)

  • Candy

    *parents will informed decision making* should be “Parents will be well informed on decision making”

  • Mishkazena

    Deaf Chipmunk, it is never my intention to deny that these incidents do happen. Unfortunately there are bad apples in all fields and medicine isn’t an exception. It’s my experience that many doctors are clueless about sign language and Deaf Community as in the medical schools, they are taught to view deafness as a medical pathology, just like other conditions and disorders. By the way, I am talking about doctors in general. I am not sure if you are addressing to all doctors or a specific speciality.

    Yes, I am aware of the appalling behavior some hearing parents used to ‘shield’ their Deaf children from seeing Deaf people using ASL. I lay the fault on the misleading and scare tactics of the oral education proponents biased against culturally Deaf people and ASL. In fact, I truly believe their conduct violates multiple laws. The not-for-profit organizations should be held accountable legally for promoting this blatant discrimination against a minority.

  • webmaster

    Candy,

    Thanks for your response.

    We all have to remember that parents’ rights are limited. The language rights have not been challenged yet. More and more professionals in linguistics have started to recognize that. One day you will see more about that increasingly.

    Yes in the past, I supported parents informed choices concept. But the concept has been abused and distorted. Many parents end up complaining that they got misinformation and disinformation. It was there. Some professionals have abused their position to make decisions for parents.

    For example, parents are forced to pick one, AVT or ASL by AVT/CI specialists. If they want ASL, then they are denied to use AVT. Is that choice? HELL NO. I support parents’ choices. I know a huge number of parents are more than happy to have both of them not exclude ASL. But it ends up very low percentage of Deaf children have ASL. Is that a choice? Of course not. I have been involved in medical health care system related to Deaf. I understand clearly. I know some professionals are wonderful and supportive. But some others have already abused. No question about that. there is no naive in that kind of situation.

    Your explanation about choice, I would have supported that but in real world, it does not even exist. That is the problem. Who will enforce that. Nobody. It is toothless.

    Therefore, parents’ rights have been violated.

    We need law to protect parents rights and language rights for Deaf babies. That is all.

    I am glad you bring up your discussion.

    Thanks
    Deafchip

  • webmaster

    Hi Mishkazena,

    Thanks for clearing it up.

    Yes I know some professionals are wonderful and of couse are not aware of that. But I want to emphasize that some of them know and still are very much against ASL and want to get rid of Deaf Community and Culture. Some of them already know. For example, what I recently made response to Candy about AVT and ASL. It is fact and it is everywhere here. Parents are complaining that their rights have been violated. You will see more and more issues about that in the very near future.

    Thanks
    Deafchip

  • webmaster

    Hello readers,

    It is very unfortunate that people have made comments about me regarding sarcastic in The Deaf Edge. What they said about me not understanding about boogeyman and sarcastic is complete false. I know what it is all about but that kind of tone is the one I understand. So it appears that people who said about me are making assumption. Well let them do whatever they want! I do not want to waste my time on that. I want to focus on Bilinhgualism.

    Thanks
    Deafchip

  • Candy

    Deaf Chip,

    http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000000/00000075.asp

    Check out this link…I believe that to force parents to provide ASL to deaf children will never be ruled by the Supreme court. That would be trampling over parental rights. Because ASL is NOT for every deaf child.

  • Mishkazena

    Deaf Chipmunk, the AVT programs are operated by oral educators, not medical doctors. I don’t mean to give you a hard time, David, but I am trying to understand this blame on general doctors. I can understand how C.I. surgeons would be biased, but I honestly feel the majority are doing this out of ignorance. Where did the audiologists and speech therapists learn ASL is bad? From their schools. However, with medical schools, the textbooks I checked referred to deafness as a medical pathology. I haven’t looked at any recently, but I did recollect that there wasn’t any mention of ASL and Deaf Community.

    We need to provide professional education at medical schools AND medical seminars.

  • webmaster

    Candy,

    Thanks for sending me document. As a Canadian, US Constitution and Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms have similar concept of rights. It is all based on judges and their interpretation that have affected everyone.

    We know that parents rights have been changed gradually depending on some cases or should I say case by case. Parents are not allowed to use corporate punishment on their own children. About education system, yes it is parents’ decision.

    But the bottom line is about language. that is different. I would like you to check UN information

    http://www.enotes.com/genocide-encyclopedia/linguistic-genocide

    Let you know that it may be applied to challenge.

    Yes we have recognized that parents rights are very important. I am father of two children and I value my parental rights as long as they are respected.

    I know we may discuss about that endless but that is part of diaologue….

    Thanks
    Deafchip

  • webmaster

    Mishkazena,

    I think we got into wrong picture. Perahps your view on term of medical may be different from my view on it.

    What I mean is about medical specialists on deafness “I dislike that term myself because there is no other way to say”. Yes CI and AVT specialists are working together and they tend to be part of medical insitution. General doctors are not a problem. We just found out that they just learned about Deaf at university for about 15 minutes to half an hour. That is one area you and I agree they need to be exposed more time.

    Just focus on AVT, CI, ENT specialists that are still part of medical system because they tend to work together. Now you know who I am talking about. Some of them are supportive but most are not.

    Deafchip

  • Mishkazena

    Thank you for the clarification, Deaf Chipmunk.

    Yes, we need to emphasis on: education on the healthy aspect of Deaf Community and ASL via medical schools and medical professional seminars.

  • Candy

    I wonder if the UN did not take into account with ASL as a language. It’s pretty clear, UN was looking at immigrants moving to another country. So, it can get really technical. I think with IEP, parents can make it a requirement that their child be provided instruction in ASL. Yet, what about parents who decide they do not want their child signing? There are parents out there with determination that their child not sign, for whatever reasons. I see a big difference compared to 20 years ago than now. Now, many parents seems to understand the importance of language. Parents either make sure their child can gain sound through C.I. and provide them with language (spoken and written) or ASL as a language. And if the parent opts for C.I., then they have their work cut out for them if they want their child to succeed. It takes a lot of effort on the part of the parent.

  • drmzz

    I agree with you that language comes first. I don’t agree with health, medical, and auditory-speech intervention and prevention philosophy to apply to all Deaf children. Some with light to moderate hearing loss do benefit from speech and hearing training. I’m interested in language promotion in Deaf child. I’ll post vlog tmw.

  • Ex-oralist

    drmzz,

    I agree that the Deaf community wants to be interesting in language promotion in Deaf child and advocate this direction more than medical and auditory-speech intervention.

    I support DBC because of their concern about Deaf babies and children in school to be fully educated with a LANGUAGE at start rather than later after learning to hear and speak which effected me greatly. I did not realize how important visual language until I learned American Sign Language.

    I am very disappointed about some group of people from ASL Think Tank of their actions toward DBC last summer. They seem to more concerned about their need to have glory upon themselves.

    Let’s DBC do their agenda to stop the deprivation of the Deaf Babies’ mind to learn a visual language by walking the walk instead of these group such as ASL Think Tank and others to do nothing but talk the talk…. since over 100 years of waiting and waiting and waiting for the society to realize our need to have visual language to be productive in learning education.

    MZ, Amy, deaf punkit, Annie Marie,…….Please don’t crab theory other Deaf group or people anymore. You show us how by walk the walk! Be a real leader!

    I suffered and I say no more for Deaf babies to suffer!

    Proud ASL’er

  • webmaster

    Hi Candy,

    Anything is possible but of course we want to protect parents rights.

    Do you think parents have rights to send their own children to work in early age such as labour slaves?

    Do you think parents have rights to deny their children a language?

    We believe every child has a right to language without any limit becuase language is their future needs.

    I do not believe in parents’ dictatorial rights over their own children. THat is not healthy. We need balance and essential needs for children.

    Now we are going to challenge that in the very near future. Marketing is not always the answer. Marketing, advocacy and legal can be used at the same time.

    There are so many things that you may not be aware of. But time will tell.

    Deafchip

  • webmaster

    I want to ask people who think I dont understand sarcastic. Some of you think its a joke.

    But hey! Can I bring it up to make a point?

    1) People who dislike the idea, are sarcastic at it.
    2) People who support the idea, are sarcastic at it.
    3) People who are neutral, are sarcastic at it.

    a) Are above the same tone?
    b) Are above the different tones?

    If people choose (a), they need life skills training!
    If people choose (b), they don’t need training!

  • Mishkazena

    Ex-oralist, the only problem last summer was DBC’s failure to be fully transparent. They became transparent when they acknowledged the role of Deafhood in thir site, so that resolved that transparency issue. Why do you keep bringing it up? Apparently you have no problem with DBC not being fully honest with the public.

    The last time I see, asking for transparency does not mean crab theory.

    Nobody is practicing crab theory here. We are exploring and discussing different topics. It’s natural to see agreements and disagreements. This is America where people can express their thoughts, not a Communist country.

  • webmaster

    Hi Mishkazena,

    RE: #42 comment

    Thank you for your response. We got to that point.

    Thanks again
    Deafchip

  • webmaster

    Hi Drmzz,

    Yes I agree with you. I look forward to watching your vlog!

    Cheers!
    Deafchip

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