Comments on: The End of Deaf-Blindness http://www.deafdc.com/blog/adam-stone/2008-03-03/the-end-of-deaf-blindness/ Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:35:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Implantee http://www.deafdc.com/blog/adam-stone/2008-03-03/the-end-of-deaf-blindness/#comment-95713 Implantee Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:18:06 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/adam-stone/2008-03-03/the-end-of-deaf-blindness/#comment-95713 Erin -- actually, most CI surgeries these days do not result in total loss of residual hearing in the implanted ear. Also, you could always get the implant in one ear and keep the other one "free" for future "miracles" down the road... --has an implant and did not lose very much residual hearing in the implanted ear... Erin — actually, most CI surgeries these days do not result in total loss of residual hearing in the implanted ear. Also, you could always get the implant in one ear and keep the other one “free” for future “miracles” down the road…

–has an implant and did not lose very much residual hearing in the implanted ear…

]]> By: Erin http://www.deafdc.com/blog/adam-stone/2008-03-03/the-end-of-deaf-blindness/#comment-95653 Erin Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:47:22 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/adam-stone/2008-03-03/the-end-of-deaf-blindness/#comment-95653 As you know, I only found out about usher's 7 years ago. and it was shocking. It's never really made sense to me how they're working on fixing our vision, but not the hearing. Yet they're married to one another. That's the one thing that's always baffled me. But I do understand even though it's a genetic disease, it's still 2 different things. (all the medical jumble really does overwhelm me) As for my vision, I'd do anything to have them keep it where it is, or even restore it. My hearing, i still battle that every day. I have my moments. like you, I do appreciate the silence. Especially when i have headaches. Or when it's noisy at work. so my question is: what if i go for the CI implant, and then a few years (like 5 or 10 years) they've got a cure, solution for restoring my hearing. since doing the CI would essentially take away any hearing i have left at the moment. Would the doctors be able to restore the hearing that's completely gone? I'd probably snatch up that opportunity in a second too, but that's not to say I wouldn't go through a serious identity crisis. After all, i've been deaf my entire life. great blog-- full of good information that I can use. As you know, I only found out about usher’s 7 years ago. and it was shocking. It’s never really made sense to me how they’re working on fixing our vision, but not the hearing. Yet they’re married to one another. That’s the one thing that’s always baffled me. But I do understand even though it’s a genetic disease, it’s still 2 different things. (all the medical jumble really does overwhelm me)

As for my vision, I’d do anything to have them keep it where it is, or even restore it. My hearing, i still battle that every day. I have my moments. like you, I do appreciate the silence. Especially when i have headaches. Or when it’s noisy at work.

so my question is: what if i go for the CI implant, and then a few years (like 5 or 10 years) they’ve got a cure, solution for restoring my hearing. since doing the CI would essentially take away any hearing i have left at the moment. Would the doctors be able to restore the hearing that’s completely gone? I’d probably snatch up that opportunity in a second too, but that’s not to say I wouldn’t go through a serious identity crisis. After all, i’ve been deaf my entire life.

great blog– full of good information that I can use.

]]> By: Ayala (Jennie) http://www.deafdc.com/blog/adam-stone/2008-03-03/the-end-of-deaf-blindness/#comment-95597 Ayala (Jennie) Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:36:05 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/adam-stone/2008-03-03/the-end-of-deaf-blindness/#comment-95597 Your article makes me wonder about blind (Blind?) people who become deaf or hard of hearing later in life. I've heard many Deaf-Blind folks say they would LOVE to have their vision restored, but I wonder about the other way around. I have absolutely no idea if there's something similar to Usher Syndrome that begins with blindness and progresses to deafness. At the very least, I'm sure there are people who are blind who later lose their hearing. I wonder if they would opt for the vision correction, or if they would prefer their hearing back (hypothetical situation, where only one or the other could occur). Hmmm. Your article makes me wonder about blind (Blind?) people who become deaf or hard of hearing later in life. I’ve heard many Deaf-Blind folks say they would LOVE to have their vision restored, but I wonder about the other way around.

I have absolutely no idea if there’s something similar to Usher Syndrome that begins with blindness and progresses to deafness. At the very least, I’m sure there are people who are blind who later lose their hearing. I wonder if they would opt for the vision correction, or if they would prefer their hearing back (hypothetical situation, where only one or the other could occur). Hmmm.

]]> By: A Deaf Pundit http://www.deafdc.com/blog/adam-stone/2008-03-03/the-end-of-deaf-blindness/#comment-95550 A Deaf Pundit Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:04:02 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/adam-stone/2008-03-03/the-end-of-deaf-blindness/#comment-95550 I'm all for the medical advances in general, because we do need them. As for the medical advancements for deafness, personally I don't care, as long I'm not forced to take it. I've not very supportive of cochlear implants, but for the Deaf-Blind, I completely understand their decision to get one, because there's not enough technology or medical treatments for blindness. So.. it makes sense to me that people would increase their hearing to compensate for the loss of their sight. I’m all for the medical advances in general, because we do need them. As for the medical advancements for deafness, personally I don’t care, as long I’m not forced to take it.

I’ve not very supportive of cochlear implants, but for the Deaf-Blind, I completely understand their decision to get one, because there’s not enough technology or medical treatments for blindness. So.. it makes sense to me that people would increase their hearing to compensate for the loss of their sight.

]]> By: mcconnell http://www.deafdc.com/blog/adam-stone/2008-03-03/the-end-of-deaf-blindness/#comment-95549 mcconnell Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:02:28 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/adam-stone/2008-03-03/the-end-of-deaf-blindness/#comment-95549 And who says that technology of the future will not allow this possible option and provide hearing people (or people with restored hearing) the chance to sleep in quiet? Or maybe have a device that masks unwanted sound and introduce soothing sound of your choice? Perhaps all this can be fully implantable as well? And who says that technology of the future will not allow this possible option and provide hearing people (or people with restored hearing) the chance to sleep in quiet? Or maybe have a device that masks unwanted sound and introduce soothing sound of your choice? Perhaps all this can be fully implantable as well?

]]> By: Joseph Pietro Riolo http://www.deafdc.com/blog/adam-stone/2008-03-03/the-end-of-deaf-blindness/#comment-95547 Joseph Pietro Riolo Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:30:45 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/adam-stone/2008-03-03/the-end-of-deaf-blindness/#comment-95547 "And probably most relevant to you, the reader: is the coming demise of the Deaf-Blind community a harbinger for the coming onslaught of stem cell and genetic treatments for the larger Deaf community?" The answer is obviously yes, isn't it? The fact that you asked the question (which I assumed not to be rhetorical) implies that you are not sure of it. Are there any reasons why the answer is probably no? Joseph Pietro Riolo josephpietrojeungriolo@gmail.com “And probably most relevant to you, the reader: is the coming demise of the Deaf-Blind community a harbinger for the coming onslaught of stem cell and genetic treatments for the larger Deaf community?”

The answer is obviously yes, isn’t it? The fact that you asked the question (which I assumed not to be rhetorical) implies that you are not sure of it. Are there any reasons why the answer is probably no?

Joseph Pietro Riolo
josephpietrojeungriolo@gmail.com

]]> By: Adam Stone http://www.deafdc.com/blog/adam-stone/2008-03-03/the-end-of-deaf-blindness/#comment-95544 Adam Stone Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:25:51 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/adam-stone/2008-03-03/the-end-of-deaf-blindness/#comment-95544 I'm not quite sure. A lot of these research focuses on treating vision loss as it is happening, meaning for those people who still have some sight. I'm not sure about treatments for those who have gone fully blind. However, a lot of these treatments actually improve vision, so it might still work for those who have lost all vision. I'm not a doctor and these are still small-group clinical trials (10-15 people at the most), so I'd advise you, or your friend, to keep up-to-date on research updates from the Foundation Fighting Blindness. I’m not quite sure. A lot of these research focuses on treating vision loss as it is happening, meaning for those people who still have some sight.

I’m not sure about treatments for those who have gone fully blind. However, a lot of these treatments actually improve vision, so it might still work for those who have lost all vision. I’m not a doctor and these are still small-group clinical trials (10-15 people at the most), so I’d advise you, or your friend, to keep up-to-date on research updates from the Foundation Fighting Blindness.

]]> By: Adam Stone http://www.deafdc.com/blog/adam-stone/2008-03-03/the-end-of-deaf-blindness/#comment-95543 Adam Stone Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:23:39 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/adam-stone/2008-03-03/the-end-of-deaf-blindness/#comment-95543 "What makes anybody think that Deaf people will not go a bit further should biotechnology prove effective on restoring hearing loss?" Because there is a difference between treating and restoring. Cochlear implants and hearing aids, wonderful technologies they may be, still leave a person essentially deaf. Every time I take off my cochlear implant, I'm deaf again (but I'm always Deaf whether I wear a CI or not!). Biotechnology has the potential to fully restore hearing to a person with hearing loss. There would be no "off" switch in this case...it's a far more permanent change, a bigger step than just using a hearing aid or cochlear implant. I wouldn't take this step. I like my silence and I like being able to access it whenever I want to. I think a lot of other Deaf would agree, too. But you're right, some will opt for this anyway. It'll be interesting to see what happens. “What makes anybody think that Deaf people will not go a bit further should biotechnology prove effective on restoring hearing loss?”

Because there is a difference between treating and restoring. Cochlear implants and hearing aids, wonderful technologies they may be, still leave a person essentially deaf. Every time I take off my cochlear implant, I’m deaf again (but I’m always Deaf whether I wear a CI or not!).

Biotechnology has the potential to fully restore hearing to a person with hearing loss. There would be no “off” switch in this case…it’s a far more permanent change, a bigger step than just using a hearing aid or cochlear implant.

I wouldn’t take this step. I like my silence and I like being able to access it whenever I want to. I think a lot of other Deaf would agree, too.

But you’re right, some will opt for this anyway. It’ll be interesting to see what happens.

]]> By: Cousin Vinny http://www.deafdc.com/blog/adam-stone/2008-03-03/the-end-of-deaf-blindness/#comment-95539 Cousin Vinny Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:51:24 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/adam-stone/2008-03-03/the-end-of-deaf-blindness/#comment-95539 You make a good point; that Deaf-Blind people were Deaf first for a long time. Sometimes, I forget that. I'm cool with all of these cutting edge treatments for the vision aspect of the human body. Even if these same treatments can lend itself in repairing the hearing aspect with a minimum of issues and with relative ease. You make a good point; that Deaf-Blind people were Deaf first for a long time. Sometimes, I forget that.

I’m cool with all of these cutting edge treatments for the vision aspect of the human body. Even if these same treatments can lend itself in repairing the hearing aspect with a minimum of issues and with relative ease.

]]> By: h... http://www.deafdc.com/blog/adam-stone/2008-03-03/the-end-of-deaf-blindness/#comment-95535 h... Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:50:01 +0000 http://www.deafdc.com/blog/adam-stone/2008-03-03/the-end-of-deaf-blindness/#comment-95535 i have a friend with Usher. He is now completely blind He would like to restore his sights. He would not want to become hearing. I wonder if current treatment (current on trials) help people ALREADY lost their sights. i have a friend with Usher. He is now completely blind He would like to restore his sights. He would not want to become hearing. I wonder if current treatment (current on trials) help people ALREADY lost their sights.

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