Deaf vs. Hearing

Sound and Fury was a very unique movie that allowed for its viewers to really think about culture and what it means to live in a world that is so different from someone else’s. The main issue that was brought up in the movie was a cochlear implant. This is something that is implanted in your head and can make someone deaf have the ability to hear. Heather, a four-year-old girl, was debating getting a cochlear implant. She wanted to hear, talk on the phone, and communicate with her hearing friends and extended family. The problem that arose from Heather's idea of a cochlear implant was the fact that her entire family is deaf. Even with her family being deaf, I believe that Heather should have gotten the cochlear implant.

Growing up in today's society isn't always easy for people who can hear, let alone someone who is deaf. Heather wants to hear the sounds around her, and the cochlear implant would allow her to experience those sounds. It would be a little more difficult for Heather to learn English or any language, but she could still do it and perfect it with time. When you are a baby and get this implant, you have a much easier time learning to speak because you are learning the language just like all other babies. Heather could is still young enough that she could still learn the language, but she would just have a harder time because she would be less developed compared to other of her age.

Although this could benefit Heather, her family completely disagrees with her idea. They think that it's completely against their culture. She is born deaf, her family is deaf, why not stay deaf? That all makes sense, but if Heather has this opportunity, her parents should take into account the benefits that could come from a cochlear implant

Heather would have the chance to live the best of both worlds. She could use speech and along with that her native language, sign language. She would be able to have professions that aren't necessarily available to people who are deaf. It's sad to think that way, but the hearing world isn't forced to learn sign language so the majority doesn’t necessarily know how to sign. That means at malls, restaurants, gas stations, libraries, schools, and other public places, they won't always know how to sign and there would be a lack of communication.

Heather wouldn't be giving up her culture; she would just be gaining hearing. She would still need to use sign language at home, and therefore she is still staying actively involved in the "deaf world". It's similar in the way that sometimes people, who speak Spanish as their native language, learn how to speak English fluently, but at home still use Spanish whenever they speak. Heather would become bilingual and what a neat thing for her. She would have many more opportunities in the world because she can speak English and sign. Her parents might not agree with it, but if they set aside their feelings and think of Heather, maybe they would realize that this would be the best thing for Heather. It might make them upset, but she is still deaf, she just can speak too.

Even as the mother of Heather, she considered getting a cochlear implant but when she heard that it’s much harder for an adult she reconsidered. Not only did she reconsider for herself, but for Heather too. Parents can affect their kids a lot and that’s what I believe happened. They made it seem like it was such a bad idea and then they began to involve Heather in a world of all deaf people. Of course taking Heather to a school where the children can hear wouldn’t be a good idea, because she can’t communicate with them at this moment. She still can’t hear because she doesn’t have the implant, so she is deaf. I just feel like what they did to her was unfair, they made her believe it was bad. The grandma was right; they are taking away so much from this little girl. I understand that growing up Heather’s parents didn’t have it easy, but they know what it was like. I feel that Heather’s parents took away a great opportunity for her, and she should have gotten the cochlear implant. Put all negative feelings aside and think of the little girl, not yourselves.