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As a parent of a child with a cochlear implant and a professional with certification in both Speech-Language Pathology and Auditory-Verbal Therapy, I am repeatedly disappointed in The ASHA Leader's articles regarding habilitation of children with hearing loss. Of the four people with cochlear implants (three children and one adult) highlighted in the Feb.17, 2004 issue ("Ruthie, Maggie, and Audrey's Stories"), not one of the children was a totally listening, speaking individual integrated 100% into hearing society. The article failed to educate the reader of this possibility. At the time I read the article, I wondered, "Where is the vuditory-verbal example?" Now, in the Nov. 16, 2004 issue, David Luterman actually reviews the evolution of the Auditory-Verbal approach but faults the "auditory/verbal philosophy" for its failure to "recognize the social and emotional consequences of an oral success within a deaf context." He goes on to say "they [auditory-verbal children] often experience social isolation and are not necessarily adjusted." Dr. Luterman cites no research to back up these assertions, and it certainly has not been true of my clinical experience in an auditory-verbal center, nor true of my experience with my own son who has always been fully integrated into the hearing community, both socially and educationally. The bi/bi approach would not make him more socially adjusted in his hearing school or lessen the challenges of his hearing impairment. The ASHA Leader needs to provide more balanced and unbiased coverage of all of the options available to children with hearing impairment.
Alison Tucker
Lilburn, GA
Atucker_avc@bellsouth.net
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