Have you ever seen The Bee Movie? (Sorry if I give away the plot, still a cute movie and you should see it). It's about a bee that discovers humans are using the honey that bees create and he decides to fight for their rights in court. The bee ends up winning and the bees no longer make honey for the humans. In fact, all the honey is given back and the bees are swimming in it, there's so much. Sounds great for this bee. However, there are many ripple effects caused by this. The flowers dying is the huge one no one anticipated. The bees don't use the pollen which means the flowers don't grow which means they eventually die. Problems were created by a ripple effect and it was all accidental and unplanned for.
Now, to relate it all back, people saying that deafness is not a problem and you shouldn't worry about fixing it because it's who they are, I agree with that. It's great to have a sense of pride from it and it's great for them if they don't want to be "fixed". But what about those people who do? What about people like my mom and brother who need hearing aids but can't get them? Being deaf is a wonderful thing. But for some people, going deaf needs to be fixed. They can't adjust to a life of not hearing as they get older because they have never been exposed. They would benefit from hearing aids, but the insurance won't pay for them.
I don't know about your insurance, maybe it's different, but ours won't cover the tiny piece of equipment because too many people wanted deafness to be a sense of pride and to not be fixed.
I'm not saying you should or shouldn't feel proud. I'm not saying it's a horrible thing either way. I'm just trying to point out the ripple effects it has caused. Personally, I don't have a set opinion one way or another, so please don't think I'm saying something I'm not.
I never knew that insurance wouldn't help cover the cost of hearing aids. That's terrible. However, I work with the department of vocational rehabilitation and they have it set up to where they will help cover the cost of hearing aids as long as the people are working at least part time. I haven't been there that long and don't know the requirements to get aid. But it may be worth looking into.
ReplyDeleteWell, like I said, it may not be all insurances, but ours won't cover it. I might have to look into that sometime, thanks.
ReplyDeleteI think that every story has 2 sides and being proud of your deafness is great, but if you want to hear that's great too. We have the technology now to make that happen. Hopefully insurance companies will get on board. It's sad that they don't cover hearing aids.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting point and I see what your saying about the ripple effects of things, but I agree with Jessica in that there are two sides of every story and being proud of being Deaf is a great thing. I think everyone should be proud of who they are no matter what people say or what the world says.
ReplyDeleteThere's definitely always two sides to a story. There's loss and there's gain on both sides.
ReplyDeletePeople tend to think that if you go one way, it'll be perfect and great and wonderful and the other way is such a loss and a disrespectful thing. Its really not how it works.
Its a winandloose/winandloose situation, just like everything else in life. And yea, hearing aids definitely need to be paid for by insurance companies. I struggle with paying for mine as well. Its no good.
I think this is always a hard thing to really put down into words. Like a few of you have said there is two sides to any story. People want to think everything in black and white and most of the time that just does not happen. If everyone took pride in being deaf does not mean all the problems the deaf community has will go away and the same with if all deaf decided to use some kind of amplification. Yes, I love to see when a deaf person is proud of being deaf and yes, I love when a deaf person gets a hearing aid and gets a chance to hear something they have not before. It is just sad when society forces to make people choose one way or the other and then hinders one group for the others choices. In this case it is hearing aids, and some insurance companies not covering the charges. It is just crazy to think that there just can't ever be a happy medium.
ReplyDeleteI really love your post. I thought it was very well written gave us something to think about. I also love how you used the Bee movie as a comparison. I just thought that was cute. :P
ReplyDeleteBut I agree with what you said about the ripple effect of every decision, and that there are two sides to every story.
I think its odd that insurance companies won't cover the hearing aids. That just seems like something they would cover... but I don't know. Its all Greek to me!
I agree with Natalie. The way you related the deafness and the Bee movie was pretty neat. =)
ReplyDeleteIt is also news to me that insurance companies will not cover the cost of hearing aids... Hmm, there should be some way to get around that..
As for Deaf pride versus being Fixed, I trust that to each his own. Every situation is different and we must look at every situation as it is, not wrong or right.
I agree with you on this one. You made some good points. I believe that is important for everyone to consider both side of a situation before selecting a position. There are many deaf people who are completely happy with who they are and wouldn't have it any other way. However, there are also some deaf people who have opposing view points. Their reasons being totally their own and legitimate. With all this in mind I just think people should remain neutral and impartial to ensure the best is sought for both sides.
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