» Posted by An American Mom in Tuscany: Jo … deafologue

Tayler

12:33:19 pm on March 26, 2008 | 1,280 views

Posted by An American Mom in Tuscany: Jordan’s Cochlear
1st Legally Deaf Player Signed to NBA Contract

“He’s had about 75 percent hearing loss since birth but uses implants that allow him to be functional.”

I need cochlear implants in order to function? I’m not functional?

Comments

Judge 1:00 pm on March 26, 2008 | #

Guess you are not functional… is that what you are looking for?? haha! Truthfully, he may be quoted out of context…
InsaneMisha 1:00 pm on March 26, 2008 | #

One thing that has been bothering me…..legally deaf. How is that “legal”???? Are our ears illegal?!? Even though there is other word, legally blind but that is a different story. But I never heard of the word, legally deaf. I was like, “What the……???? Oh well…. Misha
Tayler 1:09 pm on March 26, 2008 | #

Judge, I’m not functioning because of this oppression. I don’t see how the quote could be out of context. If you want to further examine this, I’d be open to that.

InsaneMisha, “legally deaf” probably refers to the degree of hearing required for specific tasks, such as piloting a commercial airliner. However, I see your logic. It wasn’t necessary to mention.
jjpuorro 2:25 pm on March 26, 2008 | #

From his point of view…he couldn’t function without any hearing…

From our point of view, we see it differently because we have never heard and always functioned just fine…

It’s like some Hoh or CI folks who lose their hearing for a day or so when their hearing aid needs to be fixed or their CI needs to be fixed…they are “lost” for a few days…(shrugs)…
Tayler 2:30 pm on March 26, 2008 | #

The basketball player was born deaf. That’s a long time to be “lost” The sportswriter has the wrong point of view. We’re living proof of that, aren’t we?
raychelle 2:34 pm on March 26, 2008 | #

we could look at this from a different way, and use that ‘functional’ argument our way. would you rather be 75% functional (with CI’s) or 100% functional (with ASL). the experience of that NBA player is EVIDENCE that all CI people will always be DEAF… we just need to make the case for ASL as the language for all visual-deaf children from birth with or without CI’s.
Ars Gratia Artis 2:38 pm on March 26, 2008 | #

Severely illogical! That means that she has not visited http://www.gallaudet.edu to see how highly functional
deaf people are. Oh, do not pay any attention to that
blogger.
Tayler 2:44 pm on March 26, 2008 | #

raychelle - there are people who will argue that, for example, in job situations, CI are more beneficial. I agree, more needs to be done about early language acquisition. My pet peeve is people seem inclined to think language acquisition starts when they say their first word. Nope, wrong. It starts the minute the deaf baby sees. By the time a baby is given the “tool” (CI) to access language, it’s often very late and they need to work harder to catch up with normal child development. Sometimes they will succeed, sometimes they will fail. ASL is the failsafe.

Ars Gratia Artis - the blogger didn’t write the quote. Yes, the sportswriter sure needs some educatin’.
walk a mile in my shoes 3:47 pm on March 26, 2008 | #

Judge-

It seems to me like the player didn’t make the comment. Rather it is the sportswriter who is guilty of having poor diction. The writer could have simply wrote this
“He’s had about 75 percent hearing loss since birth but uses implants that helps him hear better.”

The change conveys the same meaning as the quote in the article without the implications that those who are deaf and are without cochlear implants are not functional. (was that a double negative? ha)

Poor diction and ignorance at its finest.
Tayler 4:08 pm on March 26, 2008 | #

walk a mile in my shoes (love the username, btw) - I heard back from the sportswriter, and indeed, he thinks cochlear implants are needed to be functional on the basketball court. I’m going to make his response into its own post, but will wait to see if he will respond to my reply before doing so.
walk a mile in my shoes 6:57 am on March 27, 2008 | #

I wouldn’t have objected as much if he had added “that allow him to be functional on the basketball court.”

It is true that deaf players are at a disadvantage on the court. Especially when on defense, Lance mentions that he’s been wiped out on screens. Hearing teammates often warn each other when screens are coming.

I wouldn’t have a problem with that, I think this article clearly shows the writer’s ignorance and thoughtlessness towards deaf people.
Tayler 4:58 pm on March 27, 2008 | #

Go here to see the sportswriter’s response. Writers, of any kind, shouldn’t be as irresponsible.
pamelasue81 12:24 am on June 10, 2008 | #

Hello how are u do i am a deaf lady from usa i care to chat with u and know u better cos i went through ur profile if u care to see my pics i will show u cos i am new here so i dont know how to put photos okay. I am 29 years old my email address is….pamelasue81@yahoo.com