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Natural Change Vs. Medical Change

© Jill Ann Smith

Autumn is here. The leaves are turning brown. Mother Nature is causing changes before winter begins. This is all done naturally.

I was watching a new television series called Hopkins 24/7 on ABC last Thursday. The episode dealt with, among other things, three hearing impaired patients. There was a man, Joe Vanna, age 69, a woman named Faith Gamble, and a two year old named Cody. The three of them were being examined for a Cochlear Implant Operation. They required this modern technology in medicine for their change.

Joe has been hearing impaired all of his life. He trys to communicate with people but still feels lost in the world. He considers himself a survivor.

Faith has 5% hearing and she is fluent in American Sign Language. Her husband and children can hear.

Cody's hearing loss was discovered at the age of two. He has behavioral problems due to his hearing impairment and lack of being able to be understood. He hits, and screams when he wants to let someone know he's angry or frustrated. His mother wants Cody to hear even if it's only a little bit.

In the next segment of the show, the doctors are preparing each of the three patients for their surgery. After their operation, it will take 5 weeks for each of them to begin to adapt (with the help of a computer) and fine tune their new hearing devices.

Cody is given a plastic block to place near his ear. When he hears something through his new device, he's told to place the block into the square.

Faith comments that it's a whole new world she is experiencing. She says she now hears alot of noises in the room. She hears the fan, the computer, and several voices.

Joe is having many problems however. His major problem is when he hears his own voice, it's way to loud for him. They need to fine tune Joe's new device much lower for him.

After 24 hours, Joe is still experiencing problems and he's upset. Cody says to his mother "Radio off, now," because to him it sounds too loud. Joe says when he washes his face and hands the water is way too loud. Faith now observes the slamming of the cabinets in her home, and it annoys her. She says, she closes them quitely herself. Everyone one else in the family slams them shut. Cody is surprised when he hears the sound from a game buzzing.

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