Peter Artinian in 2000 and Heather Artinian in 2000: Spoken language or sign language?
Photos: Aronson Films
Mari Artinian was one of the mothers featured in this film "Sound and Fury" in 2000, which was about the fierce controversy about giving deaf infants cochlear implants between the hearing and deaf communities. Click here to order the film: Aronsonfilms@aol.com. Aronson Films connected me to Mari, who was kind enough to answer my questions.
#1: Why did you decide to give your son Peter the CI even you were a CODA member?
I decided to give Peter a Cochlear Implant because I wanted every opportunity available to him. I saw the discrimination and barriers that deafness could bring, and if I could take away just a bit of it- then why not? Realistically, and I know that this is not politically correct- but there are many out there who cannot be bothered with relay operators and interpreters. If I could break down that wall- it would only benefit my child. That's what a parent does for their children- give them every opportunity to succeed. I also remember VIVIDLY of how my parents were left out of many family functions- they were outsiders in their own family! I didn't want that for my child and while, yes, we could sign, it wasn't the same thing.
#2: Did the deaf people's feelings about the CI influence your decision in any way?
No, the deaf people's feelings did not influence me in any way as far as my decision went. I saw the potential that the CI had, and I wanted it for my son. However, I did feel an inner conflict regarding what they were saying- was I making the right decision? Am I a traitor?
#3: How did you feel being the "first" oral deaf mom in your family in such an ASL environment?
It was really difficult at first. My mom was one of the first students at Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf, my in laws all attended there, and Chris and I were married there. There were a lot of roots at the school and to break away from that ideology and embrace a new one was tough. But I knew (as well as Chris) that we made the right decision for our child and we were committed to making the implant a success for him.
#4: Did people pick on you about your decision for implanting Peter?
Yes, there were many people- strangers even. I could remember going food shopping with my children, and people would come up to me out of nowhere and sign to me that I was an embarrassment to the Deaf community- I had no Deaf Pride. It was unsettling however, we have also received many many emails and letters from people who supported us and thanked us for our honesty in the movie.
#5: Today do you feel that today's attitudes in the Deaf Community has become more positive about CIs since 2000?
I think that the attitudes in the Deaf Community have changed somewhat- but I still feel that there is this perception that it really isn't as good as us "hearing" people say it is. I see more and more Deaf children from Deaf families getting implanted- but their success isn't the equilvent to others. One thing I know for certain is that if you are going to have the implant- then you need to set it up for success. This means getting mapped on a regular basis, speech therapy, etc. The CI isn't a cure and it does take a lot of hard work to reap the benefits. You cannot possibly put on the implant one day and all of a sudden- sound makes sense to you. It just doesn't work that way and I think many people in the Deaf community who get the implant do have some false execrations about the device and then point to it later and say "You see, it really doesn't work".
#6: How do you feel about some hearing parents and Deaf parents not giving their deaf infants CIs today?
To me, it's all about choice. It is a parents "right" to decide what they think is best for their child. Who am I to say what another person does is wrong? However, I also believe that the parents who say that they will "wait" until the child is old enough to make a decision- well then , in reality, they have already made the choice for their child. It has been well established that the earlier that the CI is implanted- the greater the success. If Peter decided today to abandon the implant- then it's really him who has made the choice. He has the luxury of choosing through my decision of implanting him as an infant.
I decided to give Peter a Cochlear Implant because I wanted every opportunity available to him. I saw the discrimination and barriers that deafness could bring, and if I could take away just a bit of it- then why not? Realistically, and I know that this is not politically correct- but there are many out there who cannot be bothered with relay operators and interpreters. If I could break down that wall- it would only benefit my child. That's what a parent does for their children- give them every opportunity to succeed. I also remember VIVIDLY of how my parents were left out of many family functions- they were outsiders in their own family! I didn't want that for my child and while, yes, we could sign, it wasn't the same thing.
#2: Did the deaf people's feelings about the CI influence your decision in any way?
No, the deaf people's feelings did not influence me in any way as far as my decision went. I saw the potential that the CI had, and I wanted it for my son. However, I did feel an inner conflict regarding what they were saying- was I making the right decision? Am I a traitor?
#3: How did you feel being the "first" oral deaf mom in your family in such an ASL environment?
It was really difficult at first. My mom was one of the first students at Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf, my in laws all attended there, and Chris and I were married there. There were a lot of roots at the school and to break away from that ideology and embrace a new one was tough. But I knew (as well as Chris) that we made the right decision for our child and we were committed to making the implant a success for him.
#4: Did people pick on you about your decision for implanting Peter?
Yes, there were many people- strangers even. I could remember going food shopping with my children, and people would come up to me out of nowhere and sign to me that I was an embarrassment to the Deaf community- I had no Deaf Pride. It was unsettling however, we have also received many many emails and letters from people who supported us and thanked us for our honesty in the movie.
#5: Today do you feel that today's attitudes in the Deaf Community has become more positive about CIs since 2000?
I think that the attitudes in the Deaf Community have changed somewhat- but I still feel that there is this perception that it really isn't as good as us "hearing" people say it is. I see more and more Deaf children from Deaf families getting implanted- but their success isn't the equilvent to others. One thing I know for certain is that if you are going to have the implant- then you need to set it up for success. This means getting mapped on a regular basis, speech therapy, etc. The CI isn't a cure and it does take a lot of hard work to reap the benefits. You cannot possibly put on the implant one day and all of a sudden- sound makes sense to you. It just doesn't work that way and I think many people in the Deaf community who get the implant do have some false execrations about the device and then point to it later and say "You see, it really doesn't work".
#6: How do you feel about some hearing parents and Deaf parents not giving their deaf infants CIs today?
To me, it's all about choice. It is a parents "right" to decide what they think is best for their child. Who am I to say what another person does is wrong? However, I also believe that the parents who say that they will "wait" until the child is old enough to make a decision- well then , in reality, they have already made the choice for their child. It has been well established that the earlier that the CI is implanted- the greater the success. If Peter decided today to abandon the implant- then it's really him who has made the choice. He has the luxury of choosing through my decision of implanting him as an infant.
As you can see, cochlear implants are very popular for today's parents who have deaf infants. Research shows that the earlier infants receive implants, the better and faster they can learn spoken language.
