Sweet Nothing in My EarPlaywright Stephen Sachs has adapted his play Sweet Nothing In My Ear for a Hallmark Hall of Fame television movie set to air on CBS on April 20th at 9pm/ 8pmCentral.
In Sweet Nothing in My Ear, Laura, who is deaf, and Dan, who is hearing, are a young couple who have been happily married for nine years. Their son Adam was born hearing, but by age six has also become deaf. When Dan decides to pursue the possibility of a cochlear implant for his boy a divisive wedge is driven between husband and wife that threatens to shatter their marriage.
2 comments:
Oooh -- this really fires me up! I hate it when people present the cochlear implant as a miracle "cure-all" for hearing loss. It simply is not that SIMPLE!
The cochlear implant doesn't improve a person's hearing much more than an external hearing aid would. So what is the point of putting a child through major surgery and having a foreign object inserted into his skull? What about rejection issues, infection issues -- not to mention psychological issues? AND, he would STILL have to wear an external unit (the receiver) with cords running from the receiver, through his skull, to the internal implant.
The synopsis of the movie (on the Hallmark channel site) says that this father, Dan, misses talking to his son. OK -- I have a question . . . What has he been doing with his deaf WIFE all these years -- not "talking" (communicating) with her??? His son, by virtue of having a deaf mother, will already know sign language (although I know in some families that would be quite an assumption). It says that the kid is healthy and happy. It seems that this father's motivation is based on his own feelings - not necessarily his son's!
I have not yet seen the movie. So I'm sorry for getting so fired up!
IF, someday, the cochlear implant can be improved to the point where it can actually do all it's alleged to do -- then maybe it could be worth some risk. But ladies & gentlemen, that day has not yet arrived!
I encourage people considering the implant to do careful research on both sides of the argument before deciding in favor of it. Watch some video, or visit some deaf people, talk with those who have actually had the implant. Ask lots of questions, such as, "What was your hearing loss to begin with?" Listen to their speech -- see if the implant has helped them to the extent that you'd allow your child to go through this risky procedure.
I'm very surpised there are not more comments here!
That is the argument presented in the play and the movie. The father wants a cochlear and mother doesn't because she understands. The show is done so it leaves the audience not sure who has the correct argument because they feel for both characters. It's extremely gripping and a very well written play. I do not agree with the idea of a cochlear but this show almost made me think twice about it when you hear the emotional point of view of others. A def good reach/watch.
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