Cultural vs. Clinical Models of Deafness
In the world of deafness, there are two different models. One model seems as more of an advocacy of the deaf, and the other that seems to want to normalize the deaf. If one is better than the other is open to opinion, but my opinion is that they both can be a good way to go about dealing with deafness and allowing better communication.
CULTURAL MODEL OF DEAFNESS
The cultural model of deafness focuses on traditions, pride, and sharing the culture with one another. It is a positive outlook on the way of life and embracing each ability to be deaf. People who practice the cultural model of deafness believe hearing is not necessary to be skilled, learn, to be valued or to be successful. They use sign language as their way of communication, and as far as technology goes they use captioned TV, TTY, and real-time captioning. They seem as though they are taking the world into their own hands, using self-determination to propel themselves into success despite a disability. They use it to their advantage and see it as a positive ability they have that others may not. They have a positive outlook on life and the way to use deafness in the world; not to hide it or conceal it, just feel it.
CLINICAL MODEL OF DEAFNESS
On the other hand, the clinical mode of deafness sees helping the deaf as making the main source of communication speaking and hearing, or as close to that as possible. They put an emphasis on normalization and rehabilitation, and they see deaf as being disabled. To them, it is important to use speech and residual hearing, and signing isn't encouraged. Technology i focused towards hearing aids and cochlear implants; ways to get a "normal" sense of hearing.
Whether either is better than the other is the question. In my opinion, I believe both are effective models. The cultural model takes the negativity out of the disability and provides a way of life that some may have not been accustomed to before; it may help them adjust to being deaf if it is a positive and prospective way to live. Similarly, although it seems as if the clinical model wants to change all people who are deaf to hearing, to me it seems like it is just to help communicate and better adjust to challenges. I believe that if someone who is deaf would like to have their hearing back, they aren't necessarily trying to become "normal", they may just want the ability to hear. I just believe it is a source of opinion, even though it is very controversial.
The video below is an example of both models of deafness. It is about a woman named Polly Bacon. She is deaf and she teaches ASL classes (level 1 and 2). She was born hearing and then developed some problems with her hearing at age of 3 from measles. She could still hear quite well, but she had an old hearing aid. By the time she was 11, she moved to a more powerful hearing aid and at the age of 33 she was profoundly deaf. She represents the cultural model of deafness by using technology to help her hear. Despite her deafness, she never felt disables, and saw her deafness as an ability. She was very positive and never thought she was different. She represents the cultural model by her positivity as well as her avid use of Sign Language. This woman was very inspirational, and I thought she did a great job of pulling both models together.
CULTURAL MODEL OF DEAFNESS
The cultural model of deafness focuses on traditions, pride, and sharing the culture with one another. It is a positive outlook on the way of life and embracing each ability to be deaf. People who practice the cultural model of deafness believe hearing is not necessary to be skilled, learn, to be valued or to be successful. They use sign language as their way of communication, and as far as technology goes they use captioned TV, TTY, and real-time captioning. They seem as though they are taking the world into their own hands, using self-determination to propel themselves into success despite a disability. They use it to their advantage and see it as a positive ability they have that others may not. They have a positive outlook on life and the way to use deafness in the world; not to hide it or conceal it, just feel it.
CLINICAL MODEL OF DEAFNESS
On the other hand, the clinical mode of deafness sees helping the deaf as making the main source of communication speaking and hearing, or as close to that as possible. They put an emphasis on normalization and rehabilitation, and they see deaf as being disabled. To them, it is important to use speech and residual hearing, and signing isn't encouraged. Technology i focused towards hearing aids and cochlear implants; ways to get a "normal" sense of hearing.
Whether either is better than the other is the question. In my opinion, I believe both are effective models. The cultural model takes the negativity out of the disability and provides a way of life that some may have not been accustomed to before; it may help them adjust to being deaf if it is a positive and prospective way to live. Similarly, although it seems as if the clinical model wants to change all people who are deaf to hearing, to me it seems like it is just to help communicate and better adjust to challenges. I believe that if someone who is deaf would like to have their hearing back, they aren't necessarily trying to become "normal", they may just want the ability to hear. I just believe it is a source of opinion, even though it is very controversial.
The video below is an example of both models of deafness. It is about a woman named Polly Bacon. She is deaf and she teaches ASL classes (level 1 and 2). She was born hearing and then developed some problems with her hearing at age of 3 from measles. She could still hear quite well, but she had an old hearing aid. By the time she was 11, she moved to a more powerful hearing aid and at the age of 33 she was profoundly deaf. She represents the cultural model of deafness by using technology to help her hear. Despite her deafness, she never felt disables, and saw her deafness as an ability. She was very positive and never thought she was different. She represents the cultural model by her positivity as well as her avid use of Sign Language. This woman was very inspirational, and I thought she did a great job of pulling both models together.