" Nancy Bloch of the National Association of the Deaf agrees that the implants will not destroy deaf culture. "Deaf culture, with its rich visual language and heritage, will nonetheless continue to endure through the ages, even with new and emerging technologies." Hearing aids are already part of the deaf culture, and so too should implants.

Another reason why cochlear implants will not destroy deaf culture is that deaf culture is far from being homogenous. "There is no such thing as the 'average' deaf person," according to Jamie Berke. "Deaf people are oral, wear implants, wear hearing aids, sign, use cued speech, use ASL, use PSE, use SEE, choose to have active deaf social lives or choose to interact primarily within the hearing world." Therefore, deaf culture is as diverse as hearing culture. Berke adds that acceptance of implants is "the key to the deaf community's growth." Belief that the...
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