Marlee Matlin on Cochlear Implants and Deaf Culture

Actor Marlee Matlin joins groundbreaking researchers in deafness and for a wide-ranging discussion of cutting-edge research and how it will affect lives. Recent breakthroughs in vision and hearing mean many forms of blindness and deafness may soon be reversible. This will not be greeted with universal acclaim. Deafness is not just a disability; it is a culture with its own language and history. For many in that community ‘cure’ equates to cultural genocide. With blindness, the issues are different, but just as difficult. Will a brain that learned to navigate without sight suddenly be able to make sense of visual signals? Join a vibrant discussion of cutting-edge technology and the lives it will impact.

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[theherk]

The translator, or orator (I don't know the nomenclature), is amazing. Able to read and instantly speak with the perfect inflection. I could have been convinced he was just speaking his own words. I admire that skill in actors and they have practice, but this is basically sight reading perfect intonation. Very impressive.

[paulsmith]

Well, yes. Not all of us can afford a professional translator everywhere we go. Getting implants isn't self shaming. Its just hearing. If you want to try to hear, go for it. If you are fine the way you are, perfect.

[robiny.]

My Roomate was Deaf and even after 2 semesters of ASL, I learned more from her about the Deaf culture and how they view the hearing, and even when some get the implants, or even the hard of hearing. It’s such a trip. Many Deaf people have not been treated very good by the hearing, so I get it.

[tudormiller]

OMG! I love this woman she's such an inspiration to our Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. Watching from London UK.

[CharlesEBright]

I recently had surgery to get an implant. I lost my hearing in my right ear. I'm deaf in my left ear.

I was recently activated in the last few weeks and I'm happy that I did it. I'm able to understand speech and I'm able to lead a normal life again.

Yes it is true that these aren't an official cure for deafness but damn it it's pretty damn close.

I still hear some robotic tones with speech but that is slowly going away.

I don't consider myself deaf. I consider myself as being whole again and being able to do things as I did before I lost my hearing in my right ear.

If someone chooses to be deaf or remain deaf that's fine.

[mousemail]

Does anyone know if this will ever get proper subtitles/captions and not just the auto-generated ones?
I am Deaf, so the audio is no use to me, but my sign language is BSL so not the same as ASL used by Marlee. Would love to understand what is being said properly.

[DaveWhoa]

the episode of Seinfeld she was in, "The Lip Reader", is an alltime fave

[brendapalmigiano]

I agree with Marlee Maitlin that ASL is our visual sign language. We depend on our eyes to see ASL. way to go Marlee Mailtlin for outspoken.

[btothec]

I am studying Auslan (Australian Sign Language) at the moment, including a subject on Deaf Culture. I teach many non-verbal children so am already very familiar with non-verbal communication systems including some Key Word Sign.
I have already learned so much in this course, and have more and more appreciation for the Deaf community and Deaf culture, as I learn more. Love this clip - my current assignment has some questions on the Deaf community's attitudes towards cochlear implants. Prior to this, I was not aware of some of the controversy and some of the negatives of cochlear implants. I have always loved Marlee as an actress - what a fantastic ambassador for her community, and to us all.

[lilylilylilylol]

i’m so intrigued with the deaf world, i really want to learn sign language (would be BSL as im british), but i’ve been introduced to this mainly by Tasha Ghouri from love island, the first ever deaf contestant. although she has a cochlear implant, and got it at the age of 5, she is still very much involved with the deaf community and even did an advert using sign langauge. her raising awareness of this prompted my memory of being extremely interested in “the silent child”, when i was only around 10 or 11. i have always been, and always will be a major supporter of the deaf community and look up to everyone who is involved!!

[Skorpi]

I have heard about the side about the deaf community which is proud it. I also hear about the toxic side of the community which gets quite upset when parents decide to chose implants for their children, or attack those who manage to get their hearing back, because they dont consider it a disability. I came snooping to learn more from both sides, because u know reddit isnt always the best source to trust

[deeprecce]

Everyone one shld be proud of their culture and language skills they possessed, whether its spoken or sign, but no one shld deny another persons right to learn another language or culture!

Edited Something is not right here, what was the question, why only a short clip of the conversation? I think its unfair to give a fair comment without the full context of the conversation!

[faithite]

She was featured in Quantico Season 3. Really loved her scenes.

[GamerKatz_]

But where i have trouble with this is when some deaf people, take note of the word some you oh so righteous warriors of the net, who think that if a deaf person gets an implant that they have somehow 'betrayed' themselves or even worse the deaf community. If it must be your choice to not get an implant then you must also totally honor the choices of those who get the implant. Do not preach to them about how they should have been proud to be deaf. I have seen these conversations happen. They do exist.If you do not wish to hear that is your choice, if someone wishes to hear, honor that choice and leave it alone. Do not tell them how wrong they are or how you think they have turned away from the deaf community.

[Avarcirith]

My cousin was staunchly opposed against cochlear implants, until his mother pleaded with him to get one since she wanted him to hear music and his family's voices. Now he says that he still sees why so many deaf people are opposed to them, but he believes they too would change their minds "if only they truly knew what they were missing."

[chrisbamford]

I so like Marliee Maitlin. Whether it is a movie or discussion. She doesn't use put downs for anyone. She just presents a positive attitude about the improvement of society. What she says can be be transfered to an attitude of improving the surcumstances and contibution of everyone, whatever our weakness. (we all have them. whoever we are). *I wish I knew her language*

[ubuibme]

I would also think that for people who were born deaf, their brain has developed differently than people who were born hearing I would think that the brain's ability to process sound and make sense of it for a person who has never heard sound would be different than for a -person who started out hearing and then lost that ability. The ability would probably be correlated with the age of the She is right . There are many different factors to evaluate. You can't just assume that hearing sound would always be the best option especially for older deaf people. And we can't just assume that the brain would process sound the same way that it does in hearing people....

[avnisuri]

Beautiful video! This was shown in my Neurobiology Fundamentals class at UC Davis.

[augflynn]

i love her insight!! i love her in general! saw her first in deaf west’s spring awakening and loved her ever sense!

[nolabel]

Love the world being inclusive for all people. My 1st girlfriend was deaf and signing is still apart of my life. Treat everyone as they're perfectly normal. Don't be afraid to use your cellphone to talk with Deaf humans.