October 10th, 2005
Draft Genre 3
October 8, 2005
It has been four weeks since my surgery and my doctor has said I am healed enough to begin using my implant. I had my first appointment with my audiologist today, and she said everything is going fine. I was really nervous before I went to talk to her, because I had this nagging fear that the surgery didn’t work. After she got all the pieces working, she turned the implant on. All I could hear were really weird sounds. I know that these sounds represent the signs I know, but since I've always been deaf I didn't recognize them. The doctors told me what it would be like, but I couldn’t help hoping that it would be easier. The audiologist told me that I would have to come back regularly for awhile to make sure everything is working right and I have to start speech therapy next week. I guess I finally understand that it will be a long process and take a lot of hard work.
October 20, 2005
I saw my friends today for the first time since I had my surgery. All of my friends are deaf. My parents said that they would be understanding and be happy for me, but some of them seemed upset. My parents explained to me the controversy behind the implant, but I don’t understand why anyone would not want to hear if they were given the chance. Most of my friends seemed genuinely happy for me, but some of them didn’t really respond to me. Truthfully I think they might be jealous. I hope they get used to me with an implant, because it's going to be apart of me forever.
I have also started seeing a speech therapist. She has explained to me that my communication will now involve many factors as opposed to the sign language I was using before. She also says that theres many factors that will determine the outcome of the surgery. It was kind of depresssing, because I guess I was hoping that she would give me some exercises to do and I would miraculously start talking. I guess it's kind of like learning a new language.
MeganLeigh
Audience: Either a.) the client's family and friends or b.) the client is just making a journal entry that is simply self-reflection, not particularly geared towards anyone.
Sayback: The client expresses relief in the success of the surgery, but he is disappointed learning language and putting meaning to various auditory stimulus is such a long, grueling process.
Bless: Your journal entry is realistic and true-to-character. He hoped it would be easier, but it's not going to be. It's going to take a lot of work on his part. Yeah. Or you know, you could have had the client say (after never having SPOKEN, mind you), "Oh wow, I can hear again! Thank you, Mr. Audiologist! You gave me my life back!" Lol, definitely stick with yours. I really like it. :-)
Address: One typo, because you said "theres" many factors, (this is about at the bottom of the page), when "there are" would be more gramatically correct. ;) Also, I know what you mean about "the controversy", because we had a long MOO discussion regarding it, but other people might not.
miller255
2. Audience: The client's family and friends.
3. Say Back: In the first journal entry the client is explaining the long process that it took to get cochlear implants. He also talks the struggles and lengthy time period it is going to take in order for him to understand speech and communicate verbally.
In the second journal entry the client discusses how several of his friends are excited for him while others look at him as a different individual. This might be due to the beliefs of the deaf vs. hearing cultures. In addition, the client finally realizes that speech therapy will help him communicate, but it will be a long process.
4. Bless: Katie I love the way you are writing from the client's view. As I read both entries I felt like a deaf child was really writing them. The part that stood out to me the most was in the first journal entry. It was: "After she got all the pieces working, she turned the implant on. All I could hear was really weird sounds. I know that these sounds represent the signs I know, but since I've always been deaf I didn't recognize them." This really broke my heart because one day a child with a cochlear implant might come to me and only hear "really weird sounds" when they he is actually hearing people communicate, but then I start thinking that one day those weird sounds will be perceived as words to him.
5. Address: There are a few typos that I found. These include in the third line down it should be today, and (you left out a comma) and in the sixth line down change was to were (hear were really). In the second journal entry I think the statement, "all of my friends are deaf" should be right after the first sentence because to me it does not fit in where it is at. I cannot think of any more suggestions other than those small errors.