Fair comment, or an example of how it’s impossible to please everyone when it comes to deafness?
In May last year, we reported on how cartoonists at Marvel had responded to a heart-felt letter from the mother of a deaf boy who wouldn’t wear his hearing aids.
First, they sent him a West Coast Avengers cover with the character Hawkeye wearing a hearing aid (see left).
Then they sent the boy, called Anthony, an image of himself as a superhero called Blue Ear. Soon after, the boy started wearing his blue hearing aids again.
For many, this was a great example of a large company going out of their way to cheer up a deaf kid, and encourage him not to be ashamed of his hearing aids, something Marvel should be commended for.
Later, Marvel went a step further, teaming up with hearing aid manufacturer Phonak to create a poster that featured the character Iron Man with the message “that kids who use hearing aids are just like him because ‘they are using technology to be their best self.’”
This poster, and in particular, the ‘best self’ statement, has sparked a comment piece by Tara Congdon on CNN’s website, which criticises the comic giant, saying that they were “misguided” and had “stepped into a minefield” with the Iron Man poster.
Congdon admits that Marvel’s gesture to the deaf boy was “heartwarming” and “thoughtful and generous” but says that “by extrapolating an individual’s circumstances and applying it indiscriminately, [the article] devalues a segment of the deaf and hard of hearing community.”
She goes on to say that the message of the poster (left) “is deeply offensive and hurtful to those who gain little to no benefit from hearing aids,” and that it “dismisses the reality that Phonak’s technology does not always succeed in restoring hearing or [achieve] auditory comprehension for its users.”
She says that she formerly used Phonak products and did not benefit from them, and then goes on to explain her experiences of attempts to teach her to hear at school, which made her feel like a failure. She says she was not alone, and cites examples of many of her peers who went on to be successful through using American Sign Language (ASL).
Crucially, she feels that because Marvel’s poster states that through hearing aids, a child can be their “best self,” it therefore implies that the reverse is true of those who don’t wear hearing aids: “because our type or degree of hearing loss prevents us from fully benefiting from Phonak’s technology, we are “failing to be our best selves.”
Is a deaf child’s ‘best self’ only possible if they wear hearing aids? Of course not. Of course there is equal value in a deaf child using sign language and finding the method of hearing, and communicating that best suits them.
But was that really what the poster, which has been designed to go on bedroom walls, was trying to say? That the ‘best self’ cannot be someone who wouldn’t benefit from hearing aids, and/or uses sign language communicate?
For me, I think it’s a lot more simple than that. I think it was trying to say that, for deaf children who would benefit from wearing hearing aids, being proud of them – as part of who you are – is better than being ashamed of them and not wearing them at all.
The whole reason Marvel ever got involved with designing images of superheroes wearing hearing aids was because of a child who would not. That child is incredibly common, for there is a huge stigma associated with wearing hearing aids. Here in the UK, 3.4 million people in the UK could benefit from wearing hearing aids, but do not (Anovum – EuroTrak UK 2010).
The message of the poster, as I read it, is that a deaf kid’s ‘best self’ is not being ashamed of being deaf, not being ashamed of wearing hearing aids as a result, and not deciding not to wear them because of how they look, even if it means you miss out on what people are saying around you.
But what do you think? Do you agree with Congdon? Tell us in the comments below.
Charlie Swinbourne is the Editor of Limping Chicken, as well as being a journalist and award-winning scriptwriter. He writes for the Guardian and BBC Online, and as a scriptwriter, penned My Song, Coming Out and Four Deaf Yorkshiremen.
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Andy
March 8, 2013
Good that the comic maker helped the little lad in the first place but a child’s worth is not dependent on their use of hearing aids. All kids should know that they are loved and appreciated just for being themselves. Hearing aid or not..
bozothewondernerd
March 8, 2013
Charlie, I’m 100% with you here … using technology to be your, ‘best self’ has TWO words in it, and, ‘self’ is just as significant as, ‘best’. If my, ‘self’ is constructed in such a way that hearing-aids are ineffective then I won’t be wearing hearing-aids. This to me is parallel to comparing someone with myopia, who can make the best of their senses by wearing spectacles, to someone who’s got macular disease and wouldn’t be helped by spectacles at all! (I wish that there were more words for, ‘deaf’ – think what it’d be like if everyone with an eyesight condition was simply described as, ‘blind’!)
Robert Mandara
March 8, 2013
bozothewondern…. I fully agree with you that we need more words for “deaf” – do you have some suggestions? When children are issued hearing aids, the challenge for parents is that of encouraging the child to actually wear them. I’m quite sure it would have been easier to encourage my son if the Marvel campaign had been around while I could have used it. We need more deaf superheroes – both deaf and Deaf ones!
Chronicles of a Bionic Woman
March 8, 2013
Completely agree with you, Charlie.
This is the trouble with perspectives – the angle from which everyone views this poster will determine their understanding of the issue. As the tale of the three blind men touching an elephant from three vantage points illustrates, people will never see things the way you do and most times they sincerely believe the way they see it is the whole picture, but of course that isn’t true.
I commend Congdon for her views and i can see where she is coming from. But at the same time i can see where Marvel are coming from by their actions and as you said, Charlie, it’s very simple really. They are just trying to encourage kids not to be ashamed of their aids or whatever else they need to communicate with daily. Is it any different to a major celebrity being seen wearing a piece of clothing or accessories and suddenly that item is ‘in fashion’ and ‘cool’? Sure, not much of a comparison there but the principles are parallel.
I applaud Marvel for their actions and respect Congdon’s views but it is not the majority and everyone will understand that poster from their own vantage point.
It is IMPOSSIBLE to please everyone – deaf or hearing!
Deaf Don
March 8, 2013
It is political correctness gone mad and this appears to be a personal crusade by Tara Congdon. I think Marvel should be applauded for having a poster displaying a superhero wearing hearing aids. Granted, not every deaf person benefits from hearing aids but this is really not the issue here. They overriding message the poster conveys is that it is ok to be deaf. This is refreshing to see and how often have we complained that deafness is ignored and swept under the carpet.
Sylvia Webb
March 8, 2013
Semantics – add the words “which could help” and it totally changes …… But I’m with you, Charlie, and anything which helps with deaf awareness is to be applauded – hey- can we have someone like this for the many older folk who struggle to cope with their new hearing aids? That said, I think the lady must have had some very, very, very bad experiences and her remarks are the result. Hey, ho, does it need a disclaimer in small print ……? But the lady has got people talking too ….
valerie
March 8, 2013
It is so HARD to please anyone – either deaf or hearing. It is like everyday life and around the world when one opinion is differ to other opinion! But it is a very interesting article to read. Thank you for showing it to all of us.
sandrap
March 8, 2013
Personally I applaud Marvel’s actions. It is wonderful to, at last, see some form of role models offered to children of any disability.
I do understand Congdon’s POV, hearing aids do not suit everybody. But the words “best self” addresses individuality, in the same way that Congdon’s ‘best self’ is through self-expression via sign language. She is not the audience these posters are aimed at.
There is a lot of sigma/shame towards wearing hearing aids, and its not just children as you can see in the countless adverts for “invisible inner hearing aids.” The mother of the boy was clearly pleading for some help in combating this for her child. Speaking from my own experiences, it is a phase that I think most of us hearing-aids wearers goes through. As the child grows up, its likely that the reasons for his reluctance will be much clearer, whether stemming from embarrassment, bullying, or simply not being right for him. Until then I can only support a mother trying to do what’s best for her child, and any companies promoting a positive message.
John David Walker
March 8, 2013
The idea of having b-t-e hearing aids included in a comic as part of a character doesn’t bother me at all. It is good for deaf children to have role models who use hearing aids.
What I am not sure about is the relationship between Marvel comics and Phonak. They obviously have the money to sponsor the idea. If we are looking at the inclusion of ASL in a comic, who would be the sponsor? So is this ‘money talking’ or is it a philanthropic interest in creating role models in Marvel comics?
The author of the original posting expressed her own frustration with b-t-e hearing aids and the oralist regime that came with it. For her, the comic didn’t reflect how she represents herself, so she feels disenfranchised. I think this is a legitimate view.
On a bigger level, the superhero was listening to something at a much further distance than capable by hearing people. This goes back to my thoughts about the ‘cyborg metaphor’ and the relationship between humans and machine. Are hearing aids there to make us ‘normal’ or are they there to make us superheroes. It brings a bigger question about who and what the technology is for.
Lastly, sign language was the first, cheapest and the best technology every created. It is a language that enabled deaf people to communicate with others – but it is not profitable for Phonak or Marvel comics. I am not sure if businesses always come over with the range of ideas deaf children need to see.
Smarty
March 9, 2013
I think its a good thing that a hearing aid user is portrayed in the comic – children should not feel ashamed of their aids or implants.
Whenever an oral deaf person features in a TV drama or documentary there are often complaints from Deaf BSL users as they feel don’t feel represented by this person. However, they don’t realise that there are actually a lot of oral deaf people out there. They don’t come across them much because they are not part of the Deaf community but it cannot be argued they are unrepresentative of deaf people today.
I think John raises an interesting point regarding the cyborg metaphor. Are hearing aids and cochlear implants something to be celebrated or are they all about trying to conventionalise people? I respect the latter point of view but in the end I see the need to be pragmatic. We live in a hearing world and if technology gives you greater opportunity to engage with it then that’s not a bad thing. Also, the technology itself does not stop anyone from learning sign language and identifying positively with being deaf. Its narrow-minded attitudes (on both sides) that are the barrier.
AJWSmith
March 22, 2013
I’ve just read Tara Congdon’s article and thought it was making some strong valid points about the complexity of deafness and the reality that hearing aids don’t work for SOME deaf children. More than that – to persist in imposing the use of ineffective hearing aids cause real psychological damage to this group of deaf children. She refers to her own life experience as proof of the harm hearing aids caused her.
The technology-free alternative of sign language is a much better solution for this group of deaf children. And I think it is valid for Tara Congdon to ask why this solution is not being promoted alongside the hearing aid option so that both solutions are available, ensuing that ALL deaf children are helped.
Personally I disagree with using the phrase “it’s a lot more simple than that” as Congdon’s article was emphasising the complexity of helping deaf children.