This classic book on deafness and cochlear implants, now available in a new edition that's been revised and updated by the author. This rare "inside" account of hearing with a cochlear implant, the first effective artificial sensory organ ever developed, is a moving story about a deaf woman's journey through deafness and into hearing.
Praised by Oliver Sacks as "a beautiful account full of wonder and surprises," this new edition brings the reader up to date on the technology, and more importantly, on the changes in Biderman's life brought by her transformation.
The Globe and Mail, naming the original version a "Globe 100", called it "... a moving story of personal transformation, told with intelligence and a charmingly light touch, that should resonate with anyone who has undergone radical change."
Includes the voices of a wide range of deaf people talking about their deafness, and a balanced exploration of the explosive issues of the Deaf culture's opposition to cochlear implants.
Aimed at general readers who love a good memoir, but also a "must read" for anyone needing to make an informed choice about cochlear implants and for parents of deaf children, as well as teachers, doctors therapists, audiologists, and other professionals who work with those with a hearing loss. Detailed up-to-date appendix includes comprehensive listing of international resources on deafness and cochlear implants, plus an annotated reading list, and copious endnotes documenting current research in lay terms.
Praise and Honors for Wired for Sound, first edition:
"... reads in line with the best of memoirs, one that leaves us wanting to hear her voice again."
--ForeWord
"... beneath the surface there is a profound story here, one that tells about how society treats people who are different and how those individuals struggle to cope. ... the resource listings in the Appendix are worth the price of the book all by themselves."
--Robert V. Shannon, PhD., Research Professor, University of Southern California, Otolaryngology and Biomedical Engineering
"... sometimes delightful, sometimes terrifying, often funny and poignant ... a beautiful account full of wonder and surprises."
--Oliver Sacks, M.D.
"... a moving story of personal transformation, told with intelligence and a charmingly light touch, that should resonate with anyone who has undergone radical change."
--The Globe and Mail
"... I cannot think of a better way to learn about the experience of cochlear implantation and the many issues surrounding this technology."
--ASHA Leader
Biderman, Beverly: - Beverly Biderman has had a progressive hearing loss since she was a toddler. It became profound by the time she reached her early teens, and from that point on, she was completely unable to understand any speech without lipreading. As an adult, she had surgery for a cochlear implant, and then everything changed. She is the past Chair of the Board of the Canadian Hearing Society, a "recovering" computer analyst, and an occasional contributor to publications such as the Globe and Mail. She lives in Toronto.
