Do parents have a right to decide this?

[crozby 0]

A short-sighted parent has a short-sighted child and the parent refuses to get the child glasses, despite it being obvious that not having glasses will be a disability to them. Is that ok?

[billvon 3,131]

>A short-sighted parent has a short-sighted child and the parent refuses
>to get the child glasses, despite it being obvious that not having glasses
>will be a disability to them. Is that ok?

Is it OK? Depends on the circumstances. If the kid has broken his glasses before and cut up his face, and the parent thinks it might happen again, then it's fine. Or if he's getting the crap beat out of him because of the glasses, perhaps it's better to go without until he goes to the new school. If the parent has to choose between paying for glasses or vaccinations, then it's OK. If he's just a lazy bastard and doesn't want to buy them, then it's probably not OK.

But does he have the RIGHT to make that decision for his child? Yes.

[peregrinerose 0]

This definitely depends on circumstance. In some cases, glasses are a medical necessity. Vision is learned after birth. If the rx is very high, the eye does not get a clear image, the brain does not as a result learn how to see. The longer the child waits on glasses, the less likely they will learn to see. Glasses give the eye a clear image, which transmits a clear image to the brain, so it can learn how to use vision. Without those glasses, vision won't develop at all and the earlier this is treated, the more visual potential the child has.

Kids who are very farsighted have a hell of a time learning to read because they have to work so hard just to see the words on the page, retention is poor as a result. Scary how many kids are labelled as learning disabled when glasses can solve the problem. This would also be a medical reason for glasses.

I do not know how much hearing is learned after birth, but I would think that the earlier the implants are done, the more potential hearing and ability to discern different pitches and sounds would develop.

There's a big difference between wearing glasses and having a surgical procedure. Honestly, I'm torn on this whole subject. It really should be up to the parents. Every parent wants to do what is best for their children, none (with exception of child abusers) want to harm their kids.

Jen

Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda

[Nightingale 0]

many Deaf people don't see being deaf as a disability.

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

many Deaf people don't see being deaf as a disability.

And by definition, they're wrong.