This document discusses the history and culture of deafness as well as cochlear implants. It notes that deafness causes a unique culture to emerge and profiles important figures like Laurent Clerc and Marlee Matlin. Statistics show that 200 sign languages exist worldwide and 2-140 people per 1000 in the US are deaf. The text also explores the divide between hearing and deaf cultures and how cochlear implants are increasingly used but remain expensive.