Attention entertainment journalists writing articles on Ben’s upcoming cochlear implant switch-on on @bbceastenders: a cochlear implant does not enable a #deaf person to hear. Instead it *may* help them to hear better.

Emphasis on the ‘may’ there because, as has been teased by one outlet already, CIs may not work for everyone. If you are not considerate of these facts when writing, you risk further propagating the harmful narrative of hearing technologies being a ‘cure’ for deafness.

And if any entertainment editors are looking for a piece on this latest stage in Ben’s #deaf storyline, my DMs are open - let’s chat. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👋" title="Waving hand" aria-label="Emoji: Waving hand">

Here’s my last piece on @bbceastenders, specifically about the recent POV episode and why it was so important. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten" aria-label="Emoji: Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten"> https://metro.co.uk/2020/06/01/eastenders-taking-big-risk-worth-deaf-people-12745037/">https://metro.co.uk/2020/06/0...

Branching out to other soaps for a quick second, I am rather disappointed that #Corrie’s storyline about baby Aled being diagnosed as #deaf was brushed aside so quickly earlier this year. https://metro.co.uk/2020/02/28/eastenders-corrie-tackling-deaf-storylines-really-big-deal-12319437/">https://metro.co.uk/2020/02/2...

I mean, it seems it soon morphed into a narrative about Gemma being under immense distress following Aled’s diagnosis, and being a parent to quads.

Looking back on the coverage now, it led to ‘pity pieces’ like this one in the Express. https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten" aria-label="Emoji: Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten"> https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1260525/Coronation-street-spoilers-gemma-winters-chesney-brown-tragedy-baby-aled-hearing-aid-itv">https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/t...

I must stress: post-natal depression (PND) is a serious mental health issue, and finding out your child is #deaf can be quite the shock at first - absolutely. Yet I can’t help but feel like the segway from Aled into PND really painted deafness in an incredibly negative light.

I mean, sure, we saw those lighter moments in between, with Chesney learning some BSL, and the two seem to be in a better place now as a family (which is lovely), but it’s important that a diagnosis of deafness isn’t framed as this great big devastating loss.

When I first got told I needed hearing aids, at a time when I had a big issue with my self-esteem and self-confidence, it was an incredibly emotional moment - I’m not denying it can be - but now I could not be prouder to be deaf. That joy needs to be represented, too.

That’s the positivity we need to see with Aled’s storyline now. While it’s important to highlight the overwhelming feelings a parent can experience in such a scenario, it’s right that we also see that #deaf children have wonderful lives with the right support.