Spike's storyline will have long-term effects. (Soaps.com)
Walter is played by deaf actor Bob Hiltermann, who is proficient with sign language and can also speak clearly. He began his appearances the week of August 13th.
Bob Hiltermann joins the cast. (Soaps.com)
JQ DePaiva, son of One Life To Live star Kassie DePaiva, Blair, and James DePaiva, ex-Max, is another of the actors who will join the show. JQ was born deaf and now, at the age of 10, attends school with hearing children. JQ received his first cochlear implant at 18 months and a second implant at the age of 8. JQ will be a guest on Erica's New Beginnings talk show September 20, 21 and 24.
Fans have been very vocal about the new storyline. Here is what a few of them had to say.
Cathy Clemons wrote, "Being the parent of a deaf child, please try to portray all areas of treatments factfully. We personally have known children that the cochlear implant did not help. We were glad you picked this story line so long as it is not just a commercial for the cochlear implant as the sole means of success."
AmisMommy said, "I work in the field and am watching AMC very intently right now to see how they will handle this storyline. . .imagine what kind of education this storyline can provide. Being deaf or blind is not the end of the world. True, it is a tragedy that this child can no longer hear, but what an opportunity the writers have created to educate the public."
Stephanie Thompson's son has a cochlear implant. She wrote, "My son is 11 and he lost his hearing at the age of 5. The way All My Children is going about this and saying there is no way to help his [Spike's] hearing is wrong, too. My son does not have hearing like what we have but at least he can hear."
AMC is known for being the first to take on some serious subject areas - in the 1970's the show took on the Vietnam War, then Erica had an abortion and in 2000 introduced the first openly lesbian character, Bianca, to have a contract role.
What are your thoughts on this new storyline? Is this a chance to educate the public about deafness? Or have the AMC writers gone too far from their daytime premise of love and heartache?
