Deaf child will get to hear soon

From: Malaysia Star, Malaysia - Apr 16, 2005

IPOH: Two-year-old Tan Yin Sing will soon be able to hear and speak properly thanks to the generosity of Malaysians and the Health Ministry.

Yin Sing, who suffers from deafness due to a neural hearing sensory disability in both ears, is expected to undergo a cochlear implant procedure in June.

The procedure, to be carried out at the Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, would cost RM80,000.

Earlier this year, housewife Beh Chew Luan, 25, and shipyard labourer Tan Wai Siong, 31, from Pangkor could not help but feel that something was wrong with Yin Sing when she failed to respond each time her name was called.

Their fears were founded when doctors confirmed that the little girl was deaf. When an attempt to correct the problem by getting Yin Sing to wear a hearing aid did not work the implant procedure was recommended.

Unable to afford the procedure, the despaired parents sought the help of Perak MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief Datuk Lee Kon Yin, who obtained a RM79,000 allocation from the Health Ministry and raised RM21,000 more through public donations.

Having received the money from Lee on Thursday, Wai Siong said: Were grateful to all who have helped to ensure that our daughter gets a chance of a better life.

Lee advised parents of children suffering from the same condition as Yin Sing to seek treatment before their children passed the age of four for better chance of recovery.

1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)