6 hearing difficulties and communication
This is Omar’s story. Omar was not born deaf.
He lost his hearing after he learned to talk.
Omar’s story
Omar was born with normal hearing and was a very
talkative boy. For a couple of years he had many ear
infections. His family could not afford to buy medicine
to treat them. With each infection he lost a little more hearing. By
the time he was 4 he could not understand his parents when they
talked to him. He just looked at them
in a puzzled way, and spoke less
and less.
I think Omar can
still hear some
Omar’s grandfather, who had lost
sounds.
much of his hearing in his old age,
suggested some things that might
help. He said he usually understood
people fairly well by using what
hearing he still had and by
watching people’s lips.
But, Omar’s grandfather said,
it was sometimes difficult to
understand people because so
many words look alike on the lips.
He wondered whether a hearing aid
would help Omar.
Omar’s father took him to a hearing clinic in the city. The
people there tested his hearing and thought that a hearing aid
would help him. So Omar’s father borrowed money from his cousin
and Omar was fitted with a hearing aid. The family practiced with
Omar to help him understand words and speak correctly. Since he
is still a little boy, Omar’s hearing aid will need many new parts as
he — and his ears — grow bigger.
Some children like Omar, who can hear a little, may be able to speak and
read lips. A hearing aid can help Omar because he has some hearing. It
also helps that he understood language before he became deaf.
Omar’s parents will probably have to struggle to find money
for batteries and new parts for his hearing aid as he grows.
If they are able to do this, Omar will do fine.
Helping Children Who Are Deaf (2004)