PDK representative Augustine Ngu (second right) hands over a T-shirt as a memento to Dong (centre).
SIBU: About five in every 1,000 babies born in the country have hearing problems.
According to Raymond Dong, who has 13 years’ experience in hearing-impaired field, this figure constitutes quite a number of children who upon reaching the age of three, could not talk.
“Usually, no hearing test is conducted on babies when they are born.
“As such, we do not know whether they have hearing problems or not,” he told reporters during a forum on ‘How To Help Children With Hearing Loss’ at the Agape Centre here yesterday.
Sixty-two participants including parents, teachers, nurses and speech therapists attended the event, conducted by Sibu Community-based Rehabilitation centre (PDK) in collaboration with the Agape Centre.
Dong, who was one of the speakers, said the event which was held for the first time here, was aimed at creating and raising awareness among the public, especially parents, of how they could help children suffering from hearing loss.
“Children with hearing loss – after undergoing diagnosis, seeking consultancy on audio speech and followed by cochlear implant surgery – should be able to speak.”
Dong, who graduated from University of Southern Queensland, said hearing problems affected newborn babies as well as those suffering from certain type of diseases.
He said parents of children with hearing problems should approach a medical doctor for recommendation for a cochlear implant.
According to Dong, who has a daughter with cochlear implant, there are many children in Sarawak with hearing problems but their parents have very low public awareness.
He said with a cochlear implant, a mute child would able to talk after series of rehabilitations and after that, could lead normal life.