IPOH – After more than 10 years of living in isolation because of a hearing loss problem and opting for early retirement, a teacher recalled how he finally gained a new light after having a cochlear implant 13 years ago.
Mohammad Baki Ramly, 68, said that the cochlear implant, which he decided to have 13 years ago at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB), has given him back the sweet moments of chatting with his friends and listening to religious talks at the mosque.
“Due to my poor hearing, I made a decision to retire early, and began isolating myself from my friends as I had to talk loudly when talking to them. I could not hear what they were saying. When they talked about chicken, I replied ‘duck’, when the topic of the conversation was actually about chicken.
“With the cochlear implant, I have been able to hear again. It may not be as perfect as the original. That belongs to Allah. However, now I can have conversations with my friends, and go to the mosque to listen to religious talks,” he said when met at the national-level World Hearing Day, at the HRPB Ambulatory Care Centre (ACC), here today.
Meanwhile, housewife, Nor Azila Wati Hamzah, 40, said her daughter, Nelidia Isha Lok Mohd Syafiq Lok, 14, had a cochlear implant when she was three years and two months old.
“I realised that my daughter had hearing problems when she was two years old. I continued to take her to HRPB for treatment and she was diagnosed with hearing problems.
“I decided to quit my job as a clerk at a private company just to look after her and make sure Nelidia grew up like any normal child.
“I made it my mission for her to be able to utter 100 words in a year. Alhamdulillah, Nelidia is now attending a mainstream class at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pengkalan,” she said.
Meanwhile, Health Ministry Medical Development Division director, Dr Mohd Azman Yacob, said as of 2022, a total of 576 patients had received cochlear implants.
“The key here is early action so that we can prevent hearing problems, especially among workers who are exposed to loud noise. I urge parents to do hearing screening as early as possible at three hospitals namely HRPB, Teluk Intan and Taiping. The earlier we treat them, the better the outcome.
“Most of the patients who cannot afford the cochlear will be given assistance through the Medical Aid Fund being managed by MOH. The cost of the treatment is between RM80,000 and RM120,000 depending on the type of surgery done,” he said.
A cochlear implant is an electronic device placed on the inside of the head through surgery, to help individuals with sensorineural hearing problems to hear sounds.
World Hearing Day is an annual advocacy event, observed on March 3 every year. It was launched by the World Health Organisation (WHO) at the First International Conference on Prevention and Rehabilitation of Hearing Impairment, in Beijing in 2007.
This year’s theme is “Ear and hearing care for all! Let’s make it a reality.”
It is aimed at increasing awareness and encouraging ear and hearing care among Malaysians, and the importance of ear care and hearing senses through early detection.- Bernama
