BENGKALA

Sumarni and some of his friends looked really engaged in a joke after getting hearing aids in their ears. They looked cheerful and their eyes full of passion and enthusiasm to continue their lives.

Sumarni and his friends are some children with disabilities, they are deaf and mute who live in Bengkala Village, Kubutambahan, Buleleng.

They are called as “kolok” by local people. Sunarnadi and friends so excited because they are happy to get the attention and assistance so they are pushed to stay alive like other normal children.

Their teachers in Inclusive School and Head of the Village also feel happy for the aids provided by Lions Club of Singapore Meyer supported by Oticon Singapore Pte Ltd.

The charity was carried out on Saturday (24/10), in Inclusive School of Bengkala Village, handed over by senior ranks of Lions Club of Singapore Meyer assisted by volunteers from Sanglah Hospital and attended by head of local villages.

Ronald Burgess as a President Lions Club of Singapore Meyer said it was a pleasure to help persons with disabilities in Bengkala and hopefully can do more than this.

“We hope we can do more for children with disabilities in this area,” he said on the sidelines of the event.

Sumarni (11) one of the recipients of hearing aids from Lions Club Singapore supported by Oticon Singapore Pte Ltd, said he was happy to receive it and feel comfortable using it.

It was shown by the little girl by raising her thumbs up while smiling.

Head of the Bengkala Village, I Made Arpana, greatly appreciated the activity but he hoped it can be continued because the kids really need assistance so they can learn well.

“This help is very valuable for the children, we greatly appreciate and hopefully they can use it well. Surely we need assistance so they can learn to use and maintain it, “he said.

Meanwhile, dr. Nyoman Dian Permatasari, one of volunteers from Sanglah Hospital said the number of children who got this help is about 10 people. In fact, one of them would receive implant tool but unfortunately the parents were afraid and do not want their one-year-old child underwent surgery to implant the tool.

“I really hope the receiver of the aids could use it conveniently because most of them are more interested to use sign language than wearing the tool, “said Resident of ENT at Sanglah Hospital.

She said, they have to get used to wear the tools all day without taking it off except when going to sleep. It was to avoid the damage of a tool.

“This tool is not going to make the kids can hear again up to 100 percent but at least they can respond to voice and began to learn to listen surrounding sounds, “she said.

Similarly stated by Narno Supangat, as a consultant of Harmoni Hearing Center, who helped the delivery of hearing aids.

According to him, it is not a tool to make the child can hear and speak 100 percent but at least they can feel or respond to the sounds of the surrounding so they can learn to speak.

“Why they can not hear or talk properly after using the hearing aid as most of the degree of hearing loss is severe enough, over at the age of 7, “he said.

He added, if they were under three years and the level of hearing loss is medium, the tool might help but they should be familiarized to wear it and should be monitored.

“But I think ‘kolok’ children in this village deserved to hear so that they can be excited to survive,” he said.