The joy of welcoming a new life was shattered when the parents discovered, at only five months old, that their baby could not hear their voices.

Eleven-month-old Chuah Yun Hern from Penang had normal prenatal check-ups throughout his mother’s pregnancy. During his newborn hearing screening, doctors found mild hearing weakness in his left ear while his right ear responded normally. It was believed to be caused by residual amniotic fluid, so the family was not overly worried then.

However, when Yun Hern was about five months old, his parents noticed he did not react at all when they called him, clapped, or tapped objects behind him. Their hearts sank instantly. A clinic examination confirmed that he had hearing problems in both ears, and he was referred to the hospital for further tests.

Specialists later confirmed bilateral hearing loss and loaned him a pair of hearing aids. Unfortunately, even with the aids, his response to sound remained very weak and he often burst into tears because of the static noise from the devices.

【His auditory nerves are healthy. With early cochlear implants, Yun Hern can hear again】

In August this year, MRI and CT scans confirmed that Yun Hern’s auditory nerves are healthy and intact. To ensure he does not miss the critical period for speech and language development, doctors strongly recommended bilateral cochlear implant surgery as soon as possible.

However, the cochlear implant devices are not covered by insurance and the young parents can only afford RM30,000.

His father, Chuah Siong Yong, aged 29, previously worked in a kitchen. After being injured in a road accident, he had to switch to working as a self-employed plumber together with his grandfather and cousin. His mother, Koay Mei Lien, aged 28, works as a sales assistant in an optical shop.

Despite working hard, the couple struggles with high living expenses. The sudden medical cost has pushed the family to their limits. They managed to gather about RM30,000 but it is still far from enough for the surgery and cochlear implant devices.

The young parents sincerely hope the public can lend a helping hand. They know that this surgery is not just a procedure. It is their child’s first step toward entering a world of sound and building a future filled with hope.

After a home assessment, One Hope Charity has decided to help Chuah Yun Hern by launching a fundraising campaign for his medical needs. From the “Emergency Medical and Contingency Reserve Fund”, we will allocate RM10,000 for this case.

For any inquiries, please contact our hotline 04-539 9212/ 016-419 2192/ 019-232 2192/ 018-911 4192.