3 minute read
Hearing loss can’t slow her
HEARING LOSS CAN’T SLOW her DOWN
Hearing loss is one of the most challenging disabilities that adversely impacts one’s ability to communicate well.
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The outbreak of the Covid-19 virus has forced everyone to cover their faces, and has made communicating even more difficult for deaf people. Many people with hearing loss have to see the person’s face, or specifically their mouth, in order to understand everything that they are saying.
According to The Deaf Federation of South Africa (DeafSA), September is the month to commemorate deaf people, also known as International Month for Deaf People. DeafSA promotes awareness of the rights of Deaf persons in South Africa. The theme of the 2020 National Month of the Deaf is “Reaffirming Deaf People’s Human Rights” This year, DeafSA says they want all stakeholders and affiliates to unite in endorsement of the need to secure and promote the human rights of Deaf people
Lydia Kram (23) was born and raised in a small town called Keiskammahoek known as Qoboqobo. She says she grew up with two siblings and other family members. Lydia did her pre-school at Douglass Ross Primary and went to St Thomas School for the Deaf in 2009, upon realising that she had a hearing problem.
“I am a deaf young, beautiful and outgoing lady; also an active, respectful and hard-working learner. I am one of the learners who helped new teachers and new learners to adapt in the Deaf Communication. I am always eager to help teachers with Deaf Culture And Sign Language. I care about the needs of others and I had a specific girl who I looked after. I made sure the girl’s hair was taken care of,” she tells Rise N Shine.
Lydia says she participated in extra-mural activities, and entered for various beauty pageants. She was crowned Miss Freshet, Miss Valentine, Miss St Thomas and Miss Deaf respectively. “I was and still am fashionable, wellgroomed and stylish. I am very friendly which is the reason why I made sure people feel comfortable and welcomed in a new environment. When I was born, my mother was very happy and she said I brought joy to her life and she always thanked God every day for the beautiful angel God had brought to her life,” Lydia reveals.
Acting up, pranks and just being naughty are usually normal and healthy phases of the development of every child. Lydia was no different. “Growing up I was very active and naughty. Also, I remember the other day when I was playing with my younger sister, Maizena and I put her under the tap and showered her. It was meant to be a joke but she was really hurt because she was cold all because of the cold water,” she reveals “As I started at Thomas High School I learned a lot from the school. I have learnt to be independent at a young age because I was in boarding school. Most importantly I’ve learned to be a respectful young lady. I have always had an interest in beauty pageants starting from a very young age and most of the pageants I have entered I have won,” she continues.
A report issued by The World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that at least 466 million people worldwide suffer from hearing loss. Of those people at least 34 million are children. According to WHO, 60% of childhood hearing loss is due to preventable causes. In South Africa about 7.5 percent of the school children suffer from varying degrees of hearing loss. Unfortunately, in our country, most deaf people (especially those living in rural areas) are still not getting all the help needed to hear the full spectrum of speech.
“Be confident and share that fact that you have hearing loss with the person you are speaking to if you feel comfortable. Remember that they are more likely to modify their speech, or try to help, if they know why you aren’t hearing them,” advises Hearing Clinic Of South Africa.
