Sign language

I first saw Jin in Ipoh Hospital last year.  He’s a very interesting child – he has a patch of white hair and a pair of grey eyes. He’s also 100% Chinese. Jin has Waardenburg syndrome, which gave him such interesting features. Unfortunately, he also inherited profound sensorineural hearing loss.

Due to a number of factors – he’s already 5, started wearing hearing aids only last year, and no speech yet – I suggested that Jin uses sign language for communication. Even more radically, I also suggested that the whole family speakes to him in Malay language as sign language in Malaysia are only taught in this language. While most Chinese families will be hesitant, apprehensive, reluctant….this family agrees with almost no pursuation. The whole family includes their parents AND grandparents.

After half a year in the special school for the hearing impaired, Jin is doing well learning sign language. Today, Jin’s mother told me that he was selected to represent his school to enter Pertandingan Kod Tangan Bahasa Malaysia (sign language competition) in the 5-6 years old category. And he won first place, scoring 49.5 out of 50 points.

Now Jin will be representing the state of Perak in the national level competition in Kuantan. His mother is so proud of him! I am also very proud of him! Not so much because he won, but because his family allows him the chance to shine in his own way.

I hope that more families will be more open to other modes of communication as well. After all, what’s most important is that the child will be able to communicate.

~ by enniey on October 15, 2008.