Yazzin is a 11 year-old Jordanian boy who has had hearing issues since birth. Because of his hearing issues, he received a set of hearing aids from 3DP4ME. We visited Yazzin and his family to see how he is doing since receiving the hearing aids. His mother told us that since he started wearing his hearing aids that his self-confidence has increased and he is much more comfortable around people. This is because he is able to hear what is going on and understand what people are saying. His two older brothers told us that before he started wearing his hearing aids, Yassin would almost yell when talking to them. But, now when he talks, Yassin speaks in a more normal voice. This is very common with children with hearing issues, and we have heard similar stories from many other children who 3DP4ME has given hearing aids.
Yassin told us that he is very happy with his hearing aids. The kids were able to choose the color of their hearing aids, and Yassin chose blue. He said he likes the color of them a lot. He also said that he can hear his teacher much better when he is at school. His education is very important to Yassin and his family. His mother said that he is good with his hands and would like to see him become an interior designer when he grows up.
We recently met with an 8 year old boy named Amir. When we visited him we sat with his mother, father, uncle and several cousins, so we received feedback from many family members. They shared that Amir has had hearing issues since birth which has caused him to be shy and struggle in school.
We asked the family to share about how Amir’s life has changed since receiving his hearing aids. The family told us that Amir has a lot more self-confidence now since he started wearing the new hearing aids. Before, he was shy because he couldn’t understand others, but now he is very social and talks all the time. His parents said now, “Amir never stops talking.”
Amir shared that when he first started wearing his hearing aids, kids bullied and teased him. But because of his improved hearing and confidence, he stood up to the other kids and told them, “This is how I hear!” The kids then respected him.
The family has also seen a big improvement in Amir’s grades since he started wearing hearing aids. This is because before, he wasn’t able to understand his teacher but now he can. Because Amir can now understand what the teacher is saying in class, he no longer needs his parents’ help Amir with his homework. He told us proudly that he does it on his own.
Amir’s parents and uncle all said they are much more relaxed now that Amir is wearing the hearing aids and his hearing has greatly improved. They shared that before, they were worried about him getting hurt because he couldn’t hear what was happening.
When we asked Amir about his dreams, he said he wants to become an airplane pilot when he grows up. Our hope is that with his improved hearing as a result of the hearing aids, he can begin to work towards that dream.
Yazan is a 10 year-old Jordanian boy. He only has hearing loss in one ear, so he only wears one hearing aid. His hearing was affected when he developed meningitis when he was younger and had a high fever. Since he has always been able to hear, Yazan has always been quite independent. He is the oldest son in his family and is often doing things like going to the store for his parents.
Yazan and his parents are very happy with the hearing aid. Before, he was having issues at school because it was difficult for him to hear and understand his teacher. Now, he has no trouble understanding his teacher, even if he sits in the back of the classroom. Yazan told us that he hears much better now and when people talk their words are much clearer for him. This has made it much easier for him to play with his friends. When we asked him about his friends, he said that he goes outside and plays more often now thanks to his improved hearing.
In January, we visited Salam and her family. They live in a village in northern Jordan between Mufraq and Azraq. When we asked how the hearing aids Salam received from 3DP4ME are working out, both Salam and her parents were very excited about the difference they have made.
Communication
Salam’s father and younger sister told us that now it is so much easier to communicate with his daughter. Now they are able to speak with her, and she understands what they are telling her. Her father also talked about how this has improved the relationships with their extended family. Before the hearing aids from 3DP4ME, Salam’s father explained to us that big family events such as weddings and funerals were very difficult for Salam. She couldn’t understand what people were saying and what was going on around her. This was embarrassing for her and because of this, she never wanted to go. Now, thanks to her improved hearing, she is able to communicate with her relatives easily and now enjoys going to these events. This has been a big relief for Salam and her entire family.
Education
When we asked how school was going, Salam told us that before the hearing aids, she was not able to understand her teachers very well, so her parents had to help her a lot with her assignments when she got home. It was almost like she had to redo the lesson at home. But now that she has her new hearing aids, she is able to understand and follow her teachers in class. Her parents said that now, Salam is able to do her homework on her own and they don’t have to reteach her the lessons. Her mother told us that this was a huge benefit for her, because now she has more time to take care of the younger kids and do her housework. Her father proudly talked about the difference he has seen in Salam’s grades since she started wearing the hearing aids.
Self Confidence
Finally, Salam’s father talked about how the hearing aids from 3DP4ME have improved her self confidence. Before, Salam was not able to go places by herself because she couldn’t hear the cars on the road. Her father was afraid to let her go to the store by herself because of the danger. Now, with her new hearing aids, Salam is able to go outside and do many things on her own. She has no trouble going to the store and buying things for her mother. She can go out and play with her friends. This ability to do things on her own has greatly increased her self confidence and how Salam feels about herself.
Optimism About the Future
We were very excited to hear about the impact the hearing aids have made in Salam’s life. She is obviously a very intelligent child and has big dreams. When we asked her what she wanted to be when she grows up, she told us, “an airplane pilot in the military.” With her improved hearing and improved self confidence, she is thriving in school and can continue to work towards this dream.
Toleen is a 12-year old girl who received hearing aids through 3dp4me. She currently is in 6th grade. Toleen loves to draw and is very creative.
Before receiving her hearing aids from 3dp4me Toleen had trouble engaging in schoolwork and communicating with students in her class. The hearing aids have made a real difference in her participation at school and social engagement. She is now able to complete her homework independently and communicates more easily with her peers.
Although Toleen can be a little shy at times, she is making good progress with improving her speaking.
She dreams of one day being able to help other children who also have difficulty hearing.
Khaled had a mischievous twinkle in his eye and was already teasing the audiologist the day he came to be fitted for his hearing aids. The audiologist kidded along, enjoying Khaled’s playful interactions, while his mom and dad both grinned, obviously used to their son’s light-hearted nature. They eventually had to pretend to get serious and focus him, so the audiologist could finish his work. Finally, after a series of button probes and beeps –– new pathways were opened, and Khaled could hear!
This smart little spark plug is just 7 years old, in second grade, and already has grand plans to be both an engineer and a doctor! Good thing he is now able to hear, thanks to the custom-made devices provided by 3DP4ME’s generous donors and thanks to the fine tuning that’s been done in follow-up visits to make sure they fit properly.
Khaled was fortunate to survive the accident that caused his hearing loss to begin with. He had a bad fall and suffered head trauma and hearing loss, among other issues. The gift of hearing he has received has made a real difference in his life, restoring his ability to communicate well with his family and big circle of friends. Thank you to those of you who have donated to the work of 3DP4ME!
We were instantly welcomed with six broad smiles, firm handshakes and customary kisses, when we entered the Abu Fakher home in the Gaza Camp in the historic city of Jerash, Jordan. The visit was especially for Fakher and Mohammad, 12-year-old twins who both received hearing aids from 3DP4ME last year, but it seemed that no one in the home wanted to miss out. Even the youngest toddler, peeked his head around the corner to show his interest, before shyly ducking into the other room. Their mother was from Jordan, and their father and grandfather were from Gaza, but settled in Jordan years ago. Their grandpa lamented they had lost 30 family members in this current war on Gaza.
Fakher and Mohammad’s challenges clearly did not limit the love and acceptance they received in their home. They oozed confidence, each with his own robust personality.
Mohammad stood tall with broad shoulders and the surprising self-assurance of a capable young man. He took charge, graciously led us in and showed us to our seats on the traditional Arabic cushions that outlined the floor of the room. He is clearly a leader – thoughtful, responsible, curious and engaged in everything happening around him. With piercing eyes, he proudly showed us his brightly colored hearing aids (apparently, he did not want “boring” nude-colored ones), and his family remarked on how much easier it is to communicate with him now that he has good devices. Before, they had to write everything down for him; now they just speak, and he understands. Many of us take that luxury for granted, but they sure don’t. He can also understand the teacher in school now and even walk to school by himself. Plus, now the neighborhood kids are actually playing with him, since he can communicate. For a kid like Mohammad, bursting with potential, we feel compelled to do our part to help him succeed, and clearly, the gift of hearing has opened a huge door for his present and his future.
Both boys were born two months prematurely, and their mother nearly died in childbirth. They spent the first two months of their lives in incubators, fighting for their lives. Their soft-spoken mom held out her delicate hand and said in Arabic, “This is how big they were.” We marveled with her at how they were spared and how there must be very special purposes for them in the world.
Fakher has additional physical and developmental challenges due to oxygen deprivation in the traumatic birth. He has trouble processing information and speaking clearly, but he has no trouble at all connecting and engaging with people. During the visit, he was constantly interacting and beaming, as he tried to communicate his excitement about a multitude of things. He, like his twin, possessed a captivating charisma, confidence, and contagious vibrance. And thanks to his colorful hearing aids provided by 3DP4ME’s generous donors, hearing is not as daunting of an issue anymore. He has other battles to fight, but his family is thankful that one obstacle has been minimized for their spirited preteen and that some of life’s burdens have been eased for all of them.
Thank you for giving to lighten life’s load for kids with profound hearing impairments who live in underserved communities.
We told him the day before we had a sad visit with a little boy who was too ashamed to wear his aids at school because he gets bullied. Amjad agreed to make a video for us to send to the other boy, encouraging him to wear his devices at school and to not let the bullies bother him. When I asked him what he would advise the younger boy to do if kids teased him, without hesitating he said, “Tell them ‘God forgive you!’ and let it go!”
One of our dreams is to begin building a little community like this where our patients can share their struggles and victories together and champion each other along the challenging journey. Thanks for your donations, which help give the gift of hearing and change lives, one at a time.
Story 1: Yassin
Story 2: Dima
Story 3: Amir
Story 4: Yazan
Story 5: Salam
Story 6: Toleen
Story 7: Khaled
Story 8: Fakher & Mohammad
