KUALA LUMPUR – Lavinia Abirami Selva Kumaran has come a long way to be where she is today – a multi-talented, academic high-achiever – despite her hearing impairment.
The 20-year-old was diagnosed with acute hearing loss in both ears since the age of 5, but her world became less silent after receiving her first pair of hearing aid.
However, it was not until she was 18 that her 10% hearing increased by almost 60%, thanks to a cochlear implant surgery.
A cochlear implant is an electronic device that partially restores hearing. It can be an option for people who have severe hearing loss due to inner-ear damage and can no longer be helped by hearing aids.
University of Malaya Faculty of Medicine consultant Datuk Prof Dr R. Prepagaran, who performed the surgery, said the earlier a cochlear implant surgery is performed on a child, the better the results.
“This is because the brain will adapt and allow the child to hear and develop faster compared with when the surgery is performed on an older individual.
“But Lavinia has beaten the odds. Even though her implant was done later, she managed to adjust to it well.”
Kala Balasingam, 50, said the implant has made a tremendous difference to her daughter’s quality of life.
“Before the implant, Lavinia had taken a keen interest in chess and represented her school in the Majlis Sukan Sekolah Malaysia.
“She was also active in the Malaysia Asian Maths and Science Olympiad competitions.
“Lavinia reached Grade 5 in her piano lessons, and, after the surgery, began to play the guitar,” said the single mother, who was attending an award ceremony here for children and adults with hearing impairment who have broken the glass ceiling in academic achievements. Lavinia sang and played her guitar at the ceremony.
Lavinia obtained 5As in her Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah exams and clinched the Tokoh Akademik 2013 award in recognition of her efforts in academia from SRK Taman Bukit Maluri here.
For her O-levels, she scored the highest marks for economics, as well as business studies and commerce, for the academic year 2016/17 from Maz International School in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
She achieved 7As in the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) 2017 exams, and received the Outstanding Pearson Learner Awards by Pearson Edexcel for attaining the highest marks in Malaysia for her IGCSE business studies subject.
Her next stop? HELP University for her A-levels and, thereafter, entry into Monash University in Bandar Sunway to major in accounting and economics.
When asked about her experience thus far, Lavinia said most of her peers were bitter, with her also being teased for her inability to hear.
“When you have a disability, it makes you more vulnerable to mockery and scrutiny.
“People made fun of me because I was deaf and used a hearing aid. I would be the last one picked for group activities, and, sometimes, teachers would not choose me for fear of my disability.
“Once the operation was done, my whole world changed for the better.
“Despite this, I made many friends along the way, and, till today, they are close to me.” – The Vibes, April 5, 2021
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