DOH-ILOCOS REGION GIVES FREE HEARING AID TO A PWD WORKER

September 24, 2022 Provincial

The Department of Health – Ilocos Region has provided a hearing aid to 37-year-old Ryan K. Palacay, a resident of Nangalisan, Bacnotan, San Fernando, a utility worker and a person with disability (PWD)
and currently deployed at the regional office. Palacay was diagnosed to have a profound hearing loss
since birth. His left ear cannot detect any sound while his right ear can only hear faint and distinct sounds which makes him difficult to speak because he has never heard any clear sound.

He can only speak through sign language. Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco said that Palacay is the first to received free hearing aid from regional office. “It has come to my attention na ito palang si Ryan
ay pumapasok mula sa kanilang bahay to the office na nakamotor. Isang napakadelikadong sitwasyon, lalo na at wala siyang naririnig na sound, including the honking of vehicles and whistles of traffic aides. Hindi rin sya aware sa mga sound ng sasakyan kaya may possibility talaga na madisgrasya sya.”

Although, Palacay has passed the examination and has been issued a driver’s license by the Land
Transportation Office, He only relies on his instinct and side mirrors of his motorcycle, especially when turning left, right and stopping for his safety. “Ngayon ay magiging alerto na siya ngayon sa kanyang kapaligiran at mas makakapag-ingat at makakadrive syang mabuti dahil maririnig na niya ang iba’t-ibang tunog. His ability to speak will also improve because he can now hear every word a person says to him,” Sydiongco emphasized.

She also disclosed that the regional office will be providing an initial 10 hearing aid to various children in
La union with profound hearing disabilities. “We have already conducted assessment in various municipalities of the province and we found 10 children who have hearing impairments. “Kailangan natin silang tulungan at bigyan ng atensiyon upang matugunan ang kanilang pangangailan.” “Sa pamamagitan ng mga hearing devices, umaasa kami na sila ay makakapamuhay ng normal, makapagaral at makatulong sa ating komunidad.

Ang kanilang kapansanan ay hindi hadlang, kailangan lang nila ang tulong mula sa ating gobyerno upang ang kanilang aspirasyon at pangarap sa buhay ay kanilang makamit.” A hearing aid will help an individual amplify the sounds in the surroundings and make them more detectable to the ear. According to Fredel P. Bentayo, a hearing care professional and audiometrist, who conducted the on-site hearing assessment, hearing loss can still be treated with the right device and with the use of high-powered hearing aids.

“The device installed to Palacay is a Leox 3 BTE hearing device especially designed for severe to profound
cases. Maganda po ito dahil mayrron itong multiple systems na magbibigay ng real-time amplification at
speech recognition sa iba’t-ibang listening situations. It can also process sound up to 20,000 times per second.”

“Gaano man kalakas o kahina ang sound na marereceive ng device ay automatic na itong i-aamplify ng naayon sa user nito and it is especially fitted to a specific user,” Bentayo added. The hearing aid comes with a lifetime service warranty including cleaning and programming yearly. Palacay was very thankful for the precious gift he received and expressed his sincere appreciation by exerting effort in saying thank to Director Sydiongco.

Artemio Dumlao/ABN