Pink ladies were popular at that time and I like to see them in TV imitating their song and dance. Looking at this, my parents expected that I would start singing. However I didn't, and they noticed that my growth in speaking was very slow.

Many times I didn't answer to my parents calling my name. They wondered and took me to a medical office within the center for handicapped people. I was wondering why I had to be examined like that. Different sounds I listened to. I responded if I acknowledged the sound and just wait if I couldn't. Now I think the sound must be really loud but to my ear, it sounded normal.

During 6 months before the second examination, I was somewhat very anxious. In pictures taken around that time, I had dark expressions on my face and didn't look happy even if in amusement parks.

Parents too were anxious. They tried so many things good to my ears, from foods to massage. One time they called a witch doctor to take a purification ceremony. They were struggling wanting to believe that I would recover. It must be hard for them to accept that their own child might be handicapped. After they found that everything didn't work out, there was only one way left. They had to give up.

Since no improvement could be seen at the second examination, I was authorized as handicapped. Parents purchased a hearing aid for me. I was excited about wearing the hearing aid because I could hear every sound. I was happy even if I couldn't acknowledge what each sound meant.

On the way to a park, I was interested in every sound and asked to my parents what the sound was. It was like playing a game and I had fun. But in the park, I wondered why other kids didn't wear the hearing aid.

"Am I the only one? Am I different from others?"

I started to ask myself. Kids around me stared what I am wearing on my ears with wondering expression on their faces. Later on, I visited a class for children with hearing difficulties for the first time. The place looks just like any other preschool. But most kids wore wearing the hearing aid like me. I was happy about that and my anxiety was gone.

Then a female school teacher came saying "Hello!" She talked to us slowly to pronounce word for word. Her talk was much easier to understand than my parents'. Soon I began to like that teacher and was attached to her at the preschool. I guess my parents were jealous a bit.

I hate being stared for the hearing aid that I wore and the way of my speaking, so hesitated going outside. On the other hand, I felt relieved being in the class for the kids with hearing difficulties. No one stared at me. Other kids too wore the hearing aid. I was not alone. I found a place that I could assure myself.