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Three-year-old boy celebrates hearing clearly for the first time

Published:Tuesday | March 3, 2020 | 12:00 AM
Clayon Elvin Jnr (centre) beams with excitement having received the gift of improved hearing from the Starkey Hearing Foundation at its annual mission to Jamaica held on World Hearing Day on Tuesday March 3, 2020. Looking on from left are Tani Austin, co-founder of the Starkey Hearing Foundation, country coordinator Tami-Ann Young, Clayton’s mother, Suzette Morais, and Elizabeth Sweet - Gladstone Taylor photo

Danae Hyman, Staff Reporter

Excitement erupted inside the Chinese Benevolent Centre in St Andrew this morning when three-year-old Clayon Elvin, through the help of the Starkey Hearing Foundation, discovered sound for the first time.

Clayon’s mother, Suzette Morais, told The Gleaner that she believes a tragedy she experienced while pregnant led to her son being born deaf.

Morais said life has been difficult for her, noting that she uses touch and hand gestures to communicate with her son.

“I feel so overwhelmed now, seeing him hear so properly for the first time, I feel so happy. Normally, you have to pitch your voice or you have to touch him but he normally uses his other senses because he is really smart,” Morais said.

After receiving his hearing aid, an overjoyed Clayon began shouting and laughing at his new discovery of sound.

He later danced to music being played by a Starkey volunteer.

“I am just so happy for what these people have done for me and my son. You can see how happy he is right now and words can’t explain how I am feeling,” Morais said.  

With today being observed as World Hearing Day, the Starkey Foundation held its annual hearing mission where they provided individuals with the gift of hearing for free.

The foundation, among other things, also provides hearing aids and custom earmolds to patients, assess and fit hearing aids and council and train hearing aid recipients.

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