Shuaib was diagnosed with a profound hearing loss in both ears shortly after birth, and his cochlear implants were switched on when he was seven months old.
Shuaib’s family lives in Hamilton and found it difficult to juggle Shuaib’s regular hearing appointments in Auckland with work and family commitments, as well as looking after Shuaib’s three-year-old brother and their new baby.
Being able to attend appointments in Hamilton means Shuaib’s daily routines are not affected.
They were so relieved to have the option of attending appointments at the Outreach Clinics closer to home. Both the Audiology and Listening and Spoken Language Specialists run Outreach Clinics to serve the families in the Waikato region. This takes the additional pressure off families who already have such busy lives. Often the trips to Auckland for appointments can be stressful and demanding, as his parents need to consider travel time and costs, alternative care for other children, and taking time off work. “I can’t imagine if I had to come up,” says Shuaib’s mum, Hibaq.
Being able to attend appointments in Hamilton means Shuaib’s daily routines are not affected. His parents don’t need to worry about funding the trip, finding additional childcare for Shuaib’s brother and don’t need to find an additional support person to help Hibaq manage the long drive.
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