Hearing-impaired İzmir boy bursts into laughter after hearing for first time

İZMİR

A 3-year-old boy with hearing impairments burst into laughter after hearing for the first time with the assistance of a hearing aid in İzmir on April 4, Doğan News Agency has reported.

Şerif Mevlüt Ağaçbozan, who is 90 percent hearing impaired, was able to hear thanks to the aid provided by the Karşıyaka Yalı Lions Club.

The boy, both of whose parents were also born deaf, first expressed surprise before laughing when he first.

Members of the club communicated with the couple Emre Ağaçbozan and Sevilay Ağaçbozan via an association for the hearing impaired.

Members provided a hearing aid following a fundraising campaign, as the family could not afford it on its own.

A drama club in İzmir also donated income from one of the plays, allowing the association to purchase a 3,600-Turkish Lira hearing aid to the boy.

Club members also said the child would be educated in a special school.   

“We do social activities in a number of areas. But little Şerif made us happy. We met him and became friends with him. His world has changed. Şerif can help his mother and father from now on. He will be an ear for his mother and father. We will maintain our support to the family,” said the head of the club, Kadir Akışel.