Some have to wait for a long time to begin treatment as they are unable to afford the cost of hearing devices. Some have problems with maintaining their devices as the cost of maintenance is also expensive. These delays make it hard for the patients to acquire enough spoken language to be able to be in mainstream schools and the hearing world. Dr Basyariatul Fathi Othman from UKM’s Institute of Ear, Hearing and Speech shares how the society can lend a hand.