Overcoming the language barrier
Precious Ngwenya, Alberton resident and mother of two cannot communicate with her children.
ALBERTON – Precious Ngwenya first realised that her son, Terrance, could not hear when he was 11 months old.
When he was beginning to walk, he pulled a stand holding pots and pans from the kitchen table. The cookware fell to the floor but Terrance did not react to the sound of the crash.
He was diagnosed with a congenital, profound hearing loss at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Precious gave birth to his sister, Sizalobuhle shortly after Terrance’s diagnosis. She was also born deaf. Staff members at Charlotte Maxeke were able to assist Precious in enrolling the children in Ekurhuleni School for the Deaf. Terrance (9) is now in Grade 2 and Sizalobuhle (8) is in Grade 1. The children board at the school and come home on weekends.
Precious speaks with pride about their progress and their ability to make friends wherever they go. The problem that she experiences is that even though the children are highly social and want to communicate with her; they speak South African sign language and she does not.
The children have been teaching Precious words and phrases in sign language by pointing at objects and then signing the word. She speaks of her desire to communicate complex concepts to both of them and her fear that she will not be able to raise her children well. “They are getting older now. They need my help more and more,” Precious told the RECORD.
Precious is able to sign at a very basic level but would like to learn more. Anyone who is able to sign and is willing to teach her, in Alberton, or has information that can assist her is urged to contact Precious on 073 904 8428.
