accessibilityarrow-whitearrowchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightclosecontrast-iconcrafted-by-brighterdecrease-icondownloaddyslexic-iconexitgreyscale-iconhearthelpincrease-iconphonepinquestionquotesearchsocial-facebooksocial-instagramsocial-linkedinsocial-twittertick-circle
Skip to content
Donate Our Clinics Start your child's Can:Do journey

Meet William

Meet William

William was a typical three-year-old when an unexpected illness changed everything.

William and mei portrait

Sudden hearing loss from an unexpected illness

William playing

William was not born with hearing loss. In fact, he was a typically healthy toddler until a potentially fatal infection appeared suddenly at age three.

After fearing the worst, but seeing him bravely overcome meningitis, his mother Mei noticed a few changes. He didn't respond as readily, he seemed to ignore loud noises.

Follow up medical appointments revealed more difficult news. Sitting across from the paediatrician, she learned that William had developed bilateral hearing loss as a side effect of the infection. 

With hearing loss in both ears, William required urgent cochlear implant surgery followed by immediate rehabilitation.

Sudden hearing loss impacts many aspects of a child’s development, including speech, language, listening, social and emotional skills. It was essential that William had access to immediate, specialised supports which the family found at Can:Do 4Kids. 

Only four weeks after receiving his cochlear implants, Can:Do 4Kids Urgent Intervention Fund provided William access to intensive weekly Listening and Spoken Language Therapy as he effectively learnt to listen again with his cochlear implants.

William also joined the Talking Buddies Group Program, a language-rich environment that allows him to engage with his peers, while providing invaluable support for Mei as she connected with other carers in her position.

“William’s confidence improved so much because of these sessions. His audiologist conducted his six-month review a month ahead of schedule which was so encouraging to me!” Mei said.
William Smiling
William enjoys group sessions at Can:Do 4Kids


As William grows and develops, his therapy will adapt to support him. The critical early intervention he is receiving sets a strong foundation so that he can keep up with his peers, especially when starting school.