SPECIAL REPORT Unlike the birthday parties I have attended, one that I went to recently was an annually-held birthday party for people with hearing disabilities.

This gathering was quiet. Not even a whispering sound was heard, just some footfalls and snapping. More than 20 people were squeezed into a 500sq-ft unit, for the NGO that organised the party lacked the funds to rent a bigger space.

The gathering started with Agnes Peter, the co-founder of RC Deaf Missions Malaysia, giving her speech, followed by the dinner session.

This group does not gather too often, given that the deaf are scattered all around, with a handful working with the NGO, doing either handicraft selling at a kiosk or working as administrative assistants in the office.

Some just finished their work and arrived at the party, excitedly meeting with one another, while there were some who came with their family members.

Everyone received a cupcake, with a sign language symbol atop, during dinner time. Pizzas and fried chicken were served at the corridor. Lots of selfies and welfies were taken.

Barely able to communicate with them, I could only throw an awkward smile, with some formal head noddings.

There were a few sign language interpreters present. And the only times when they stepped in was I able to have some more basic understanding of the world of the deaf.

“The deaf community usually flocks into where they want to be with the people who understand them. For many deaf, they do not ask a new friend where his or her hometown is, but would rather associate with those they know from their school days,” Agnes said.

Deaf persons are indeed friendly and some of them did talk, though with some speech disfluency. There are four levels of hearing loss, which is defined by the quietest sound a person is able to hear, and it’s measured in decibels (dB).

Mild and moderate hearing loss

Those who can hear the quietest sounds, at 69dB frequency and above, are considered to suffer mild and moderate hearing loss, which can be enhanced with the help of hearing aids.

While some who have greater hearing loss, at 70dB and above, which is considered severe, usually require lip reading and sign language to communicate with the outside world....