Meng is a 6 year old boy. When Meng came to the attention of our Outreach Team, his parents told us that Meng had never learned to speak and was always sick. He had never been to a doctor. Our Medical Team brought Meng to the hospital for a full evaluation. It was discovered that Meng had raging, chronic ear infections that had never been treated. He was immediately started on antibiotics. After several follow up visits treating his infections and getting Meng to feel more comfortable at the doctor's through some play therapy, we were finally able to test Meng's hearing. Due to the severe ear infections, he has a perforated eardrum in his left ear and is profoundly deaf on that side. He has partial hearing in his right ear.

Meng is a Medical Intervention child in our Safe Haven Outreach Program. We had a plug made for his left ear to prevent water from entering the ear to help keep it from getting infected and hopefully allow the eardrum to heal slowly over time. Meng was also fitted with a hearing aid for his right ear, allowing him to hear sounds clearly for the first time. When he is ready, we will work with Krousar Thmey, the premier school for the deaf in Siem Reap, to admit Meng into school.