so let me start with this painting as you can see this picture is divided into
you can see this picture is divided into
you can see this picture is divided into two sections one side is colorful while
two sections one side is colorful while
two sections one side is colorful while the other side is just black and white
the other side is just black and white
the other side is just black and white what do you think this means well
what do you think this means well
what do you think this means well perhaps you are thinking of confusion
perhaps you are thinking of confusion
perhaps you are thinking of confusion light versus dark happiness versus
light versus dark happiness versus
light versus dark happiness versus sadness positivity versus negativity and
sadness positivity versus negativity and
sadness positivity versus negativity and who might the goal be in this painting
who might the goal be in this painting
who might the goal be in this painting well it’s me this is my self-portrait I
well it’s me this is my self-portrait I
well it’s me this is my self-portrait I was born imperfect I was born with
was born imperfect I was born with
was born imperfect I was born with profound hearing loss
profound hearing loss
profound hearing loss I got fitted with hearing aids at the
I got fitted with hearing aids at the
I got fitted with hearing aids at the age of nine months old however it wasn’t
age of nine months old however it wasn’t
age of nine months old however it wasn’t beneficial for me at all eventually my
beneficial for me at all eventually my
beneficial for me at all eventually my parents made the decision to get
parents made the decision to get
parents made the decision to get cochlear implants for me at the age of
cochlear implants for me at the age of
cochlear implants for me at the age of 18 months old and here are two pictures
18 months old and here are two pictures
18 months old and here are two pictures of me at that particular age the
of me at that particular age the
of me at that particular age the petrodollar was taken right before I had
petrodollar was taken right before I had
petrodollar was taken right before I had to cut my hair shaved in preparation for
to cut my hair shaved in preparation for
to cut my hair shaved in preparation for the operation and the picture on the
the operation and the picture on the
the operation and the picture on the right was taken a day after the
right was taken a day after the
right was taken a day after the operation and a cochlear implant is
operation and a cochlear implant is
operation and a cochlear implant is basically an electronic device that is
basically an electronic device that is
basically an electronic device that is worn on the ear and replaces the
worn on the ear and replaces the
worn on the ear and replaces the function of the damaged hair cells in
function of the damaged hair cells in
function of the damaged hair cells in the cochlea organ to send sound signals
the cochlea organ to send sound signals
the cochlea organ to send sound signals to the brain now this was a very brief
to the brain now this was a very brief
to the brain now this was a very brief decision on my parents part at the time
decision on my parents part at the time
decision on my parents part at the time considering that the technology was
considering that the technology was
considering that the technology was still considered very new and not many
still considered very new and not many
still considered very new and not many people were using it however they still
people were using it however they still
people were using it however they still decided to go through with this brief
decided to go through with this brief
decided to go through with this brief decision for my sake and what they
decision for my sake and what they
decision for my sake and what they learned from that is we have to believe
learned from that is we have to believe
learned from that is we have to believe Mick’s decision then we can see the
Mick’s decision then we can see the
Mick’s decision then we can see the result not the other way around
result not the other way around
result not the other way around which is the conventional wisdom seeing
which is the conventional wisdom seeing
which is the conventional wisdom seeing is believing
is believing
is believing so if it wasn’t for my parents making
so if it wasn’t for my parents making
so if it wasn’t for my parents making this brief decision at the time I
this brief decision at the time I
this brief decision at the time I wouldn’t be Who I am today so I am very
wouldn’t be Who I am today so I am very
wouldn’t be Who I am today so I am very grateful to them
grateful to them
grateful to them in fact you could say that I have the
in fact you could say that I have the
in fact you could say that I have the best of both worlds I had the choice of
best of both worlds I had the choice of
best of both worlds I had the choice of living in a world of silence or a world
living in a world of silence or a world
living in a world of silence or a world of hearing which is shown in my
of hearing which is shown in my
of hearing which is shown in my self-portrait and if you ask me which
self-portrait and if you ask me which
self-portrait and if you ask me which one I prefer of course I would
one I prefer of course I would
one I prefer of course I would definitely choose the world of sound so
definitely choose the world of sound so
definitely choose the world of sound so what I enjoy about the world of sound is
what I enjoy about the world of sound is
what I enjoy about the world of sound is being able to listen to music fully
being able to listen to music fully
being able to listen to music fully experience movies and have proper
experience movies and have proper
experience movies and have proper conversations with people now let’s look
conversations with people now let’s look
conversations with people now let’s look at movies as an example what constitutes
at movies as an example what constitutes
at movies as an example what constitutes the best movie experience you think of
the best movie experience you think of
the best movie experience you think of movies like Jaws Titanic Harry Potter
movies like Jaws Titanic Harry Potter
movies like Jaws Titanic Harry Potter Lord of the Rings Star Wars and many
Lord of the Rings Star Wars and many
Lord of the Rings Star Wars and many others what are the different elements
others what are the different elements
others what are the different elements that means you enjoy those particular
that means you enjoy those particular
that means you enjoy those particular films it is not just the action and its
films it is not just the action and its
films it is not just the action and its cinematography that make up a movie but
cinematography that make up a movie but
cinematography that make up a movie but one of the most important things in a
one of the most important things in a
one of the most important things in a movie is also the sound now how would
movie is also the sound now how would
movie is also the sound now how would you feel if you were unable to hear let
you feel if you were unable to hear let
you feel if you were unable to hear let me walk you through my experience in a
me walk you through my experience in a
me walk you through my experience in a unique way which I think has never been
unique way which I think has never been
unique way which I think has never been done before and that is through my
done before and that is through my
done before and that is through my artworks with this I hope he will give
artworks with this I hope he will give
artworks with this I hope he will give you a much clearer picture more
you a much clearer picture more
you a much clearer picture more appreciation as well as be able to
appreciation as well as be able to
appreciation as well as be able to connect with me on a more emotional
connect with me on a more emotional
connect with me on a more emotional level on the journey that I am going
level on the journey that I am going
level on the journey that I am going through the first phase is confusion so
through the first phase is confusion so
through the first phase is confusion so this watercolor pencil painting the pits
this watercolor pencil painting the pits
this watercolor pencil painting the pits confusion so here the focal point is the
confusion so here the focal point is the
confusion so here the focal point is the boy who is standing in the middle of a
boy who is standing in the middle of a
boy who is standing in the middle of a cloud and he stands out because he is
cloud and he stands out because he is
cloud and he stands out because he is colored in black and white for the rest
colored in black and white for the rest
colored in black and white for the rest of the cloud is colorful he also has an
of the cloud is colorful he also has an
of the cloud is colorful he also has an expression and gesture of confusion and
expression and gesture of confusion and
expression and gesture of confusion and this shows that without being able to
this shows that without being able to
this shows that without being able to hear he is unable to comprehend what is
hear he is unable to comprehend what is
hear he is unable to comprehend what is going on in his environment hence
going on in his environment hence
going on in his environment hence leading
leading
leading confusion then the next piece is
confusion then the next piece is
confusion then the next piece is frustration so this second artwork
frustration so this second artwork
frustration so this second artwork depicts frustration and clearly the boy
depicts frustration and clearly the boy
depicts frustration and clearly the boy has an expression of frustration on his
has an expression of frustration on his
has an expression of frustration on his face and even his hands are covering his
face and even his hands are covering his
face and even his hands are covering his ears
ears
ears there are also hands surrounding him and
there are also hands surrounding him and
there are also hands surrounding him and pulling at him from all different
pulling at him from all different
pulling at him from all different directions
directions
directions this represents society’s expectations
this represents society’s expectations
this represents society’s expectations in the background there’s also typically
in the background there’s also typically
in the background there’s also typically seen silence all over it and even
seen silence all over it and even
seen silence all over it and even creeping up along the boys clothes and
creeping up along the boys clothes and
creeping up along the boys clothes and this also emphasizes further on his
this also emphasizes further on his
this also emphasizes further on his toughness and naturally we have
toughness and naturally we have
toughness and naturally we have isolation so here the boy is trapped in
isolation so here the boy is trapped in
isolation so here the boy is trapped in the center of a spiral that is shaped
the center of a spiral that is shaped
the center of a spiral that is shaped like a cochlea
like a cochlea
like a cochlea there are also piano keys lining the
there are also piano keys lining the
there are also piano keys lining the cochlea and this represents sound and
cochlea and this represents sound and
cochlea and this represents sound and the boy being curled up in the center
the boy being curled up in the center
the boy being curled up in the center and this cochlea shows just how isolated
and this cochlea shows just how isolated
and this cochlea shows just how isolated he is from the sound surrounding him can
he is from the sound surrounding him can
he is from the sound surrounding him can you feel the sadness emanating from this
you feel the sadness emanating from this
you feel the sadness emanating from this painting
painting
painting that’s exactly how it would feel if we
that’s exactly how it would feel if we
that’s exactly how it would feel if we are without hearing now the process for
are without hearing now the process for
are without hearing now the process for me to get to where I am today and be
me to get to where I am today and be
me to get to where I am today and be able to talk to you all today was
able to talk to you all today was
able to talk to you all today was definitely not an easy one so it may
definitely not an easy one so it may
definitely not an easy one so it may seem natural and easy for normal hearing
seem natural and easy for normal hearing
seem natural and easy for normal hearing people like you are for instance when
people like you are for instance when
people like you are for instance when you were very young and just starting to
you were very young and just starting to
you were very young and just starting to process sound and everything you are
process sound and everything you are
process sound and everything you are able to automatically and easily recover
able to automatically and easily recover
able to automatically and easily recover language well that’s not the case for me
language well that’s not the case for me
language well that’s not the case for me in fact going through a cochlear implant
in fact going through a cochlear implant
in fact going through a cochlear implant is right here in a very robotic sound
is right here in a very robotic sound
is right here in a very robotic sound and this is an example of where the word
and this is an example of where the word
and this is an example of where the word sound
can anyone hear what this is yes of
can anyone hear what this is yes of course you can hear it but do you
course you can hear it but do you
course you can hear it but do you understand it no right now this is the
understand it no right now this is the
understand it no right now this is the original sentence the boy did a
original sentence the boy did a
original sentence the boy did a handstand the boy did a handstand the
handstand the boy did a handstand the
handstand the boy did a handstand the boy did a handstand so as you can see a
boy did a handstand so as you can see a
boy did a handstand so as you can see a person with cochlear implant who will
person with cochlear implant who will
person with cochlear implant who will not be able to actually hear right away
not be able to actually hear right away
not be able to actually hear right away and it takes time and effort to be able
and it takes time and effort to be able
and it takes time and effort to be able to learn to properly process and
to learn to properly process and
to learn to properly process and comprehend the sentence now let me play
comprehend the sentence now let me play
comprehend the sentence now let me play this robotic sound once again
so clearly the process of learning to
so clearly the process of learning to turn this robotic sound into normal
turn this robotic sound into normal
turn this robotic sound into normal sounds takes years of auditory verbal
sounds takes years of auditory verbal
sounds takes years of auditory verbal habilitation starting from
habilitation starting from
habilitation starting from identification of the sound vowels words
identification of the sound vowels words
identification of the sound vowels words vocabularies sentences eventually
vocabularies sentences eventually
vocabularies sentences eventually leading to communication so now I am
leading to communication so now I am
leading to communication so now I am able to naturally and automatically
able to naturally and automatically
able to naturally and automatically process
process
process speech and sound since I’ve been wearing
speech and sound since I’ve been wearing
speech and sound since I’ve been wearing cochlear implants for a very long time I
cochlear implants for a very long time I
cochlear implants for a very long time I do not hear this robotic sound anymore
do not hear this robotic sound anymore
do not hear this robotic sound anymore because my brain has a doctorate well to
because my brain has a doctorate well to
because my brain has a doctorate well to it in addition I also use up our not
it in addition I also use up our not
it in addition I also use up our not more brain power when it comes to
more brain power when it comes to
more brain power when it comes to conversation with other people as it
conversation with other people as it
conversation with other people as it requires extra focus and attention
requires extra focus and attention
requires extra focus and attention however this has also become my
however this has also become my
however this has also become my intrinsic advantage since I am able to
intrinsic advantage since I am able to
intrinsic advantage since I am able to have a better concentration which leads
have a better concentration which leads
have a better concentration which leads to me having a much longer attention
to me having a much longer attention
to me having a much longer attention span as well as allowing me to build up
span as well as allowing me to build up
span as well as allowing me to build up on a natural perseverance in the end I
on a natural perseverance in the end I
on a natural perseverance in the end I was lucky enough to ask my mom who is
was lucky enough to ask my mom who is
was lucky enough to ask my mom who is trained in special education guided me
trained in special education guided me
trained in special education guided me throughout this whole process now what I
throughout this whole process now what I
throughout this whole process now what I described can be summed up in this
described can be summed up in this
described can be summed up in this painting so this piece shows the result
painting so this piece shows the result
painting so this piece shows the result if we have hearing and don’t have
if we have hearing and don’t have
if we have hearing and don’t have hearing so on the top part we have
hearing so on the top part we have
hearing so on the top part we have hearing and verbal communication through
hearing and verbal communication through
hearing and verbal communication through cochlear implants and on the bottom part
cochlear implants and on the bottom part
cochlear implants and on the bottom part we have
we have
we have language so with hearing and verbal
language so with hearing and verbal
language so with hearing and verbal communication through cochlear implants
communication through cochlear implants
communication through cochlear implants the possibilities are endless and that
the possibilities are endless and that
the possibilities are endless and that is symbolized by the bird on the top
is symbolized by the bird on the top
is symbolized by the bird on the top part but without hearing obviously sign
part but without hearing obviously sign
part but without hearing obviously sign language would have to be the solution
language would have to be the solution
language would have to be the solution however it has its own limitations since
however it has its own limitations since
however it has its own limitations since not everyone knows sign language this
not everyone knows sign language this
not everyone knows sign language this next piece shows the achievement of
next piece shows the achievement of
next piece shows the achievement of attaining hearing and verbal
attaining hearing and verbal
attaining hearing and verbal communication through cochlear implants
communication through cochlear implants
communication through cochlear implants so it shows the boy running along a
so it shows the boy running along a
so it shows the boy running along a music path with a galaxy in the
music path with a galaxy in the
music path with a galaxy in the background and the cloud she symbolizes
background and the cloud she symbolizes
background and the cloud she symbolizes unlimited possibilities in fact the sky
unlimited possibilities in fact the sky
unlimited possibilities in fact the sky is only the beginning and the universe
is only the beginning and the universe
is only the beginning and the universe is the limit so ultimately this painting
is the limit so ultimately this painting
is the limit so ultimately this painting displays the endless possibilities that
displays the endless possibilities that
displays the endless possibilities that can be achieved through hearing and
can be achieved through hearing and
can be achieved through hearing and formal communication through cochlear
formal communication through cochlear
formal communication through cochlear implants that is why I named this
implants that is why I named this
implants that is why I named this painting you rivers you are the universe
painting you rivers you are the universe
painting you rivers you are the universe so long story short today I am able to
so long story short today I am able to
so long story short today I am able to turn my imperfection into a gift of
turn my imperfection into a gift of
turn my imperfection into a gift of hearing with which I can help inspire
hearing with which I can help inspire
hearing with which I can help inspire and give hope to the hearing impaired
and give hope to the hearing impaired
and give hope to the hearing impaired community in Indonesia and beyond so my
community in Indonesia and beyond so my
community in Indonesia and beyond so my role now is to be the advocate of
role now is to be the advocate of
role now is to be the advocate of hearing employed individuals that can
hearing employed individuals that can
hearing employed individuals that can live a life with a sense of purpose and
live a life with a sense of purpose and
live a life with a sense of purpose and be a contributor to the family community
be a contributor to the family community
be a contributor to the family community society nation and to the globe without
society nation and to the globe without
society nation and to the globe without being a burden so I closed this talk
being a burden so I closed this talk
being a burden so I closed this talk with my self-portrait which again has
with my self-portrait which again has
with my self-portrait which again has given me the best of both worlds even
given me the best of both worlds even
given me the best of both worlds even though I was born imperfect through this
though I was born imperfect through this
though I was born imperfect through this I was able to connect with many
I was able to connect with many
I was able to connect with many different people from all walks of life
different people from all walks of life
different people from all walks of life such as parents of hearing-impaired
such as parents of hearing-impaired
such as parents of hearing-impaired children doctors NGOs government
children doctors NGOs government
children doctors NGOs government institutions even media exposure such as
institutions even media exposure such as
institutions even media exposure such as magazines
magazines
magazines TV interviews so I hope I’ve inspired
TV interviews so I hope I’ve inspired
TV interviews so I hope I’ve inspired you today if I can do it so can you and
you today if I can do it so can you and
you today if I can do it so can you and remember the sky is only the beginning
remember the sky is only the beginning
remember the sky is only the beginning thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment