Hearing loss not an obstacle for Hong Kong teen who plays classical music and rock drums
- Once unable to even hear birds chirping, Jesse So, 16, received a cochlear implant at five and has never looked back
- For her indomitable will and passion, she has been nominated for the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards
For someone whose passion is music, Jesse So Ka-po, 16, could have been bitter with the card life has dealt her – she was diagnosed with hearing loss at the age of three.
But instead, the steely teen decided not to be shackled by her physical hurdles, receiving a cochlear implant at five and launching her quest for music at six. She now studies classical music and rock drumming.
So said she used to be stuck in an almost silent world before having her implant. “I was unable to hear the sounds of bird chirping.
“My mother finally let me begin music lessons after I got the implant and started to hear better,” So recalled.
Yet it was not always smooth sailing. Since she still had difficulty identifying pitches when playing the violin, the young learner had to keep the correct rhythm by feeling string vibrations.
