For most of us, home is a collection of sounds—talking, the sound of the television, or the sound of our parents calling from the next room. But 19-year-old Muhammad Nabil spent his childhood in a different reality. Silence was the natural environment of their family, as both his parents were hearing and speech impaired.
But in Nabil’s words, that silence was never empty. Deep conversations took place there every day, using hand gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact. It was in this environment that Nabil grew up and developed his identity.
Signing as his First Language
Nabil’s father was born deaf, and his mother lost her hearing after contracting a fever in childhood. When Nabil was born, his parents initially thought that he might not be able to hear either. Later, after watching his reaction to the sound of the television, they were convinced that Nabil could hear.
However, his first language was not a spoken language but Malaysian Sign Language, or BIM. Hunger, joy or pride—he expressed everything through gestures. It was only after he joined school that Nabil first realized that he could speak.
Communication Bridge
Since childhood, Nabil has been a means of communication for his parents. He spoke for them in shops, offices, government offices, or during daily shopping. He has been fulfilling this responsibility spontaneously for more than 16 years.
According to Nabil, he never saw it as a burden. Rather, he felt important for his parents’ needs. This experience has deepened their family bond.
Challenges of Reality
In a society of hearing-impaired people, his parents had to face various challenges. Many times, shopkeepers or customers did not understand their disability and got annoyed. Nabil said that they were neglected even when they went to government offices. In these moments, he patiently handled the situation.
According to him, these problems arise from a lack of awareness. Therefore, it does not take long to change people’s behavior even if you explain it.
Recognition and Dreams
In 2022, Nabil became a certified sign language interpreter through the Melaka Deaf Association. He discovered his talent when he suddenly took on the role of interpreter at a government meeting. Since then, he has been bringing sign language to more people by translating songs on TikTok.
Many people with hearing impairments feel included in his initiative. Nabil believes that if they get the right communication opportunities, hearing-impaired people can also go far in their professional lives.
Watch the video here:
@weirdkayamy EXCLUSIVE 🟡 Speaking volumes through sign language. Read more: https://weirdkaya.com/im-a-19yo-msian-who-bridged-two-worlds-for-my-deaf-mute-parents-and-became-a-certified-sign-language-interpreter-in-melaka/ 👉 Follow @weirdkayamy for more stories like this. communitycerita
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