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Every five to seven days, Sabrina Wong changes the tiny batteries powering her hearing aids. Without them, the 21-year-old struggles to hear and follow conversations.<\/span><\/p>\n The tiny devices have also helped make what she once thought was a \u201cwild dream\u201d possible \u2013 performing on stage.<\/span><\/p>\n Born with moderate-to-severe hearing loss in both ears, Wong grew up shy and introverted, often retreating into what she calls \u201cmy own world\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n Today, the Shanghai-born Wong is set to graduate from LASALLE College of the Arts in August with a bachelor\u2019s degree (Honours) in musical theatre, and has performed in several college productions.<\/span><\/p>\n For Wong, finding her voice has been a deeply personal experience.<\/span><\/p>\n Wong was diagnosed with hearing loss in both ears after a routine newborn hearing screening. However, she did not wear\u00a0<\/span>hearing aids<\/span> consistently until she was around five or six years old.<\/span><\/p>\n The older, bulkier devices she tried were uncomfortable and some doctors had told her parents it was \u201cfine\u201d for her to go without them.<\/span><\/p>\n In preschool, while other children gravitated towards friendship groups and shared inside jokes, Wong often felt unsure of what was going on around her.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSpending my kindergarten years without hearing aids shaped my shy and somewhat introverted personality. Since I couldn\u2019t hear what others were saying, that led me to live in my own world,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\nGROWING UP WITH HEARING LOSS<\/span><\/h2>\n