The Girl from Daliangshan: Hearing the World, Finding Her Voice
Sidu, an eight-year-old Yi girl, was born in Daliangshan, Sichuan. The fifth of six siblings, she lived crowded under one roof with her parents. Born with hearing impairment, she missed the critical language development window before age three due to her parents’ limited understanding of the condition and the scarcity of local medical resources. For eight long years, Sidu never had a hearing test, let alone treatment.
In the winter of 2020, a charity organization heard Sidu’s story during a visit. Unable to bear the thought of this bright-eyed girl being imprisoned by silence for life, they decided to bring her to Beijing, not only providing medical aid but also securing an opportunity for sports training for her.
The hearing test results were heartbreaking: Sidu’s hearing threshold was only 70 decibels, nearing total deafness. Caring individuals acted swiftly, raising funds for her first pair of high-performance hearing aids and simultaneously initiating speech rehabilitation training. In March 2021, while being treated for a stye, she first connected with the United Foundation for China’s Health (UFCH). Since then, the Foundation has included her in its medical assistance program, regularly providing her with health check-ups, hearing tests, vaccinations, and more, becoming a steadfast supporter of her healthy growth.
In April 2025, a routine hearing check revealed that the hearing aid in Sidu’s right ear was no longer sufficient – the device had reached its lifespan and needed replacement. With funding from the UFCH, she received a new pair of advanced, high-performance hearing aids.
Today, Sidu is in the fourth grade at a mainstream elementary school. Sitting in class listening to lessons and discussing homework with classmates comes as naturally to her as to any child her age. UFCH will continue to safeguard her hearing and health, supporting her journey as she grows.