KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Queen of Rock reveals that she is facing hearing loss, with hearing ability in her left ear reduced to 70 per cent, while in her right 80 per cent.
In a statement released yesterday, the 57-year-old star, whose full name is Nor Zila Aminuddin, said she wasn't aware of the problem until she went for a check-up at Global Hearing Care Centre Malaysia (GHCC) and decided then to start using hearing aid.
"With recommendation from the centre, I started using the Bernafon Alpha hearing aid. Praise be to God, my hearing is back to normal now," said Ella, who was also present at the Global Hearing Care Centre community programme held at Pavilion Bukit Jalil yesterday.
With cooperation from the singer and the Education Ministry, the centre came up with the programme to focus on hearing problems and speech eloquency for all ages.
Also launched at the event was an exclusive edition of a Bernafon Alpha hearing aid called "RockQueen x GHCC", marking the collaboration between both parties.
In the statement, GHCC marketing and operations director Lyn Ooi also added that: "Exposure on the importance of keeping a healthy hearing should begin in early age.
"Everyone should not associate hearing loss with only just one's advanced age," shared Ooi, who was grateful of Ella's willingness to cooperate with the centre to create awareness on hearing health issues among the public.
GHCC will also collaborate with ministry, through its Special Education Division, to realise a project dubbed "Better Hearing Fund", a project dedicated to students who are in need of hearing aids.