Ndlovu Care Group’s Audiology team has been busy with an additional service over the past three months. They have been out and about in the Bloempoort region since the beginning of February to carry out hearing tests. Young and old were invited to be tested at the various locations that the team visited on a regular basis.
During the first school quarter, 255 pupils were tested. The children were very keen to participate, with the result that 42 pupils were referred to the Ndlovu Care clinic for treatment. A further 27 pupils were invited for a more detailed examination. Functioning hearing is particularly important for the pupils. Hearing impaired children are usually prematurely labeled as mentally disturbed and having learning difficulties. It is of course fatal for their schooling and future development if the weakness is solely due to hearing loss. This can be remedied very quickly, it just needs to be identified. This is why it is so important for the audiology team to carry out their examinations in schools in good time.
Hearing loss – as a non-communicable disease – is considered to be the most common sensory deficit in the human population. It is estimated that at least 41 million children under the age of 15 in developing countries live with hearing loss. This makes this disease a silent, overlooked epidemic in developing countries like South Africa. Babies born to HIV-positive mothers are more likely to suffer from congenital hearing loss or develop hearing loss over time due to the viral infection. These babies have an increased risk of middle ear infections, which can lead to difficulties in transmitting sound. The loss of hearing inevitably has far-reaching emotional, social, but also professional and therefore economic consequences.
The team hopes to carry out many more tests during the upcoming vacations and has invited all parents and guardians to bring their children along. Anyone who is unsure about their hearing abilities or those of their relatives is welcome to be tested.
The team is also very concerned about the older members of the community. “I can hear something” is the nicest thing the team members can be told. Of the patients who were tested in the ward on the new Mini Campus, four were fitted with hearing aids. Now, perhaps for the first time in their lives, they can understand something very well. The patients themselves are full of praise for the friendliness and professionalism of the team members. Every day, their work contributes to making life a little better in this poor rural region.
Read more about audiology:
A new home for the audiology clinic
300 first students tested at Ndlovu Wits Audiology Clinic
Audiology Clinic organizes theme day “Sensitization of hearing”
