Turning up the volume on hearing loss in South Africa

Early Detection and Intervention in Audiology

“…EI for hearing impairment is a multi-staged process that commences with the provision, fitting and adjustment of amplification devices followed by early communication intervention (McPherson, 2014;Peer, 2015). Most high-income countries have been able to access hearing health care through private and publicly funded aural (re)habilitation systems.…”

“…As a component of ECI, EI for hearing impairment involves (re)habilitation to prevent the disability posed by restricted hearing from resulting in limited participation in society. Specific (re)habilitation is a multi-staged process that commences with the provision, fitting and adjustment of amplification devices such as hearing aids or cochlear implants, followed by early communication intervention (McPherson, 2014;Peer, 2015). Most developed countries have been able to access hearing health care through private and publicly funded aural rehabilitation systems.…”

Editor's Choice

“…[4] Smartphones have the potential to test hearing through audiometric applications. Given the upsurge of mobile technology in Africa, Peer and Fagan [5,6] evaluated the uHear app (using an Apple iPhone) as a possible hearing screening tool in the developing world. They conclude that it is a feasible screening test to rule out significant hearing loss (pure-tone average >40 dB).…”

Maternal knowledge and views regarding early hearing detection and intervention in children aged 0–5 years at a semi-urban primary care clinic in South Africa

“…Infant hearing loss is regarded as one of the most prevalent congenital sensory disabilities affecting double the number of neonates when compared to other screenable disorders impacting the linguistic, educational, socio-emotional and vocational domain (Swanepoel & Almec, 2008 ). The long-term effects of childhood hearing loss include delayed speech and language development, delayed development of cognitive skills resulting in slow learning and poor academic performance (Peer, 2015 ), as well as long-term societal costs (Swanepoel & Almec, 2008 ; Swanepoel, Scheepers, & Le Roux, 2014 ). Later in life, those with disabling hearing loss experience problems with employment and societal integration (Peer, 2015 ).…”

“…The long-term effects of childhood hearing loss include delayed speech and language development, delayed development of cognitive skills resulting in slow learning and poor academic performance (Peer, 2015 ), as well as long-term societal costs (Swanepoel & Almec, 2008 ; Swanepoel, Scheepers, & Le Roux, 2014 ). Later in life, those with disabling hearing loss experience problems with employment and societal integration (Peer, 2015 ). The minorities that have jobs are likely to work in lower grades of employment (World Health Organization, 2015 ).…”