Page 31 - Waterfall_Issue 4_2022

HEARING LOSS

AND AUDITORY

PHOTO BY PAWEL CZERWINSKI ON UNSPLASH REHABILITATION

By Dr Ashen Nanan, MBChB (KZN) FCORL (SA) MMed (Wits).

Cross-sectional studies in South Africa Dr Ashen Nanan:
ear, nose and throat
have shown an estimated hearing specialist practising
at Netcare Waterfall
City Hospital and
loss in our population of 19.88% and honorary consultant,
Department of
disabling hearing loss at 8.94% Otorhinolaryngology,
University of
Witwatersrand.
(Joubert et al, SAJCD 20 Sep 2019).

As a sequel to our article featured in the December 2021
issue, we revisit the topic of hearing loss and auditory
rehabilitation, adding new information that will be most
beneficial to anyone experiencing hearing challenges.

M odern therapeutic modalities that can be considered, to SURGICAL INTERVENTION

(OSSICULOPLASTY/
measures make it possible
improve the patient’s quality of life.
STAPEDOTOMY)
to identify hearing loss
as early as at birth, and
conductive hearing loss, where sound
Hearing aids have evolved into devices
provide auditory rehabilitation HEARING AIDS Surgery is an option in certain forms of
procedures to enable normal with exceptional capability to amplify from the environment is not conducted
development. This has now acoustic sound to acceptable levels to the cochlear nerve. Ossiculoplasty
translated to the Early Hearing for users. This provides improved refers to the restoration of the continuity
Development Intervention (EHDI) quality of life in both work and social of the bones of hearing (ossicles). The
Programme in South Africa. environments. The costs of these damage to the ossicles may occur due
devices may vary depending on to infection or trauma. Stapedotomy is
Any person with suspected hearing the requirements of the patient. a procedure performed to replace the
loss should visit an audiologist for third bone of hearing (stapes) due to
appropriate testing to ascertain the congenital fixation called otosclerosis.
cause and degree of the hearing This is a genetic condition that is present
loss. Audiologists in South Africa are mainly in Caucasians and Asians.
highly trained and respected and
are readily available in most areas to IMPLANTABLE
provide this service. Once the hearing HEARING AIDS
loss is identified as significant and Implantable hearing aids have several
causing disability, there are several Conventional hearing aid advantages for a number of specific

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