Delaying your hearing screening means you are not listening

It is deaf awareness month so we asked Smart Hearing audiologist Brandon Schlimper a few questions.

What is the general misperception about hearing problems?

Two things come to mind. One, ‘It only happens to the elderly’. Although age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is a big factor, there are several other causes such as genetic hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss, ototoxic damage (caused by medication), trauma, diabetes and many more. Second, hearing loss most commonly results in a loss of clarity and not volume. The affect being that you hear people talking, but things just become a bit of a mumble and consonants start becoming difficult to pick up; especially in noisy environments.

What do people say about their life after they have obtained hearing aids?

It varies, depending on the amount of hearing loss. For people with a mild loss it is improved clarity and reduced listening effort leading to far better involvement in social situations and general ease of hearing (TV, church).

For people with a severe loss, it is often life-changing and quite emotional. For most people, it is a surprise at how much they’ve been missing and how easy it is to make hearing aids a part of their life — especially with early intervention.

Is it expensive to have assistance, such as medical aid?

Hearing aids are rather expensive. This is due to the huge amount of research and development that goes into producing a hearing aid. Medical aids do not always pay although many do.
Hearing aids start at around R6,000 per unit but go up to around R50,000. The technology has evolved quickly and good entry-level priced technology includes streaming from the phone, rechargeability and other features which were considered more top-end a couple of years ago.

If you had one appeal to the hearing and non-hearing public what would it be?

Please get tested early. If, for no other reason than to have a reference or base-line starting point. There is a lot of research that emphasises the most important aspect of living with a hearing loss, is early-intervention.

Smart Hearing is offering free screenings in September.