An audiologist is an independent healthcare professional who specialises in evaluating, diagnosing and treating problems and disorders related to the auditory and vestibular system in persons of all ages, including hearing impairment, deafness, tinnitus or balance issues. 

It might be a good idea for you to get your hearing evaluated if you:

• Struggle to hear in noisy environments, and sounds seem muffled in general.
• Need to turn the volume on your TV or radio louder to be able to hear.
• Have to ask people to repeat themselves all the time, especially when you’re in a group.
• Need to read lips to follow a conversation.
• Have difficulty communicating over the phone.
• Avoid going out and socialising, or withdraw from conversations because you feel self-conscious about not being able to hear or communicate properly.
• Experience buzzing, ringing or phantom sounds in one or both ears (signs of tinnitus).

• Age. It’s a good idea to have your hearing tested regularly from the age of 50, as the risk of inner ear damage that contributes to hearing loss increases with age.
• Genetics. If you have a family history of hearing loss, you’re more likely to also suffer from it.
• Noise exposure. Long-term exposure to loud noises such as in shooting, motorbikes, loud music or those found in industrial settings increases the risk of hearing problems.
• Head injuries.
• Medical history. Frequent problems with middle ear infection may affect hearing in the long run.
• Viruses or diseases. Certain viruses or diseases such as autoimmune diseases affect the inner ear, which may lead to hearing impairment.
• Medication. Side-effects of ototoxic drugs such as chemotherapy agents, Gentamicin or loop diuretics may cause hearing loss.

Patients from five years onward will receive a diagnostic hearing test. This means you will be asked to listen to sounds through headphones. The sounds are played at different frequencies and volumes and may include listening to speech. We measure what you can hear and record it on an audiogram (a profile of your hearing). For infants and toddlers up to two years of age, we will do an otoacoustic emission hearing screening, while children two to five years will undergo a paediatric hearing test.

Yes. Hearing aids and assistive listening devices such as telephone amplifiers can help many people. Some patients may also benefit from surgery or medication. We will discuss the most appropriate option for your specific type of hearing loss after reviewing the results of your hearing assessment.

This is really up to you. Your need to make use of a hearing aid would depend on the severity of your hearing loss and the extent to which it affects your work and social life. If your profession requires you to have refined hearing to be able to distinguish between the finer nuances of communication, even mild hearing loss can be a major hindrance to you.

However, if your hearing interferes with the way in which you communicate with others in any way, in essence affecting your quality of life, we would really urge you to consider getting a hearing aid. Also be advised that should you decide not to treat your hearing loss, your risk may be higher to develop further complications such as auditory deprivation.

In earlier years, it was thought that high-frequency hearing loss or nerve damage could not be treated. However, modern technology has advanced to such an extent that today nearly 95% of hearing loss can be improved through hearing amplification devices.

It would be wise not to wait too long, as hearing loss is likely to deteriorate over time. Once your hearing is gone, it cannot be recovered. Although a hearing aid can help, it can only amplify the hearing ability that you still have left. Also remember that the longer you wait, the more difficult it may be for you to adjust to wearing a hearing aid.

A hearing aid will certainly help improve your hearing AND your standard of living, as long as it’s the right technology at the right settings. That’s why we work closely with you to find the right hearing aid for your specific needs and lifestyle, which had been fitted properly and programmed according to your specific hearing loss.

• Step away from the cotton earbuds! If you need a proper clean, ask your audiologist, doctor or ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist about safe wax removal.
• If you listen to music through earphones, keep it at an acceptable noise level and try to limit it to an hour a day.
• If you are frequently exposed to loud noises, have custom-made earplugs fitted by your audiologist.
• Have your hearing tested annually if you have a higher risk of hearing loss due to genetics, lifestyle, diseases or medication.
• Consult with your audiologist or ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist as soon as possible if you experience any sudden symptoms of hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing or buzzing sounds) or vertigo (imbalance or a feeling that your environment is spinning around you).

The options available to you would first depend on the degree of your hearing loss, your listening requirements and personal preferences. Then you would consider the hearing aid’s style (what it looks like), as well as the technology involved (how it works and performs). No hearing aid style is better than another; it’s simply a matter of choosing the type that’s right for you!

You’re likely to pay more for hearing aids that have more features and a higher level of performance. Someone who leads a more engaged lifestyle, is more social or works in a communication-driven profession, would probably need a more specialised hearing aid that can adjust to a wide range of listening environments. These hearing aids would have greater features and functionality and are therefore likely to cost more.

With this in mind, it’s important that you consider the value that a hearing aid would add to your life, compared to the cost associated with it. Take some time to think about your standard of living now, how a hearing aid would improve it, and what it would be worth to you to once again live your life to the fullest by being able to actively engage with those around you.