More than 1.5 billion people around the world have a hearing loss. By 2050, more than 700 million people could have a disabling hearing loss (World Health Organisation). Even though it is prevalent health condition, research shows that people wait at least eight years before they get help if they do attend to the condition at all.

But why do we wait so long when we know that a hearing loss dramatically affects our quality of life? The Ear Institute explores the reasons why people tend to delay in getting help for hearing loss.

1. Denial

Many people with a hearing loss ignore, deny, or minimise the extent of their condition. They may believe that their hearing loss is not severe enough to warrant treatment, or they may feel that they can manage their condition without the use of hearing aids. However, untreated hearing loss can have significant negative consequences, including social isolation, depression, cognitive decline, dementia, and frequent falls.

2. Stigma

Wearing hearing aids is viewed as a sign of aging, disability, weakness, or decline. As a result, people are reluctant to get help as they may feel embarrassed or ashamed to admit that they have difficulty hearing.

3. Lack of awareness

Many people are not aware of the latest advancements in hearing aid technology, which leads to a lack of interest in getting hearing aids. People also do not necessarily know where to go to get a hearing test or where to find a qualified audiologist. The Ear Institute has branches all over South Africa and in Namibia. Our audiologists are highly qualified, do refresher courses every two years, and are trained to expertly fit the latest hearing aid technology.

4. Misconceptions

There are many misconceptions about hearing aids, including that they are uncomfortable, that they don’t work well, or that they are difficult to use. These misconceptions discourage people from seeking out hearing aids. It is essential that you first try them out before you make a snap judgment. At the Ear Institute, you get 30 days to try out the hearing aids.

5. Fear of technology

People might feel intimidated by the technology involved in hearing aids. Modern hearing aids are designed to be easy to use even though they are highly advanced.

6. Lack of knowledge

Hearing loss is often more than just struggling to hear. It has a ripple effect on your social life, general well-being, and health. For example, hearing loss can be an early sign of health conditions, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. It is therefore vital that you attend to it sooner rather than later.

7. Cost

Hearing aids can be expensive, and many people can be deterred by the cost of treatment. Despite many medical aids in South Africa covering at least some of the cost, many people still find the out-of-pocket expenses prohibitively high. At the Ear Institute, we can help you make a plan.

For more information about hearing and hearing health, call the Hearing Helpline on 0861 10 20 30 or make an appointment at your nearest branch.

Our Ear Institutes have back-up power and Free, safe parking.

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What is noise-induced hearing loss /NIHL?

A noise-induced hearing loss (also called NIHL) is a permanent hearing loss caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of noise. The hearing deteriorates gradually from the noise exposure.

Excessive noise exposure is one of the most common causes of hearing loss.

When you have a noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), the hair cells in your inner ear have been damaged by the exposure to noise. The hair cells’ ability to pick-up and transmit sound to the brain is therefore reduced. A noise-induced hearing loss is therefore a type of sensorineural hearing loss.

Symptoms of noise-induced hearing loss

A noise-induced hearing loss can in some cases occur suddenly after exposure to very loud noise such as an explosion or other loud noises. In these cases, you often very clearly notice that you have lost some of your hearing.

In most cases, a noise-induced hearing loss develops gradually as a result of long-lasting exposure to noise. This can be work-noise or noise from leisure activities. When a noise-induced hearing loss develops gradually, it is harder to perceive.

The noise induced hearing loss symptoms and signs, like many other types of hearing loss, are for example:

• Trouble hearing what other people are saying, like people are mumbling,
• Problems hearing children and women’s voices
• Problems hearing at meetings and social gatherings
• Problems hearing/understanding speech in noisy surroundings, like in a restaurant

If people are saying that your TV is turned up to loud or say that you speak too loudly, this can also be a sign of a noise-induced hearing loss.

A noise-induced hearing loss is often accompanied by tinnitus – a ringing, whooshing, roaring or buzzing sounds in your ears, also more commonly known as ringing ears.

Prevention of noise-induced hearing loss

You can prevent a noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) by turning down the volume, reducing the time you are exposed to the loud noise and/or using hearing protection.

What is Vertigo?

Contrary to popular belief, vertigo is not a disorder but a symptom of a disease. Vertigo is a feeling that you or everything in your surroundings is whirling or spinning. But in truth, you are just having false sensations of movement.

People with vertigo may sometimes barely notice the attacks, or they may complain of severe pain that forces them to just lie down until the unbalanced feeling passes. Vertigo attacks can appear without warning. Also, vertigo episodes can occur anytime, ranging from a few seconds to even a few days.

Vertigo symptoms include the following:

• Lightheadedness
• Dizziness
• Loss of Balance
• Nausea and vomiting
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
• A feeling of fullness in the ear

How is Vertigo connected to Hearing Loss?

The inner ear controls all aspects of movement, which means any disruption in that little cavity can create chaos on a person’s ability to walk or balance properly.

There are numerous reasons for dizziness (also known as vertigo), but it could potentially be Meniere’s disease, an inner ear disorder caused by an accumulation of fluid and pressure in the labyrinth — a system that sends signals of sound and balance to the brain.

If you find your head spinning or ears roaring, you might need treatment.

Meniere’s disease typically occurs in stages, with initial symptoms of dizziness, ringing and hissing in the ears (or tinnitus), fullness in the head and low-frequency hearing loss.

Because Meniere’s disease will likely lead to some degree of hearing loss, therefor it is important to have your hearing tested.

Contact your nearest Ear Institute to request an appointment.

Ons personeel by die Oorinstituut waardeer die positiewe terugvoer van ons pasiente, en ons wil dit graag met u deel.

“Goeie môre, my naam is Lallie Thompson en ek is 61 jaar oud. Ek is gehoor gestremd.

Ek het my gehoor verloor op die ouderdom van 36 jaar. My hele lewe van daar af het drasties verander. Dit was ‘n moeilike pad om te stap, maar ek wil vertel waar my seun vir my ‘n afspraak gemaak het by die Oorinstituut.

Die dag van die 25 ste Mei het ek eerstens gegaan vir ‘n gehoor toets. Ek was selfs skepties of dit gaan help. Ek het regtig net 30% gehoor. Ek moet sê, die vriendelikste hulpvaardigste mense wat my gehelp het. Na ‘n week was my 2 gehoor apparate gereed. Hulle het my so mooi gehelp. Die gehoorstukke is in my ore geplaas en die volgende oomblik het ‘n nuwe wêreld vir my oopgegaan.

Ek kon weer hoor. Vir die eerste keer in jare kon ek weer voëltjies hoor fluit. My kinders het my see toe gevat en toe ek die geluid van die branders hoor was ek ongelooflik emosioneel.

My kinders en familie se frustrasie is op ‘n einde. My angstigheid het verdwyn. Nou kan ek weer kommunikeer sonder ‘n problem. In die tye wat ons maskers moet dra is dit nog moeiliker vir mense wat gehoor gestremd is, want baie keer lees mens lippetaal.

Ek is regtigwaar ongelooflik dankbaar vir al die mense by die Oorinstituut wat my so mooi bygestaan het. My hele lewe het drasties verander.

Asb enige mens wat sukkel met sy of haar gehoor, besoek gerus die Oorinstituut. Dit sal jou hele lewe verander.

Dankie aan die hele span, julle het my werklik waar so baie gehelp.”

Lallie Thomspon, Pasient van Oorinstituut Bellville