Cochlear implants give hope

EC organisation helps deaf to hear with precious gift

FOR many people hearing is an assumed birthright. But for others having a severe hearing impediment can cause great disappointment and heartache.

And for some, getting a much-needed cochlear implant is too expensive, resulting in them never properly hearing again.

But Joy of Hearing, a new organisation that was launched on Friday, seeks to bring the precious sensation of sound to people living with severe impairments in the Eastern Cape.

Joy of Hearing aims to assist children and adults in the province with serious hearing loss who cannot cover the cost of a cochlear implant.

One of the directors at the organisation, Dr Eben Nel, said for those who lose the opportunity to hear, Joy of Hearing can help.

“There are many children and adults in the Eastern Cape who have severe to profound hearing loss, which can have a devastating effect on them and their families, but because of financial constraints do not have access to cochlear implant technology,” he said.

Nel said they hope to create awareness of the challenges of hearing impaired people and to act as advocates for the hearing impaired.

“Cochlear implants provide the opportunity to restore hearing or provide hearing for the first time to these individuals,” Nel said.

Loftie Fourie and Dr Jeff Govender are also members on the board.

Nel said the organisation had Dr Francois Retief and Dr Iain Butler – ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons who specialise in cochlear implants in the Eastern Cape – as their advisory board members.

The organisation’s advisory board will sift through applications and decide on who will be prioritised in getting the implant.

“Not every person with a hearing disability is necessarily a candidate for a cochlear implant.

“Any financial assistance, therefore, will go hand in hand with the patients’ ENT specialist and specialist audiologist.

“The recent launch of the organisation is focused on creating an awareness amongst the general public and finding financial support for an organisation, focusing in particular on the hearing impaired in the Eastern Cape,” Nel said.

The foundation is special to the Nels, whose lives have been personally transformed by the positive impact a cochlear implant can have.

Nel’s wife and administrator of the organisation, Marlize, lost her hearing after 30 years of difficulties.

“After 30 years of hearing challenges, overnight I lost all remaining hearing ability.

“I experienced a dramatic disconnect with friends, family and the outside world, and felt isolated and depressed,” she said.

Marlize said a cochlear implant had been the only option – although not guaranteed, due to poor blood circulation caused by previous attempted interventions and, after five months of total deafness, she had a cochlear implant in her right ear successfully activated.

Children who receive a cochlear implant before the age of two and adults who lose their hearing showed the best results.

Children who were born deaf, but with their hearing nerves intact, had to receive implants before the age of five as, otherwise, the brain could no longer learn how to hear.