Bedfordview Probus meeting focuses on hearing loss and brain health
Audiologist and guest speaker at this month’s Probus Bedfordview open meeting encourages people to take better care of their hearing health as this contributes to brain health.
The Probus Club of Bedfordview’s open meeting on April 7 kicked off with their AGM.
President Ineke O’Dougherty reported that the club members unanimously supported the management committee proposal to leave the Probus Association of Gauteng South and to register with the Probus South Africa website.
The club president also awarded an honorary life membership to secretary Tony Annis in recognition of his esteemed and dedicated service to the Probus Club of Bedfordview.
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The guest speaker of the day was audiologist Candice van Heerden, whose talk focused on hearing health. She said it is the brain that helps us hear and not the ear.
Van Heerden showed how wax blocking the outer ear or an infection behind the eardrum causes a conductive hearing loss. She said this is medically treatable through cleaning, operation or medication.
The major issue, however, is with the cochlea. The audiologist explained that within our cochlear nerve, there are little hairs or cilia.
“Each row of hairs listens to a different pitch, with some listening to low sounds and others high sounds. There are also the amplifiers, which give sound volume. The inner hair cells send sounds to the brain. With age or noise, those hairs die away,” Van Heerden explained.
The damage then to these hair cells is what causes sensorineural hearing loss, which is permanent.
She said the impact of hearing loss includes reduced brain stimulation, cerebral atrophy (shrinkage of the brain), increased cognitive overload, memory loss and social isolation.
She added that these factors lead to dementia and cognitive decline.
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Van Heerden also mentioned tinnitus, which is a ringing in the ears. She said this is caused by exposure to loud noises, ageing, head injuries, ear infections, medication side effects and hearing loss being the most common cause.
Hearing aids and cochlear implants may be used to improve hearing ability following sensorineural hearing loss.
Van Heerden encouraged not to deprive the brain of sounds, as these are great exercises for the brain.
