Hearing aids go beyond helping people hear
One in three adults between the ages of 65 and 74 experience hearing loss, but only about 29% use hearing aids.
Hearing loss affects about one in three adults between the ages of 65 and 741 and more than 80% of those aged 85 or older.
World Hearing Day, March 3, is an annual global advocacy initiative to raise awareness about hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care.
The theme for 2025 is ‘Changing mindsets: empower yourself to make ear and hearing care a reality for all’. This is a fitting theme given that despite its high prevalence, only about 29% of those with hearing loss use hearing aids.
Across 47 African regions where the World Health Organisation has a presence, there are an estimated 136 million people with hearing loss, a figure projected to increase to 337 million by 2050.
The most common type of hearing loss is age-related. However, many conditions can interfere with sound vibrations reaching the inner ear and being turned into electrical signals sent to the brain.
The head of audiology at Spec-Savers, Bronwyn Van Wyk, said that some of the first and often subtle signs of hearing loss could include difficulty hearing speech in the presence of background noise, having to ask people to repeat themselves, turning up the volume of the TV louder than usual and difficulty hearing well over the telephone.
Spec-Savers South Africa expanded its services in 2022 to include audiology and provides hearing assessments, hearing aids and personalised care for individuals experiencing hearing loss.
This service positions it as the largest retail group providing audiology services in SA. Spec-Savers offers free hearing screenings at over 60 of their 350 stores nationwide, improving accessibility and affordability of hearing care for more South Africans.
Many people with hearing loss experience a drop in self-esteem and confidence because of their impaired ability to communicate with others, which, in turn, impacts their mental health, social participation and work life.
“Because people struggle to hear, they start withdrawing from social interaction. This can lead to isolation, loneliness and depression and has a huge impact on their quality of life. Untreated hearing loss was linked to dementia. Treating your hearing is about looking after your ears and about looking after your brain by keeping the neural pathways stimulated,” said Van Wyk.
An additional challenge lies with the stigma associated with wearing a hearing aid. Van Wyk said many people might initially be in denial about needing hearing aids. However, once fitted with them, many wished they had done it sooner, realising how much they had missed out.
According to research, a significant majority of hearing aid users report a notable improvement in their quality of life, with studies often showing that about 80% of patients experience a positive impact from using hearing aids.
“People still think hearing aids are big and bulky. But thanks to technology advancements, hearing aids are now so discreet they are nearly invisible and not easily noticeable,” she said.
Advancements in hearing aids have led to the development of smaller, more advanced devices packed with high-tech features. Modern hearing aids can connect to your smartphone, allowing you to seamlessly stream calls and music.
Additionally, many hearing aids are compatible with apps, enabling users to adjust settings from their phones. These devices have built-in microcomputers that analyse incoming sounds and process them in various ways, delivering a more natural and personalised listening experience.
Van Wyk said early intervention is key for hearing loss.
“Like with anything in life, the earlier the better. Treating your hearing loss earlier leads to a better quality of life, maintains connections with others and preserves your brain health.”
