Mom, I can hear now

A seven-year-old boy has had his hearing restored thanks to the input of a local grandpa who due to his own hearing aid, appreciates the importance of sound.

When Ballito resident, Cedrick Grunder told his domestic worker, Mamosebetis Anna Malanda that he has a hearing aid, she was fascinated and told him that her seven-year-old son, Syanda, also had trouble hearing.

“I had a voucher from the Ear Institute, which they give to the Umhlali Bowls Club members every now and then, and so we used the voucher to have Syanda’s ears checked,” said Grunder.

Ear Institute audiologist Bronwyn Hein said they discovered that Syanda had chronic middle ear infection and bad tonsils.

“He could not hear properly as there was a lot of fluid behind the middle ear,” said Hein.

Dr Michael du Toit, an ear, nose and throat surgeon at Alberlito Hospital also jumped on board and prescribed medication for him probono.

Syanda was admitted to Stanger hospital, where he had his tonsils removed and grommets inserted into his ears to drain the fluid.

“His mom told us that his marks have improved a lot and that he is better behaved in school, since his hearing has improved,” said Hein.

According to Hein, teachers or parents often say a child is naughty or does not listen, but sometimes the child genuinely cannot listen, because of hearing problems.

“This is part of the reason why we hand out these Ear Institute vouchers, as we want to encourage people to test their ears and be aware of their hearing,” said her colleague and audiologist Bernice Schulze.

She pointed out that hearing is a little underrated and that people see hearing problems as a disability and therefore a stigma is still attached to going for a hearing test and getting a hearing aid.

“People who cannot see, get glasses, but people who cannot hear just struggle,” said Hein.

“Syanda could not hear well from as young as the age of one and we did not know why,” said his mother.

Grunder is happy that the boy can now enjoy the sounds of childhood to the full and his mom is thrilled and grateful to everyone who was involved in giving her son his hearing back.