Vital audiological services for vulnerable children have been restored at Whispers Speech and Hearing Centre in Lynnwood Glen, following a R125 000 donation of new equipment from the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT).

The donation replaced audiological equipment that had been in use at the centre for about 20 years, but could no longer be accurately calibrated.

Brenda Schmid, founding and managing director of Whispers Speech and Hearing Centre, said the equipment was no longer fit for purpose and affected the centre’s ability to screen and test children with hearing loss and manage their hearing aids effectively.

“The replacement equipment was important in ensuring that the centre could continue providing specialised services to children and their families,” said Schmid.

Whispers supports children with hearing loss who also have additional learning needs, including autism, developmental delays, language-learning difficulties and various syndromes.

The centre’s services extend beyond audiological care, with programmes aimed at supporting children’s development and helping families navigate the challenges that follow a diagnosis of hearing loss.

Schmid said its parent guidance programme supports families from diagnosis through to school placement and beyond.

“Parents are also assisted in understanding how to develop and support their children’s listening and spoken-language skills.”

Schmid said the need for specialised support is particularly important for children who experience hearing loss alongside another disability.

She added that these children can face difficulties finding suitable educational placements.

“Some may not be accommodated by traditional schools for deaf learners because of their additional disability, while schools catering for the additional disability may not be equipped to support a child with hearing loss.”

Schmid said Whispers aims to bridge this gap by providing children with the specialised support they need to develop their communication, learning and school-readiness skills.

The centre’s early childhood development programme provides a specialised child-specific learning environment focusing on listening and spoken language, as well as broader school-readiness skills.

Schmid added that the centre also works with educators to ensure that children continue receiving appropriate support once they enter mainstream education.

“The teachers often receive limited training in how to support learners with hearing loss, making continued guidance important for the children’s long-term success.”

For SAMCT, the donation was an opportunity to ensure that the centre could continue providing these services.

Gaffoor Osman, representing SAMCT, said modern audiological equipment was essential for the centre’s work.

“Up-to-date audiological support equipment is absolutely critical to be able to work with children with hearing loss,” Osman said.

“Learning of the Centre’s equipment failure, the SAMCT was pleased to donate replacement equipment, thus contributing towards restoring its essential audiological care and further sustaining its life-changing support for vulnerable children and their families,” he said.

Osman said children with hearing loss could succeed academically but often needed additional assistance to reach their full potential.

He added that there is no question that children with hearing loss can do well in school, but need extra assistance to learn to their full capacity.

Osman praised the work carried out by Whispers and said SAMCT was proud to contribute towards maintaining its services.

The new equipment will allow the centre to continue screening and testing children and managing their hearing technology.

“Without the necessary audiological equipment, managing children’s hearing and hearing technology would be impossible, rendering its critical support programmes ineffective,” he said.

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok or WhatsApp Channel