Diabetes, especially type 2, has continuously increased in South Africa throughout the years, with an estimated 4.6 million people recorded living with the illness in 2021. With World Diabetes Day on the 14th of November, as audiologists, it’s imperative to help you understand that diabetes can have a significant impact on your hearing. In this blog, we’ll explore the connection between diabetes and hearing loss, providing tips on how to reduce your risk.

World Deaf Day on September the 24th is an important date to acknowledge the accomplishments, courage and cultural significance of the global Deaf community. It’s also a day to honour the pivotal role that audiologists assume in championing the Deaf population.

In the world of audiology, we often encounter unique and intriguing phenomena related to the human perception of sound. One such phenomenon is synesthesia, a neurological condition that creates a fascinating intermingling of the senses.

In this blog post, we will explore synesthesia and its connection to auditory experiences, shedding light on this extraordinary sensory phenomenon.

What is Synesthesia? Synesthesia is a perceptual condition in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic and involuntary experiences in another pathway. In simpler terms, it is a blending of the senses, where individuals perceive sensory information in a way that goes beyond the typical boundaries of sensory perception.

Vertigo is often caused by a problem in the vestibular system, which helps control our balance and is in the inner ear:

Measurements of hearing thresholds or sound detection alone are insufficient indicators of how people absorb information or understand the real environment. This is why more comprehensive assessments of auditory and communication needs are conducted by audiologists, to assist people living with hearing loss.

Often, when older people struggle to hear speech in noisy environments, they blame it on others “mumbling” and this is often referred to as the “cocktail-party effect”. Even though this occurrence has been known for more than 70 years, it still causes a lot of frustration. The truth is that when people do ultimately look for hearing solutions, it usually isn’t because their thresholds are too high or their hearing isn’t loud enough.

Instead, their inability to hear well, especially in noisy environments, is the primary reason they seek assistance. Crucially, and regrettably, hearing clarity is not assessed during hearing threshold tests, which (by definition) only include loudness detection of pure tones, speech sounds, whispers, or the sound of a watch ticking. Therefore, a thorough assessment of the person’s hearing is needed to be able to diagnose correctly and evaluate the next steps needed.

Dementia is often a generalised term used to describe a decline in cognitive function that affects memory, thinking, and behaviour. While there are several different types of dementia, the most common one is Alzheimer’s. This condition affects millions of people worldwide and has a negative impact on both the individual and their loved ones.

Multiple studies have found that people with hearing loss are more likely to develop dementia than those with normal hearing. In fact, one study found that individuals with moderate to severe hearing loss had a threefold risk of developing dementia compared to those with normal hearing.

One factor that can hasten cognitive decline is social isolation which results in a lack of stimulation to the brain. Having difficulty hearing in noisy environments, emotional problems caused by low self-esteem and shutting oneself off from society can exacerbate the problem. What is evident, is that with hearing loss, the brain must work harder to process sound and over time, and this increased effort can lead to changes in the brain that affects general cognitive function. The good news is that there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing dementia.

However, simply perceiving, detecting, or hearing sound is not enough. Measurements of hearing thresholds or sound detection alone are insufficient indicators of how people absorb information or understand the real environment. This is why more comprehensive assessments of auditory and communication needs are conducted by audiologists, to assist people living with hearing loss.

Often, when older people struggle to hear speech in noisy environments, they blame it on others “mumbling” and this is often referred to as the “cocktail-party effect”. Even though this occurrence has been known for more than 70 years, it still causes a lot of frustration. The truth is that when people do ultimately look for hearing solutions, it usually isn’t because their thresholds are too high or their hearing isn’t loud enough.

Instead, their inability to hear well, especially in noisy environments, is the primary reason they seek assistance. Crucially, and regrettably, hearing clarity is not assessed during hearing threshold tests, which (by definition) only include loudness detection of pure tones, speech sounds, whispers, or the sound of a watch ticking. Therefore, a thorough assessment of the person’s hearing is needed to be able to diagnose correctly and evaluate the next steps needed.

At Hearing Works, we’re passionate about Love Your Hearing, and to commemorate World Hearing Day, our team will be offering FREE hearing screenings to a variety of schools and organisations on the day, ensuring we actively assist our communities in hearing education, hearing care and upliftment.