Ten years’ experience with bone conduction hearing aids in the Western Cape, South Africa
South African Journal of Communication Disorders
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Ten years’ experience with bone conduction hearing aids in the Western Cape, South Africa | |
| Creator | Kuschke, Silva Rogers, Christine Meyer, Estie | |
| Description | Untreated conductive and mixed hearing losses as a result of middle ear pathology or congenital ear malformations can lead to poor speech, language and academic outcomes in children. Lack of access to centralised hearing healthcare in resource-constrained environments limits opportunities for children with hearing loss. Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital (RCWMCH) is one of only two dedicated paediatric hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa. Between 2016 and 2021, 29 children received implanted bone conduction hearing devices, and 104 children were fitted with bone conduction devices on softbands. The authors’ experience at RCWMCH suggests that bone-anchored hearing devices, either fitted on softbands or on implanted abutments, can provide solutions in settings where patients have limited access to hearing healthcare and optimal classroom environments. Hearing healthcare should be accessible and delivered at the appropriate level of care to mitigate the adverse effects of hearing loss in children.Contribution: This article describes strategies employed at RCWMCH such as fitting bone conduction hearing devices on a softband immediately after hearing loss diagnosis and conducting follow-up via remote technology to make hearing healthcare more accessible to vulnerable populations. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2023-01-27 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/sajcd.v70i1.940 | |
| Source | South African Journal of Communication Disorders; Vol 70, No 1 (2023); 4 pages 2225-4765 0379-8046 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://sajcd.org.za/index.php/sajcd/article/view/940/1942
https://sajcd.org.za/index.php/sajcd/article/view/940/1943
https://sajcd.org.za/index.php/sajcd/article/view/940/1944
https://sajcd.org.za/index.php/sajcd/article/view/940/1945
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