The Story of The Hearing Clinic & Hearing Aids
In the eighties ENT's concerned about misdiagnosis/inappropriate fitting of hearing aids campaigned to clean up the business and as part of this drive The Hearing Clinic was born. The company was officially registered in 1991 by Janet Steer with the support of ENT husband Dr. John Steer. Francis Slabber joined in 1999 and when regulations demanded we practice under our own names, we became Francis Slabber, Janet Steer and Associates. Our audiological team today includes "Nadine Jooste", "Elisha Berridge" and “Celeste Leveson”. Together with our excellent support staff we do our best to offer our skills with ethical and caring service at competitive and reasonable pricing.
In Britain pick up any consumer magazine and you'll find all sorts of special offers for listening devices and hearing aids. The same is happening in South Africa with attempts to introduce a chain store approach to the business of fitting hearing aids.
Fact is, you can never replace the
Professional expertise, the personal interest and attention to detail
that you find from Private Practice.
A hearing instrument is a serious investment
and furthermore, like your car, it doesn't go for ever and requires ongoing maintenance. More complicated than the fitting of spectacles, initial guidance and long term monitoring are all part of the responsibilities of dispensers of hearing aids. It’s important to understand that a hearing loss is a "sensory loss" which often involves the loss of auditory processing skills as well as possible cognitive losses. This means that hearing aids need to be chosen appropriate to the person’s needs, not only their actual hearing loss, but also physical abilities, mental abilities and lifestyle. None of this can be done on an “instant-fit” principle. These are issues that need to be discussed, examined and usually discovered over time and should the hearing change, which it often does; the hearing aids will have to be readjusted accordingly and appropriately.People often struggle to understand
that a hearing disability cannot be cured by wearing a hearing aid, but merely “aided” in making the most of what’s left. Without applying years of diagnostic knowledge and experience, one’s chances of getting it right instantaneously are small. Without the guidance of the professional audiologist, understanding the challenges and limitations of ones hearing and hearing aids becomes difficult as well as taking full advantage of what Medicine and Technology has to offer today.How does one get to be a dispenser of hearing aids?
Thirty years ago the fledgling industry was controlled by people with a very basic training in audiology and the theory of hearing aids. Since then through the efforts of ENT's, Audiologists and Acousticians the training and standards required for entry into this specialized field have been set and require either the relevant university degree or diploma. Furthermore, all practising hearing aid dispensers in South Africa must be registered with the HPCSA. Participation in CPE - continuing professional education, is another requirement. Personal and Professional growth is not negotiable.
Hearing aid manufacturers assist enormously with practical training.
As their products become more sophisticated, training workshops are organized to introduce the new technology and so keep dispensers abreast of developments. The range of instruments available is enormous and caters for all types of hearing loss, budgets and needs. Currently all hearing aids and hearing aid components are imported though repairs and maintenance are done locally. Long term relationships are formed between manufacturers and dispensing practitioners which allow for improved service delivery. Ultimately though, it is up to each practice to make sure that their consultants are fully trained, informed and practiced in all that is Audiology – be it product, disability or treatment options.