October is Audiology Awareness Month

Our hearing is an integral part of our ability to enjoy our lives. So, how’s your hearing?  October is Audiology Awareness Month where we all are encouraged to remember how important our hearing is to our daily lives.

The American Academy of Audiology started Audiology Awareness Month in October 2008 as a means of bringing awareness to hearing health and the importance of hearing protection. This month is now celebrated throughout the world to advance the Profession of Audiology by promoting an increased understanding of audiology and educating the public about the importance of hearing protection.

Audiologists are health care professionals who are licensed to evaluate, diagnose and treat hearing loss and balance disorders.  Some may think audiologists are only for elderly people with age-related hearing loss, but nothing could be further from the truth. Audiologists have a valuable and varied role in treating the hearing health of people of all ages, from the very young to the very old.

Audiologists perform the following functions:

• hearing evaluations
• fit hearing aids
• evaluate tinnitus
• diagnose and treat auditory processing disorders
• assess dizziness and provide rehabilitation
• evaluate candidacy for cochlear implants,
• map cochlear implant electrodes
• make adjustments to hearing aid levels as needed

Educational audiologists participate in creating education plans for children with hearing loss, fit assistive devices for children to use in the classroom and monitor the functionality of hearing aids and other equipment during the school day.

The Statistics on Hearing Loss Are Shocking

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 37.5 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss. Hearing loss is the third most common health condition faced by older adults after heart disease and diabetes, yet unlike those conditions, only 20 percent of those with hearing loss actually seek treatment. Unfortunately, the average amount of time a person with hearing loss waits to seek treatment after noticing a problem is between 7 and 10 years.  In that time, hearing can not only worsen significantly but can contribute to a variety of health issues, safety concerns and psychological problems.

In addition to highlighting the importance of hearing health and bringing attention to audiology, Audiology Awareness Month also alerts the public about the potential consequences of leaving hearing loss untreated. In multiple studies, untreated hearing loss has been linked to higher rates of depression, as well as anger, frustration and social isolation. Other studies have shown that those with untreated hearing loss have a higher risk of dementia and cognitive decline.

The Bottom line

October is a great month to get your hearing checked or to encourage a loved one to do so.

So why not make an appointment with at Tami Mehl Audiology.  Tami has more than 25 years of clinical experience, combined with an honour’s degree in Speech Therapy and Audiology from the University of the Witwatersrand, a Master’s degree in Communication Pathology and Audiology from the University of Pretoria and a Doctorate in Audiology from the University of Florida in the USA.

Tami Mehl Audiology offers you the best in patient-centered care plus the convenience of two practices; one in Illovo and the other in Bedfordview.  Both practices offer friendly staff members, a warm and collaborative atmosphere and, most importantly, a thorough service from Professional Audiologists and support team members.

The Audiologists at both practices are:

• Fully qualified with current clinical certificates;
• Registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa;
• Committed to regular Continuing Education programmes;
• Up to date with rapidly changing technology;
• Known for uncompromising clinical and ethical standards.

To book an appointment you can contact either the BEDFORDVIEW PRACTICE on 011 622 6314 – which is situated at Suite 10 Bedford Gardens Medical Suites, 3 Bradford Road, Bedford Gardens, Germiston or the ILLOVO PRACTICE on 011 268 0490 – which is situated at Block 1, Oxford Manor, 196 Oxford Rd, Illovo.

Tami Mehl Audiology is about Optimal Hearing and Optimal Balance – what better month to have your Hearing or Balance tested than now in Audiology Awareness Month