New Miss SA sparks dialogue about deafness

Mia le Roux became the first deaf person crowned as Miss South Africa. Her victory has sparked a conversation about the importance of inclusivity, and more people are learning about deafness as a disability.

She uses a cochlear implant – a small, complex electronic device that can help provide a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing.

According to the World Health Organisation, over 430 million people require rehabilitation to address their disabling hearing loss, including 34 million children. It is estimated that by 2050, over 700 million people will have disabling hearing loss.

To get more insight, the African Reporter did research which answers the frequently asked questions about deafness.

What is the difference between hearing loss and deafness?
A person with hearing loss is defined as someone who cannot hear as well as someone with normal hearing, identified as someone with hearing thresholds of 20dB or better in both ears. Mild, moderate, severe, or profound hearing loss are all possible.

One or both ears may be affected, making hearing loud noises or conversational speech difficult. Deaf people mostly have profound hearing loss, which implies little or no hearing. They often use sign language for communication.

What causes deafness?
Hereditary disorders – some types of hearing loss are hereditary, meaning parents pass on the affected genes to their children. In most cases, malformations of the inner ear cause hereditary hearing loss.

Genetic disorders – genetic mutations may happen. Some genetic disorders that can cause hearing loss include osteogenesis imperfecta, Trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome) and Treacher Collins syndrome.

Prenatal exposure to disease – if exposed to certain diseases in utero, including rubella, influenza and mumps, a baby will be born deaf or with hearing problems.

Noise – loud noises like gunshots, firecrackers, explosions and rock concerts, particularly prolonged exposure in the workplace or recreationally, can damage the delicate mechanisms inside the ear.

Disease – certain diseases can cause hearing loss, including meningitis, mumps, cytomegalovirus and chickenpox. Severe cases of jaundice can also cause hearing loss.

How can hearing loss be prevented?
Many of the causes leading to hearing loss can be avoided through public health strategies and clinical interventions like:

• immunisation;
• good maternal and childcare practices;
• genetic counselling;
• identification and management of common ear conditions;
• occupational hearing conservation programmes for noise and chemical exposure;
• safe listening strategies for the reduction of exposure to loud sounds in recreational settings; and
• the rational use of medicines to prevent ototoxic (when one develops hearing or balance problems due to a medicine) hearing loss.

What are the rehabilitation measures?
• The provision of hearing aids, middle ear and cochlear implants and other hearing technologies; training in speech and language therapy to improve cognitive skills and language.

• Instruction in using sign language and other sensory substitution techniques like reading written words aloud, using Tadoma (the listener puts their little finger on the speaker’s lips and their fingers along the jawline) or signing.

• The provision of hearing assistive technology such as alerting and telecommunication devices.

• Counselling, training, and support to improve participation in education, employment and community life.

What are the different types of hearing aids, and how do they work?
• Behind-the-ear (BTE) hearing aids: BTEs comprise a casing and a dome, known as an earmold, connected to each other. The connection to the dome passes through the front of the ear, and the case rests behind the outer ear. The device routes the sound to the ear acoustically or electronically.

• In-the-canal (ITC) hearing aids: ITCs are visible devices in the outside portion of the ear canal. The loudspeaker is positioned in the ear using silicone soft ear implants. These devices have a superior sound quality and suit most patients immediately.

• Completely in the canal (CIC) hearing aids: CICs are small, discrete devices, but those with profound hearing loss should not use them.

• Bone conduction hearing aids: These devices help those unable to wear traditional hearing aids and those with conductive hearing loss. A headband holds the vibrating portion of the device against the mastoid (part of the skull’s temporal bone). The cochlea receives the vibrations after passing via the mastoid bone. When used for extended periods, these devices might cause pain or discomfort.

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