Help Nthsongweni’s Thandeka hear again
Thandeka was advised by the hospital that she will have to buy her own hearing aid which she desperately needs. The device is estimated to costs R5 000.
NTSHONGWENI’S Thandeka Mhlongo, had a normal childhood and was a top learner at her school when she mysteriously started to lose her hearing at the age of 12.
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She unfortunately couldn’t keep up with her grades because of her condition and also lost out on an opportunity to attend a school for children living with a similar condition as it took years to get a positive diagnosis on her impairment.
Now 32 years old, Thandeka has learned to live with her condition but still struggles to communicate well with others but hasn’t lost hope of one day being able to hear like she used to. With just one hearing aid, she still needs assistance to help relay messages to people.
She was fortunate to have Ayanda Mkhize, a friend she met a few of years ago through an NPO, Lulisandla Social Outreach who helped with her university registration forms for the Durban University of Technology.
Ayanda accompanies Thandeka when she has important meetings. If she had both the hearing aids she needs to communicate, she wouldn’t need as much help from family and friends.
“I need two hearing aids to be able to hear well, the hospital was only able to provide me with one, as there is a shortage,” she said.
Thandeka was advised by the hospital that she will have to buy her own hearing aid which she desperately needs. According to her, the device costs R5 000.
The hearing aid she currently has uses batteries that cost her R120 a pair with a battery life of two weeks and requires special cleaning materials.
With many setbacks in her life, she still has a dream to study Office Management and change the social status of her family.
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