June marked a historical moment for MooiMed Private Hospital when the first BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing Aid) procedure at MooiMed was done by Dr Ludwig De Jager, a local Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist.

This innovative procedure involves utilising a bone anchored hearing aid system to assist people with conductive hearing loss who cannot use traditional hearing aids.

Common causes of this condition may include fluid that collected in your middle ear from colds or allergies, ear infections or a perforated ear drum to name but a few. The procedure combines a sound processor with a small titanium fixture implanted behind the ear. This unique system allows the bone to transfer sound to a functioning cochlea, rather than via the middle ear – a process known as direct bone conduction.

The patient who was operated on, Mrs. Dorothy Botha, was very brave before the operation and said that she looked forward to the outcome. By means of this procedure she might recover most of her hearing in her affected ear.

Surgical techniques continue to evolve and this newly refined method of performing this procedure is a first for Potchefstroom. MooiMed is expanding its Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) discipline, and therefore invested in newly advanced equipment and technology for specialists to use. A new LEICA microscope was recently imported, amongst other. This equipment will enable surgeons to perform a wide range of surgical procedures with a deeper and more detailed view. These improvements ensure that we address the community’s needs by enhancing the facilities in which local ENT surgeons perform these procedures. We are privileged to have two ENT surgeons practicing in Potchefstroom – Dr Johan Tiedt who has been providing services to our community for many years and we extend a warm welcome to Dr Ludwig de Jager who recently relocated to Potchefstroom to share his experience with our community and greater surrounds.