Questions our team hears often

Hearing loss can be caused by a number of factors including exposure to loud noises, head injury, ototoxic medications, recurrent ear infections, illnesses, heredity and aging.

Yes — occupational hearing loss is a common cause of hearing loss globally. Occupations like factory jobs, construction work, grinding, motorcycle riding, flight crew and every occupation that requires prolonged exposure to noise can lead to hearing loss.

Hearing loss is a very common problem that affects approximately 8.5 million Nigerians. So if you have a hearing loss, you are not alone.

In most cases, hearing loss cannot be reversed, but it can be effectively managed — most commonly with hearing aids, and in some cases with medical treatment, therapy or other interventions. A hearing assessment determines what is appropriate for your type and degree of hearing loss.

Hearing loss can be prevented by reducing exposure to loud noise, being careful with drugs that cause hearing loss, taking care when listening to music, taking precautions at work and getting your hearing tested regularly.

Turn the volume down; do not insert cotton wool or sharp objects into the ear; take medications only as directed; report itching, discharge and pains in the ear to an audiologist or doctor; report wax build-up to an audiologist or doctor; and keep your ears dry.

Difficulty hearing other people clearly, misunderstanding what they say — especially in noisy places — asking people to repeat themselves, listening to music or TV at a volume higher than what other people need, difficulty hearing during phone calls, and finding it hard to keep up with a conversation are all signs of hearing loss.

Yes — newborns can have hearing loss as a result of genetic disorders, toxic chemicals and/or medicines while in the womb, which may significantly impact babies' development.

While hearing loss can be secondary to childhood infections, the condition itself is not infectious.

There is no definitive answer to this, as hearing loss presentations differ widely amongst people. However, when the hearing loss becomes a limiting factor in daily life activities and events, it's probably time to get tested and fitted with an amplification device.

When presented with hearing problems, your first point of contact should be a qualified audiologist. An audiologist will carry out an evaluation of your hearing ability and provide you with expert advice on steps to conserve your hearing and/or rehabilitation as the case may be.

An audiologist is a healthcare professional who specializes in the assessment, diagnosis, management and rehabilitation of hearing and balance disorders in adults and children. The audiologist is different from the Ear, Nose and Throat specialist, who is a medical doctor.

If you have a ringing, hissing or buzzing sound in one or both ears, you may have a condition called "tinnitus". Tinnitus has different causes and presents differently from person to person, so management is individualised — it may include hearing aids, sound therapy, counselling and changes to lifestyle factors. An assessment helps determine what is appropriate for you.

Yes. People with hearing loss may become depressed, anxious or withdrawn. There are many ways to alleviate these symptoms, including taking the first steps to diagnosing hearing loss.

Visit your audiologist or physician to have your ears cleaned if you have a lot of wax. It's important that ear wax obstructions and build-up are removed before having a hearing evaluation.

We recommend getting your hearing tested annually (if above 60 years old) and once in two years (if below 60 years), so that you, along with your hearing care professional, can track any progression in your hearing loss or changes in your hearing health. Complimentary annual hearing tests are included for the lifetime of your hearing aid purchase with us, subject to our service terms.

Hearing aids are designed to make listening easier, but will not restore the natural functioning of the ear. Hearing aids also do not prevent the progression of hearing loss over time.

Today's advanced hearing aids are very effective. Recent developments in technology have resulted in hearing aids that are easy to use, effective and comfortable to wear.

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are specialists who are responsible for the evaluation and treatment of persons with speech, language, cognitive-communication and swallowing disorders.

Speech and language disorders can occur in isolation or concomitantly with other developmental conditions such as Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorders, traumatic brain injury and some level of hearing loss.

Communication disorders in children may affect social, emotional and mental development, academic underachievement, poor employment outcomes and ultimately a decline in the quality of life experienced.

These signs vary in children and could be some or a combination of the following: reduced vocabulary when compared to peers, incoherent or incomplete sentences, inability to express self, omission and/or addition of words while talking, social isolation amongst others.

One and a half to three years: doesn't put words together to form a sentence. Eighteen months to two years: doesn't understand words easily. Two to three years: has trouble talking and playing with other kids. Two and a half to three years: has trouble with early writing and reading skills.

Helping a child with speech-language difficulty may include engaging in the following activities: learning rhyme together, repetition of new words, singing poems and songs together, and reading stories together. All of this stimulates language learning for children.

Recovery after stroke varies from person to person. Many individuals make meaningful improvements with appropriate speech and language therapy, although the extent and rate of recovery depend on factors such as the type and severity of the communication difficulty, the location of the stroke, overall health and rehabilitation.

Stuttering is a speech problem that makes effective communication difficult for children, which often starts around age 2–4 years. It can be a problem if it persists until primary school level. It is highly important to seek quick intervention of a speech-language pathologist when such need arises in a child.

Yes! The presence of a persistent ear infection in a child could lead to hearing loss, which could lead to a communication disorder. Speak to a medical professional if your child presents with persistent ear infections.

If by 12 months of age a child doesn't react when spoken to, it could be a sign that the service of a specialist — audiologist and/or a speech-language pathologist — is required.