H. Maluleka Audiology
Welcome
I am Ms Hlupheka M. Maluleka, mostly known as Hluphi and I am an Audiologist in Pretoria. I qualified with a BSc in Audiology degree from the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 2015 and I am registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). Read about my experience and interests on my LinkedIn profile.
What Is An Audiologist
An audiologist is a healthcare professional who provides assessment and management of hearing and communication related disorders as well as vestibular or balance related disorders. Audiologists are also trained to plan, implement and evaluate Hearing Conservation Programs that aim to prevent and minimize the effects of excessive occupational noise on hearing. They are also involved in programs that promote healthy ear and hearing habits in people of all ages.
Hearing Loss
While some people are born with a hearing loss, others acquire it at different stages of life. The hearing loss can be:
- In one ear or both ears.
- The same in both ears or different.
- Slight or profound.
- Be temporary or permanent.
The primary effect of hearing loss is communication hinderance; from affecting development of verbal speech and language in babies and young children to limiting the ability to communicate through listening and hearing sounds and spoken communication in older children and adults. But it can also affect other aspects of life such as education, employment, finances, family life and social skills development, activities and participation.
A hearing loss does not only affect the people living with the hearing loss but also affects their families and all who they communicate with. Audiologists provide a range of services that help to minimize and manage the effects of a hearing loss on people of all ages.
Vestibular Disorders
People with vestibular disorders describe the feeling of being dizzy such that they are spinning, or they have a false sense of motion, which is known as vertigo. The ear in addition to housing the organ for hearing also houses the organ that helps us maintain balance. The vestibular system provides information about head position relative to gravity and spatial orientation which helps us coordinate body and eye movements normally and with balance. Abnormalities in the balance system can come with or without:
- Hearing loss.
- Tinnitus.
- Aural fullness.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- And may be triggered by head movement.
Dysfunction of the vestibular system affects the ability to maintain posture and stable gaze. The inaccurate perception of movement and motor control impact on the ability to do activities of daily living and may result in a fall that can cause injury.
Services Available
- Hearing screening tests (including new-borns).
- Diagnostic hearing tests (all ages).
- Occupational hearing screening.
- Hearing aid selection, fitting and orientation.
- Individual and group aural rehabilitation.
- Cerumen/Wax management.
- Tinnitus retraining therapy.
- Vestibular-related dizziness or vertigo assessment and rehabilitation.
- Hearing conservation programs for prevention of Noise Induced Hearing Loss.
- Prevention of hearing loss and promotion of healthy hearing and ears.
