Johannesburg, 01 Mar 2016
South Africa will see the launch of its National Hearing Test for World Hearing Day on 3 March 2016.
The National Hearing Test App will be launched at The Innovation Hub, Africa's first science and technology park in Lynwood, Tshwane on 02 March 2016.
"More than 3 million South Africans suffer from permanent disabling hearing loss," according to Prof De Wet Swanepoel, lead-inventor of hearZAthe downloadable Android and iOS application. The app, developed and validated by the University of Pretoria, will provide every user with a free hearing test.
Unidentified hearing loss has far reaching consequences including communication difficulties, less energy, and a higher risk of depression and dementia.
Early detection with hearZAcan ensure access to better hearing for better living. The 2-minute test sponsored by Sivantos, Oticon and the Ear Institute, requires users to listen to simple digits in noise. On completion, each user receives a unique hearing score.
To ensure appropriate follow-up services those identified with a hearing problem will be linked to their closest hearing health providers based on geolocation. The South African Association of Audiologists and Speech Language and Hearing Association, have partnered with hearZAto build a national referral network.
In support of World Hearing Day the first 18 persons identified with a disabling hearing loss using the hearZA App will receive a sponsored audiological evaluation at their closest provider and hearing aids if indicated. Hearing aids are donated by leading manufacturers, Sivantos, Oticon and Ear Institute.
"This smartphone-based National Hearing Test is the first of its kind," according to Prof Swanepoel, "not only providing accurate testing but encouraging hearing health awareness through a gamified user-experience".
hearZA is released by hearScreen, which has licensed the IP from the University of Pretoria, and it is currently supported by The Innovation Hub under its Maxum Business Incubator and mLab Southern Africa.
More info: www.hearza.co.za
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