Healthy hearing and vision are integral to the foundational growth of children, both in school and in their home environment. In South Africa, it’s estimated that four to six in every 1 000 live births in the public health care sector have hearing impairments.
To help find a solution to this treatable deficiency found in many children, the hearX Group has gone to market with the award-winning hearScreen® solution. hearX has taken mobile technology to new heights by providing affordable access to hearing healthcare using mHealth solutions.
“The hearScreen® solution was developed and designed by understanding a real-world socio-economic problem. This bears testimony to the innovation and creativity in South Africa and its potential to make a global impact on sustainable change,” says Nausheen Dawood, Audiologist and Project manager for hearX Group.
Simply put, hearScreen® is a hearing screening solution on a smartphone. The group successfully cut costs by 80% with a state-of-the-art improved model that allows for non-specialist personnel to execute the screening on children. Whether it takes place in schools or community centres, the screening is painless, quick and has proven to deliver accurate results.
Since 2009, the AfriSam-SAIA Sustainable Design Awards has grown into South Africa’s most prestigious sustainability award programme, with entries from an array of interesting projects.
The hearScreen® solution has received the award in the category of Sustainable Community Projects by the AfriSam Sustainable Architecture and Innovation Awards (SAIA). By developing both a specialised and affordable product, the app rightfully becomes one of the most sustainable healthcare solutions for South Africans.
For most South Africans, medical facilities, such as hearing aids, are currently not affordable. The hearScreen® solution is a social initiative that is highly commended. “Translating audio-specialised education into a convenient and short screening test decentralises the model by enabling community members, educators and family to assist with this testing process,” adds Dawood.
According to the hearX Annual Impact Report for 2018-2019, the global reach of hearing screenings now encompasses 38 countries with over 700 000 tests done. During the 2019 financial year, hearX ran community hearing screening projects in various areas within Tembisa, Tshwane and Cape Town, aimed at detecting and improving hearing impairments of pupils. These projects alone reached over 20 000 students, 60% more than the previous year.
The company says it is looking to expand its community-based focus by adding more services and increasing efficiency and outcomes across Sub Saharan Africa through its hearX Foundation, while the commercial entity continues its expansion into territories worldwide.
