We encounter many patients with hearing loss. Many have loss due to infections and large holes in their ear drums or missing bones. Some of these patients can be helped with surgery. Many have nerve damage that cannot be helped with surgery. Often the nerve damage (sensorineural hearing loss) is the result of a strong antibiotic that is used to fight life-threatening infections. We use the same antibiotic in the United States but we are able to better control the blood levels of the medicine. I have seen many deaf and partially deaf patients here in Nigeria. Many can be helped with hearing aids. We are fortunate enough to have a fairly good audiometry booth that is sound proof and reasonably well equipped. It is certainly the best facility in our region. Audu and Ben, assistants in the ENT clinic, fit many patients every week with hearing aids. Because most hearing aids require batteries that don’t last long, we have solar powered hearing aids for the poorer patients. These were developed by a non-profit ministry called ComCare, Inc. They sell the aids to ministries for the cost of their supplies. These aids work very well for our patients who cannot afford to replace batteries on a regular basis. The aids are also rugged and can last a few years. Our Hausa language teacher is still wearing his solar powered hearing aid that he was given 5 years ago.
I have included a couple of photos of patients. One young woman has been blind since she was a baby. She is continuing to lose her hearing. We have been able to help her with an aid. Another woman had a life threatening infection after an abortion. She was treated with the antibiotic that poisoned her inner ear. She is orphaned and has no family to help her with the cost of medical care, much less a hearing aid, a common situation in our region of Nigeria where there is no medical insurance. Patients pay cash for all medical care. They often go to family to help pool the finances to pay for medical care. Thanks to generous donors, we were able to provide both young women with solar powered hearing aids. One will now have better opportunity of communicating in her dark world. The other will hopefully be able to find work since she can better communicate.
Michael Mitchell, MD
I have included a couple of photos of patients. One young woman has been blind since she was a baby. She is continuing to lose her hearing. We have been able to help her with an aid. Another woman had a life threatening infection after an abortion. She was treated with the antibiotic that poisoned her inner ear. She is orphaned and has no family to help her with the cost of medical care, much less a hearing aid, a common situation in our region of Nigeria where there is no medical insurance. Patients pay cash for all medical care. They often go to family to help pool the finances to pay for medical care. Thanks to generous donors, we were able to provide both young women with solar powered hearing aids. One will now have better opportunity of communicating in her dark world. The other will hopefully be able to find work since she can better communicate.
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