Dr. J.L. Clark

The first Audiology Mission Trip, in August 1998 was considered a limited success with the expectations of training hospital personnel to conduct hearing tests, and providing complimentary hearing aids with supplies when a hearing loss was identified. None of the hospital technologists were taught to perform hearing tests, which would enhance their skill base for which they are paid $40.00 a month. In all, 6 of the 7 donated hearing aids were dispensed with batteries, free of charge to people from all walks of life. Fernando, the hospital ambulance driver, Juan a student, Samuel, an 80 year old church elder, Laila, a young nurses aide, Fernando and of course Servalito were speechless when we sent them on their way. They were given a gift that was beyond their wildest hopes. There were several cases of impacted cerumen, and until they were instructed, the nurses believed the condition to be untreatable. Otitis media was identified, but lacking antibiotics only increased the incidence of hearing loss.

One particularly memorable hearing aid fitting was with Servalito, the "deaf-mute" (as the local folks called him), who lived at the orphanage at Teles. After a few hearing aid trials, Servalito's eyes flashed a startled look as I surprised him with a slammed door behind him.

The project has continued to grow in depth and breadth. Each year the hospital technologists continue to acquire more advanced training in Audiology. Not only does Miguel, the primary technologist trained in Audiology, know how to conduct pure tones and taped speech threshold testing and immittance measures, dispense the donated batteries on a restricted basis, but has also been trained to trouble shoot hearing aids and perform electroacoustic checks on hearing aids with the hearing aid analyzer donated.

Perhaps the most equally heart-warming and frustrating project involved working with a classroom of 11 hearing-impaired children, ranging in age from 8 to 15 years. Their hearing was subjectively assessed by the Social Worker, and the school agreed to create a classroom for these special children that had been found throughout the Inhambane Province. Some of the children had been sent many miles from home to attend classes in Maxixe, and as a result became children living on the streets.

Though the school is considered one of the best in the province, there is no running water or electricity, nor many of the conveniences we associate with standard educational opportunities. All of the children have their hearing assessed annually by the Chicuque Hospital Medical technologist, Miguel, and our team so that hearing aids can be dispensed or modified accordingly for each of these hearing impaired children. Of course the classroom teacher has been very involved, and to say that her teaching style was significantly changed from the first day we met is an understatement!