Simple Hearing Checks Find Hidden Issue in 195 Students

Imagine sitting in class every day, watching your teacher's lips move but struggling to understand the words.

For some children in South Africa's Vhembe District, this silent struggle wasn't about attention or effort. It was about something far simpler: they couldn't hear properly.

Audiologist Nonhle Mokwena recently screened 195 students from Grade R and Grade 1 at Matshavhawe Primary School and Munzhedzi Primary School. All the children passed their hearing tests with no need for immediate medical care.

But the screenings revealed something unexpected. Forty-three students had impacted earwax, a buildup that blocks the ear canal and reduces hearing ability.

While earwax naturally protects our ears, too much can cause conductive hearing loss. Left untreated, this seemingly minor issue can quietly impact speech development, language learning, and cognitive growth during critical early years.

The tricky part? Hearing problems in young children often look like something else entirely. Kids who can't hear clearly may seem distracted, ask for constant repetition, or withdraw from conversations.

Teachers and parents sometimes mistake these behaviors for poor concentration or learning disabilities when the real culprit is simply blocked ears.

Thinandavha Chauke, a parent whose child participated in the screening, said it was eye-opening. "As parents, we sometimes think that when a child struggles at school, it is because they are not paying attention. I did not realise that something as simple as earwax could affect a child's ability to hear and learn properly."

Research from the University of Pretoria found that about 2.2% of students in Grades 1 to 3 have hearing loss requiring follow-up care. Progress in early detection has been slow, with limited newborn screening, a shortage of audiologists, and low awareness creating gaps in care.

The Ripple Effect

Schools are becoming crucial first lines of defense for children who missed newborn hearing screenings. Early detection during these formative years can prevent struggles that follow children throughout their education.

Mokwena encourages parents to watch for warning signs: repeated requests to repeat information, turning up the television volume, delayed speech, or seeming withdrawn in conversations. She also warns against using cotton buds, which can push wax deeper and cause injury.

Hearing services are available through public healthcare facilities and private practices in the Vhembe District, though challenges like poor road infrastructure in remote areas can limit access.

These simple screenings are proving that sometimes the smallest interventions make the biggest difference in a child's future.