De Wet Swanepoel, Professor of Audiology, Department of Speech-language Pathology and Audiology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. I also serve as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Audiology and Past President of the International Society of Audiology. Representing South Africa in particular and Sub-Saharan Africa generally, the region is characterised by a tremendous shortage of audiological services with less than one audiologist for every million people. South Africa has the most robust supply of audiologists on the continent, with five universities training more than 100 audiologists annually. The pressing hearing healthcare needs of the region serve as fertile ground for necessity-driven innovation in hearing health technologies and service-delivery.
Latest Contribution
Global audiology during COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected, and in some areas, put a complete hold on, audiology practice around the world. In April 2020, during the peak of the pandemic for many regions, our audiology Global Ambassadors provided their reports from their...
Making audiology work during COVID-19 and beyond
‘New normal’ is another phrase that has become synonymous with this pandemic. In this article, consideration for ‘low-touch’ and ‘no touch’ audiological pathways are described for adoption as the ‘new normal’ for hearing healthcare. The COVID-19 crisis has ushered in...
New hearing healthcare service-delivery models with connected technologies
Connected hearing healthcare can improve access to affordable hearing healthcare. DeWet Swanepoel discuss how innovative trends in connectivity and technology offer opportunities for novel and decentralised models of delivering high-quality hearing healthcare. Megatrends in connectivity and technology have ushered in...
