Mariaan Botha Audiologist East London

16/07/2025

Did you know?

🦻 Did You Know?
Nelson Mandela wore hearing aids — yet he’s mostly remembered for his leadership and global impact. 🌍

He’s one of many remarkable people who didn’t let hearing loss stop them from achieving greatness.
👩‍🦯 Helen Keller – Author, Advocate & Disability Rights Pioneer
🎤 Bill Clinton – Former U.S. President
🎶 Whoopi Goldberg – Actress & Comedian
🎧 Jodie Foster – Award-winning Actress
📺 Stephen Colbert – TV Host
🎶Chris Martin - singer, songwriter, musician and producer
🇿🇦 Prof De Wet Swanepoel – Leading South African audiologist & advocate for hearing care
🇿🇦 Joanie Fredericks – South African activist & cochlear implant user

Hearing aids are powerful tools that help people stay connected, independent, and empowered — no matter who you are or where you're from.

👉 Don’t let hearing loss hold you back. Embrace technology. Embrace life.

04/07/2025

Please bear with us as we recover. We are dedicated to shielding you and your loved ones from this highly contagious flu virus. Our operations will resume on Monday, 7 July.

27/06/2025

When you haven't seen one of your favorite patient who literally grew up in my practice between 2014 (age 6) till 2022 and then his ears settled....

Then he pops in three years later and he has outgrown YOU and the SOUND PROOF BOOTH!! Thank you Patrick for giving me permission to share this photo. It also gives hope to all the young kids out there who need several hearing tests and many ear surgeries❤️

16/06/2025

Hear this from a person who knows what it feels like

Mild hearing loss can have a moderate impact on daily life. It's more than just sounds being quieter; it's about clarity too. Consonant sounds like "f," "th," "k," and "p" can get lost in conversation, making it hard to distinguish between words. For example, "death" might sound like "deaf."

Additional challenges arise from poor acoustics, lighting, and background noise. These factors can lead to mental fatigue and increased anxiety over time. As hearing loss increases, effective communication and social interaction become more challenging.

Language and communication are vital for sharing thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Pursuing intervention and reasonable accommodations, such as aural rehabilitation and habilitation, is essential.

For more information
Fanie du Toit Fanie du Toit
faniedreams@gmail.com
peersupport@faniedreams.com
fanie.dt@mweb.co.za
fanie@roadtoindependence.co.za
faniedt@ncpd.org.za
064 757 5528 (only text)
Youtube channel:
https://youtube.com/?si=MzsK9litMtuzwh6B
Websites:
www.faniedreams.co.za
www.roadtoindependence.co.za
https://ncpd.org.za/hearing-loss-matters/
My story
https://youtu.be/8M_cUjAKNd4?si=SJPzL_jAJI5QCfsr

Fanie Dreams
National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities
Western Cape Association of and for Persons with Disabilities
Ahlad (Association for Hearing Loss Accessibility & Development)
Global Peer Support Network
Western Cape Network on Disability
HearUs - A South African Cochlear Implant Association
The Carel du Toit Centre
SADA - South African Disability Alliance
Association of and for Persons with Disabilities FS - APD FS
Hear2day
Drakenstein APD
Disability Info South Africa
South African Hearing Institute (SAHI)
Mossel Bay Association of and for Persons with Disabilities
ALDS
Sylvia Richards and Associates
Editmicro
Tamara van Zyl Audiologist
Naudé Hearing Solutions

30/05/2025

What a loaded Friday in our practice: Reach for a Dream Slipper Day AND
Friday Stripes Day
- to bring awareness for hearing loss that is INVISIBLE: You have to read between the lines like mishearing a sentence or difficulty hearing in a noisy place

27/05/2025

Very interesting information about hearing loss and a skin condition

Vitiligo can affect the ears too! 🦻

Did you know that vitiligo can also affect the skin around and inside your ears? Vitiligo is a condition where the skin loses its pigment cells, leading to white patches. While it's more commonly seen on the hands, face, and other visible areas, it can also occur on the ears — sometimes even affecting the inner ear, which may impact hearing in rare cases.

26/05/2025

Diabetes is dangerous when you don't know what it is doing to your body

Microangiopathy is bleeding of the small blood vessels into surrounding fluid or tissues. Diabetes causes microangiopathy, which will impact auditory processing in the brain.
In addition, there is nerve demyelination with diabetes. A demyelinating disease is a condition that causes a damage to the myelin in your brain, spinal cord and nerves. Myelin is a protective cover (sheath) around the body section (axon) of nerve cells (neurons) in your central and peripheral nervous system. Myelin strengthens, protects and insulates your nerve cells and allows electrical impulses to travel between cells. Auditory processing issues cause problems with understanding speech, even with good hearing levels.
Check auditory processing when evaluating hearing for persons with diabetes!

14/05/2025

I have heard this one so many times but in this comic strip I'm laughing at the doggy's facial expressions as I'm sure he is totally confused, being able to hear both sides of the story🤣.

And as a reminder to persons who wear hearing aids, just a friendly reminder about how much your favorite pet will chew your hearing aids with passion to get rid of the high pitched squeal they make when they are just chilling on your coffee table or bedside cupboard🐶🐶🐶

11/05/2025

Mothers listen with their hearts❤️

💐 This Mother’s Day, iCAN celebrates all the incredible moms who play a vital role in nurturing their children’s hearing and language development. Your love speaks volumes — thank you for making every sound and story count. Happy Mother's Day.

iCAN: Your independent audiology choice.

02/05/2025

Working on the Friday when the rest of South Africa decided to take today off with yesterday being a public holiday... some people get a Freedom day and others plan ahead and make it a Freedom long weekend.

Ears need to hear... hearing aids give the freedom to hear the sounds and people you should be able to hear:

Today’s hearing aids are packed with advanced features — from Bluetooth connectivity and rechargeable batteries to smart noise management technology.

They’re built for everyday life, helping you stay connected to the people and moments that matter.
Hearing support has evolved — and it’s all about clarity, comfort, and connection.

Think you might need support? Book a hearing test and take the first step.

Connect with our and for regarding your hearing healthcare needs.

For more information about the network visit: www.independentaudiologists.co.za

iCAN: Your independent audiology choice.

25/04/2025

When you are 89 years young when you get your first set of hearing aids and your sense of humor is still intact: