“Is hearing loss affecting your freedom to live life to the fullest?”

The Road to Independence is a proud project of the   NCPD

Meet the Road to Independence founders, Fanie du Toit, from NCPD, and the late Francis Slabber

Fanie du Toit

Fanie du Toit

Fanie is an Adult Education Practitioner and for more than two decades, presenter of the programme, “Leefwêreld van die Gestremde” on RSG, as well as on many Community Radio Stations in SA. He is the senior specialist in hearing impairment & deaf affairs at the National Council of & for Persons with Disabilities.

Francis Slabber

Francis Slabber

Francis qualified her as a Speech & Language Therapist and Audiologist in 1992 at the University of Pretroia. Although dually qualified, she soon realized that audiology was where her heart and passion was. She relocated to Cape Town in 1999 when she started working at The Hearing Clinic. She later became a partner there and eventually owned the practice until her untimely death in November 2021.

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News Articles

Prevalence of hearing loss in SA

What all stake holders in SA should know:

12 million people in South Africa may be affected by hearing loss, as hearing loss affects 20% of the Global Population.

Read more…

The Stigmatism of Hearing Loss

The over-emphasis on the size and discreet positioning of hearing aids may contribute to the stigmatisation of hearing loss.

It is worrying that many people with hearing loss are suffering unnecessarily due to the stigma attached to hearing loss.

Read more…

Access to Primary Health Care Facilities for Persons with Hearing Loss

Here are some guidelines and background information that can be kept in mind by hearing impaired or deaf persons, as well as health professionals at primary healthcare facilities, in times of screening, testing and possible hospitalization…

Read more…

Road To Independence
Road To Independence

1 day ago

Auditory training for older adults with hearing loss is important. Auditory training, also known as auditory therapy or auditory rehabilitation, is a type of training program designed to improve listening and communication skills, particularly for individuals with hearing impairments, auditory processing disorders (APD), or language processing difficulties. The goals of auditory training may include: 1. Improving speech recognition and comprehension 2. Enhancing auditory processing skills, such as sound localization and separation 3. Increasing listening accuracy and attention 4. Developing strategies for communication in noisy environments Auditory Training Exercises: 1. Listening to audiobooks or podcasts with background noise: Improves auditory attention and filtering.2. Identifying sounds in a noisy environment: Enhances auditory processing and sound localization.3. Repeating phrases or sentences with varying levels of distortion: Improves auditory comprehension and speech recognition.4. Auditory memory games: Involves remembering sequences of sounds, words, or numbers to improve auditory working memory.Music-Based Training:1. Music therapy: Trained therapists use music to improve auditory processing, memory, and cognitive function. 2. Melodic intonation therapy: Uses music to improve speech and language skills in individuals with neurological disorders. Apps and Online Resources: 1. Auditory Training (app): Offers exercises to improve auditory processing, attention, and memory. 2. Listen and Learn (website): Provides auditory training exercises and resources for adults and children. 3. The Listening Program (website): Offers music-based auditory training programs for adults and children. Summary: Auditory training for older adults with hearing loss is important for several reasons: 1. Improves communication skills.2. Enhances quality of life.3. Supports social engagement.4. Optimizes hearing aid benefit.5. Improves hearing aid satisfaction.6. Can be tailored to individual needs Overall, auditory training is a valuable tool for older adults with hearing loss, offering numerous benefits that can improve communication, cognitive health, and overall quality of life. Consult with an audiologist or healthcare professional to determine the best auditory training program for your specific needs and goals. The daily listening exercises I have done for the past 13 years consist of activities designed to improve my auditory skills. My first exercise was, for example, "Peter and the Wolf." These listening exercises really improved my situation, and I will never stop doing that. I can present a 1-hour online music appreciation session and share with those who are interested how I structure my daily listening exercises.Read the following article: journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/Fulltext/2019/01000/Training_Older_Adults_to_Hear_Better.14.aspxFanie du Toit Fanie Dreams #faniedreamsmovement ... See MoreSee Less

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Road To Independence
Road To Independence

3 days ago

www.facebook.com/share/p/15moHjfgqC/Subject: Exciting New Chapter Ahead!Dear Friends and Colleagues,As we welcome the new year, I'm excited to share with you that I'll be embracing new challenges and opportunities in 2025!Effective January 1, 2025, I'll be transitioning to a mentoring role at the Hearing Loss Matters section of NCPD, where I'll be available on Mondays and Tuesdays.Rest assured, the Hearing Loss Matters section will continue to thrive under Michele Tonks and the team. For inquiries, please contact Michele at michele@ncpd.org.za or 082 781 7715.In addition, I'm excited to focus on expanding the Fanie Dreams Movement, providing peer support for persons who have hearing loss who don't use a signed language. Learn more about our vision and mission: www.faniedreams.co.zaThank you for your continued support! I'm looking forward to this new chapter and making a meaningful difference in the lives of persons with hearing disabilities.Best regards,Fanie du ToitAdult Basic Education Practitioner (UNISA)Independent mentor: Hearing Loss Matters082 820 7358 – Text messages onlyfanie.dt@mweb.co.zafaniedt@ncpd.org.zafaniedreams@gmail.compeersupport@faniedreams.comncpd.org.za/hearing-impairment-and-deaf-affairs/www.faniedreams.co.za www.roadtoindependence.co.zaNational Council of and for Persons with Disabilities Fanie du Toit Fanie DreamsAhlad (Association for Hearing Loss Accessibility & Development)Road To Independence South African Hearing Institute (SAHI) ... See MoreSee Less

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Road To Independence
Road To Independence

1 day ago

Auditory training for older adults with hearing loss is important. Auditory training, also known as auditory therapy or auditory rehabilitation, is a type of training program designed to improve listening and communication skills, particularly for individuals with hearing impairments, auditory processing disorders (APD), or language processing difficulties. The goals of auditory training may include: 1. Improving speech recognition and comprehension 2. Enhancing auditory processing skills, such as sound localization and separation 3. Increasing listening accuracy and attention 4. Developing strategies for communication in noisy environments Auditory Training Exercises: 1. Listening to audiobooks or podcasts with background noise: Improves auditory attention and filtering.2. Identifying sounds in a noisy environment: Enhances auditory processing and sound localization.3. Repeating phrases or sentences with varying levels of distortion: Improves auditory comprehension and speech recognition.4. Auditory memory games: Involves remembering sequences of sounds, words, or numbers to improve auditory working memory.Music-Based Training:1. Music therapy: Trained therapists use music to improve auditory processing, memory, and cognitive function. 2. Melodic intonation therapy: Uses music to improve speech and language skills in individuals with neurological disorders. Apps and Online Resources: 1. Auditory Training (app): Offers exercises to improve auditory processing, attention, and memory. 2. Listen and Learn (website): Provides auditory training exercises and resources for adults and children. 3. The Listening Program (website): Offers music-based auditory training programs for adults and children. Summary: Auditory training for older adults with hearing loss is important for several reasons: 1. Improves communication skills.2. Enhances quality of life.3. Supports social engagement.4. Optimizes hearing aid benefit.5. Improves hearing aid satisfaction.6. Can be tailored to individual needs Overall, auditory training is a valuable tool for older adults with hearing loss, offering numerous benefits that can improve communication, cognitive health, and overall quality of life. Consult with an audiologist or healthcare professional to determine the best auditory training program for your specific needs and goals. The daily listening exercises I have done for the past 13 years consist of activities designed to improve my auditory skills. My first exercise was, for example, "Peter and the Wolf." These listening exercises really improved my situation, and I will never stop doing that. I can present a 1-hour online music appreciation session and share with those who are interested how I structure my daily listening exercises.Read the following article: journals.lww.com/thehearingjournal/Fulltext/2019/01000/Training_Older_Adults_to_Hear_Better.14.aspxFanie du Toit Fanie Dreams #faniedreamsmovement ... See MoreSee Less

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Road To Independence
Road To Independence

3 days ago

www.facebook.com/share/p/15moHjfgqC/Subject: Exciting New Chapter Ahead!Dear Friends and Colleagues,As we welcome the new year, I'm excited to share with you that I'll be embracing new challenges and opportunities in 2025!Effective January 1, 2025, I'll be transitioning to a mentoring role at the Hearing Loss Matters section of NCPD, where I'll be available on Mondays and Tuesdays.Rest assured, the Hearing Loss Matters section will continue to thrive under Michele Tonks and the team. For inquiries, please contact Michele at michele@ncpd.org.za or 082 781 7715.In addition, I'm excited to focus on expanding the Fanie Dreams Movement, providing peer support for persons who have hearing loss who don't use a signed language. Learn more about our vision and mission: www.faniedreams.co.zaThank you for your continued support! I'm looking forward to this new chapter and making a meaningful difference in the lives of persons with hearing disabilities.Best regards,Fanie du ToitAdult Basic Education Practitioner (UNISA)Independent mentor: Hearing Loss Matters082 820 7358 – Text messages onlyfanie.dt@mweb.co.zafaniedt@ncpd.org.zafaniedreams@gmail.compeersupport@faniedreams.comncpd.org.za/hearing-impairment-and-deaf-affairs/www.faniedreams.co.za www.roadtoindependence.co.zaNational Council of and for Persons with Disabilities Fanie du Toit Fanie DreamsAhlad (Association for Hearing Loss Accessibility & Development)Road To Independence South African Hearing Institute (SAHI) ... See MoreSee Less

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Proud Partnerships

Ida Institute and the NCPD

I am so privileged to be part of the “partnership” between Ida Institute South Africa Chapter and National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities This a career highlight after 37 years in the sector of and for Persons with Disabilities. I so wish it could have happened 20 years ago.

Fanie du Toit
Adult Basic Education Practitioner – Unisa 1994

“Free new resources helps people with hearing loss and professionals build trusting, productive partnerships.”

Read the article here. Courtesy of The Ida Institute

 

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