Romi Michal, senior audiologist at the Hearcare Group, talks to Margaret Harris. This month Hearcare will launch a practice in the Birt Street Medical Centre, Johannesburg, where she will be the practice manager What do audiologists do?Audiologists are healthcare professionals who address hearing- and balance-related difficulties in children and adults. We are trained to identify, diagnose, treat and monitor disorders of the auditory (hearing) and vestibular (balance) systems of the ear.What are the most important things you do at work each day?The most important parts of a typical day are ensuring that appropriate treatment plans have been selected while ensuring that patient satisfaction is maintained. It's of the utmost importance to listen to and take into consideration patients' needs.I also ensure that my patients' hearing needs are accurately matched to the technology available and that I provide the appropriate emotional response to a patient after they have hearing loss.story_article_left1What do you wish more people knew about their hearing?I am very passionate about hearing and try to convey this to my patients as people often do not appreciate the importance of their hearing and how socially isolating hearing loss can be.Hearing loss and the consequences thereof are often subtle at first, so it is common for it to go untreated. Often parents are unaware of the devastating consequences hearing loss can have on their children's academic and social development.What part of your job do you find most challenging?Working against the highly prevalent stigma associated with hearing loss and trying to explain to patients the importance of addressing their hearing needs. Juxtaposed to this is the frustration of patients who would like to address their hearing needs but cannot afford to do so. The latter is very common in South Africa.What do you most enjoy about your work?The look on someone's face when I restore their hearing is absolutely priceless and makes my career a highly motivating and rewarding one. Providing a patient with hearing amplification allows an individual to re-engage with society on numerous levels.What would most people find surprising about the work you do?People always seem to be surprised by the prevalence of hearing loss after the age of 65. Despite us being relatively in tune with the ageing process of our bodies, we tend to view our ears in isolation and fail to acknowledge that they "age", too. Most people find it surprising that a high percentage of our caseload includes patients from the age of 55 onwards.What qualities do you need to be an audiologist?The qualities you need include:Critical thinking in order to reach the correct diagnosis;story_article_right2The ability to execute the required tasks accurately to ensure precise results are obtained; andA good dose of compassion to help you deal with the emotions that inevitably arise.What did you want to be when you were a child?Growing up I had great aspirations of being a teacher and I spent many hours creating classrooms with my dolls. This journey took a slight detour as a teenager when I discovered the discipline of audiology via a neighbour working in the industry.What was your first paying job, and what important lesson did you learn from it?My first paying job was as a community service speech therapist and audiologist. This position provided me with insight into just how disempowered patients in the public sector are. I soon learnt how, as a healthcare provider, I have the potential to change a patient's care through each interaction we have.This position taught me how our jobs involve so much more than merely performing hearing tests...