What is an Audiologist?
An audiologist is a healthcare professional specializing in identifying, diagnosing, treating and monitoring disorders of the auditory and vestibular system.
Audiologists are trained to diagnose, manage and/or treat hearing, tinnitus or balance problems. They are trained to identify and evaluate the range, nature and degree of hearing / hearing loss in babies, children and adults.
They also dispense hearing aids and recommend and map cochlear implants. Audiologists counsel families through a new diagnosis of hearing loss in infants, and help teach coping and compensation skills to adults with a hearing loss.
They also help design and implement personal and industrial hearing safety programs, newborn hearing screening programs, school hearing screening programs, and provide special fitting ear plugs and other hearing protection devices to help prevent hearing loss.
Audiologists have training in anatomy and physiology, hearing aids, cochlear implants, electrophysiology, acoustics, neurology, counselling and sign language.
In South Africa, an Audiologist is a professionally trained university graduate who has successfully completed at least four years of intensive academic and clinical training. In order for an Audiologist to practice in South Africa, it is necessary to be registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
ABOUT US
Our entire set of ideals is built upon how we can utilise the best products for our patients, while still fitting into the individual's budget. We work closely with other trained professionals with whom we collaborate closely and share knowledge.
Prime Hearing (Dr. Cara Hollander t/a Prime Hearing) is an Audiology company employing highly skilled professionals and is based in Gauteng. While the audiologists are skilled clinicians, they also have active research and academic careers. Prime Hearing was established by Dr. Cara Hollander, who saw the need for mobile, yet quality services. The company is built on a core set of values aiming to provide quality, individual care and first-class services. We strive to help our patients hear better and reach their full potentials, while at the same time, allowing them to feel confident with the cosmetic aspects of their hearing aids.
Our audiology company is unique in that it not only offers a classic office-based facility, but it also boasts a unique mobile unit. This allows us to provide our services within corporate environments where time off work is difficult, as well as within homes, where mobility or transport may be a challenge. We do not charge a "call out fee" and medical aid rates apply.
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Core Competencies
As a company aiming to provide world class services, all our audiologists are highly trained and are registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
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Mission
We aim to make Audiology Services accessible and known to all. We have various practices in Gauteng, to allow convenience to patients in a variety of areas, as well as to patients with physical limitations and accessibility difficulties.
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Relevance
We are in tune with all the cutting edge, up to date technology allowing the provision of supreme service and first rate hearing aids and assistive devices that provide sound quality and cosmetic appeal.
Dr. Cara Hollander
Dr. Cara Hollander obtained her BA. Speech and Hearing Therapy, Masters in Audiology and PhD degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand. She was part of the prestigious South African Medical Research Councils and Public Health Enhancement Fund’s (PHEF) scholarship program aimed at combating TB and HIV.
Through her PhD within the field of pharmacokinetics, ototoxicity and infectious diseases, she developed a mobile application aimed at assisting health care professionals in managing hearing loss related to ototoxicity. Cara has presented multiple times internationally and nationally, and won various scholarships throughout her degrees.
She has published internationally, and has been the external examiner for various dissertations for Master’s Degrees in Clinical Pharmacy. Dr. Hollander has lectured and supervised Audiology students at the University of the Witwatersrand, as well as has been involved as editor of the South African Speech Language and Hearing Associations' annual Communiphon. Further, she has worked within the private sector for over 10 years, where she has become skilled with all the cutting-edge technology to assist all ages with hearing loss.