The University of Pretoria (UP), home to Africa’s only WHO Collaborating Centre for the Prevention of Deafness and Hearing Loss, has officially leveled up its fight against undiagnosed hearing impairment. In partnership with the hearX Foundation, they have launched the EARS teacher training programme—a fully automated, AI-powered tool delivered directly via WhatsApp.
The Problem: The Silent Crisis
Globally, nearly 90 million children struggle with hearing loss, most of whom remain undiagnosed. In many South African classrooms, a child labeled as “disruptive” or “slow” is actually just a child who cannot hear.
- The Opportunity: Over 60% of childhood hearing loss is preventable.
- The Solution: Teachers are the first line of defense. By equipping them with the right knowledge, diagnosis can happen years earlier.
How it Works: AI on WhatsApp
Unlike traditional training that requires expensive seminars or data-heavy app downloads, the EARS programme is built for the real world:
- Fully Automated: Using the Turn.io platform, teachers can learn at their own pace.
- AI-Powered: The programme features an AI agent trained on WHO guidelines. It can answer teachers’ questions in real-time, providing instant, evidence-based guidance.
- Zero Cost: The training is free of charge for educators from preschool to secondary levels.
“We are taking the science out of the laboratory and into the classroom, where it truly matters,” says Professor De Wet Swanepoel.
What Teachers Will Learn
The modules are designed to be practical and fast, focusing on:
- Red Flags: Identifying the subtle signs of hearing struggle during lessons.
- Risk Factors: Understanding the causes of early-onset hearing loss.
- Action Steps: How to support a learner and facilitate a professional referral.
