Ana wishes to hear

My name is Anastasia, I am hearing impaired. I am an artist , craftier, singer and aspiring dance teacher And this is my story.

Just over 6 years ago i found out i'm losing my hearing (this while i was studying dance), I was blessed enough to get a hearing aid from the provincial hospital. It changed my life i could finally hear what people were saying.

But as a car it needed maintenance, and i started developing severe pain in my right ear to the point where i cant even touch my ear lobe. Going back to the hospital to get this all checked and sorted. After spending 6 hours from Que to Que till i finally got to the ENT department, and here is where all the trouble is. First they tell me they can not repair my 6 year old device as they do not work with them anymore, so I am like ok may i then receive a new device?

Sadly they have no hearing aids for anyone that is on the provincial scheme. (feeling terrible for the guy next to me there for the first time)

So I am like ok when will there be hearing aids available again? A: We have no idea the waiting list has been building up over months.

Needless to say they didn't bother testing my hearing again. Then i was off to the ENT to check the pain in my ears. Before i carry on, I have been going to provincial hospitals most of my life, having never had medical cover, so im patient, humble and respectful every time i go as we are lucky to have any system in place for us, but this was a very strange check up. First i was like ok this lady isnt event physically touching my ear to see properly as my first ENT, only to be happy later on cause we noticed she doesn't change gloves she just washes and does the next person. I am very sad that our provincial system is lacking so badly.

Either way im like "ok perhaps there is hope just be patient"

Its a while later now no hope in sight and my final dancing exams are coming up. I was blessed enough that my mom paid for a private audiologist to test my hearing again as everyone feels my hearing has worsened. Which it has.

I have fluid in my middle ear and i cant make out words properly, so i have been revered to an ENT at a private hospital to find the cause for my problems and see if the hearing aid or an operation would help. ( i will post the results from the audiologist test once i have scanned it in)

The ENT specialist visit is around 950 ZAR and hearing devices start at about 10 000 ZAR for your standard and i require one for each ear and if a operation would help me that would cost about 200 000 ZAR but i need to see the specialist first.

So you can get an understanding of my hearing, i have a constant factory in my head and when people speak to me all i hear is peanuts teachers wawawa. People around me get so mad at me for not being able to hear them its quite sad i do not wish this upon anyone.

Ive gone a few months now not having a hearing device and im battling so badly. I know there are more people out there than just myself that need help, I am not a selfish person, but i cry and get so depressed at the thought of not passing my final exam to pursue my teaching career due to my hearing (Its hard getting corrections or hearing questions from my lecturer) , not pursuing my dreams cause of something so out of my control, and my family and friends have encouraged me to give fundraising a go.

Any donations would be so greatly appreciated even if its small change any tiny bit helps , I know times are tough everywhere right now and its ridiculous what I am asking but there is no harm in trying.

Sorry I have had to put donations in US dollars to link my pay pal

God Bless

Here are some of my achievements in the Arts with my hearing impairment

Kzn Talent Africa regional 3rd place over all winner 2015

Kzn Talent Africa regional best singer award 2015

Kzn Talent Africa 2nd place over all in my age category 2015

Talent Africa Nationals solos- Dance - Gold 80% Song 1 - Gold 80% Song 2- Bronze 60% ( I qualified to go to represent South Africa in New York For internationals but could not go due to financial constraints)

I have passed AIDT exams in Modern- final grade and prelim junior

I have Passed ISTD modern theater examinations - intermediate

I am currently doing my associate in modern theatre dance with ISTD, my lecturer Miss Wendy Reihnardt

I have performed at the national arts festival in grahams town.