Fanie's story

​​​

My life changed irrevocably at 18 when I was exposed to continuous cannon fire during the South African Defence Force’s operations in Caprivi, Namibia, in 1977. I soon noticed difficulty following conversations and was shocked to realize I was losing my hearing. Diagnosed with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss due to acoustic trauma, my hearing deteriorated over the next 15 years to the point where hearing aids only amplified loud noises.

 

At the time, my family and I were advised to learn Sign Language, which, in hindsight, was not the best advice for someone losing their hearing as a previously hearing individual. Unfortunately, lip speakers were seen as a threat to Sign Language development in South Africa, making it challenging to find communication support. I had to teach myself lip-reading, spending many late nights in front of a mirror learning how lips move to form sounds, and gradually adapted to communicate with others in a hearing world.

​

For over three decades, I relied on lip speakers—trained individuals who facilitate lip-reading by clearly repeating spoken messages. I honour everyone who supported me as a lip speaker and note-taker during this time.

​

Forced to adapt, I learned to live with my impairment and navigate an inaccessible environment. 

​

Initially trained in the field of electronics, I was medically boarded due to my hearing loss and had to find new ways to support myself and my family. I returned to university and studied Adult Education through UNISA. Support from the Free State Association for Persons with Disabilities was instrumental in my journey, leading to my role at the National Council for Persons with a Physical Disability South Africa (NCPPDSA) in 1987.

 

Here, I began raising awareness about the needs of individuals like me who lost hearing after learning a spoken language and used assistive devices. In 2000, I began hosting a radio program for Radio Sonder Grense (RSG), which recently celebrated its 1,350th episode.

 

My research on hearing loss, supported by the National Council, included visits to hearing-impaired communities worldwide and contributed to developing accredited training materials. 

​

In 2011, cochlear implants transformed my life overnight, allowing me to hear and engage in conversations as I hadn’t in decades. This profound change reinvigorated my dream of supporting individuals with hearing loss who do not use signed language.

​

Collaborating with experts in audiology and human rights, I work to help those with hearing impairments fully participate in life.

 

For the past 40 years I’ve supported those who have hearing impairments or deafness to be able to reach their full potential despite hearing loss.​