Interview with the C.E.O of BSA Speech and Hearing centre, Dr. Afolabi Simeon by Audiolight magazine
Audiolight magazine is a magazine launched by Ikotun Deaf Development Association (IDDA) during it’s first awareness week on Wednesday, 14, November.
Audiolight had an interview with C.E.O of BSA Speech and Hearing Centre in Lagos. Read the interview below:
Audiolight: How long have you been practising in this profession?
Dr. Simeon Afolabi: I started practising as far back as 1998
Audiolight: Can we know you better (give us your bio-data)
Dr. Simeon Afolabi: I am Dr. Simeon Afolabi, I lived in Lagos, the C.E.O. BSA Speech and Hearing centre. I’m married with four children.
Audiolight: Why is hearing aids so expensive?
Dr. Simeon Afolabi: Too many things goes into the production of hearing Aids. And a lot of people are employed. All this make cost of hearing aid to be high.
Audiolight: Why are our wealthy people still going abroad to treat ear problem? What need to be done to stem the tide?
Dr. Simeon Afolabi: That’s their own choice, because they have the money.
Audiolight: We learn about surgery/operations to correct hearing loss, is it 100% effective and successful? Is it very expensive or affordable?
Dr. Simeon Afolabi: It is effective, but medical decision has to be made. There is possibilities of restoring hearing no matter the level of hearing loss.
Audiolight: often, we learn some organisations are partnering with local audiologists to give free hearing aids to deaf/hearing impaired persons, but lately, we hardly learn about such programme, or has economics recession stop the donors?
Dr. Simeon Afolabi: Most of the donor were not willing to come because of the instability in political system in Nigeria e.g Boko-Haram, Niger Delta.
Audiolight: Do you think deafness is reducing or growing? What are the factors that may cause increase or decrease in population of the Deaf?
Dr. Simeon Afolabi: Anything we say must be followed by research action or outcomes.
Audiolight: Thank you sir.
Dr. Simeon Afolabi: You are welcome