What is Catch Sounds?

South Africa has more than four million deaf and hard of hearing people.

Technology in the form of hearing aids and cochlea implants has taken sound to the next level but batteries for hearing devices can be pretty costly.

The average hearing aid consumer purchases about 96 batteries per year, assuming the hearing aids are being worn between 14 and 16 hours a day. The more complex processing the hearing aid is performing, the quicker the batteries will drain. For instance, if the hearing aid wearer is engaged in noisy conversations for most of the day – which most children are - their hearing aid is doing more work than the wearer who is home alone most of the day.

And so ‘Catch Sounds’ was born - a campaign that aims to raise funds to provide batteries for hearing aid and cochlea implants for every deaf child in need in SA.

Before I received my bi-lateral cochlear implants I was the deafest person in the late ’80s in South Africa and wearing Swiss Phonak Hearing aids, which didn’t help much. After my implants, I went on an adventure of catching sounds so I could learn and understand more in the world of sounds. I used all my pocket money to hear more sounds by going to movies in surround-sound, theme parks where people scream on rides, and so on. Catching sounds helped me build self-confidence in the hearing world.

This is where I got the name Catch Sounds from for my campaign.

So many teachers at deaf schools have said that it is impossible to teach pupils without hearing devices but due to stigma children are embarrassed to wear these aids.

I want to be an example to deaf teens, and show them that it is okay to wear something behind your ears. Every child deserves to hear and without batteries, aids, and implants. They cannot catch sounds.

I also have written a book, ‘Princess Clarissa Catches Sounds’, which will be launched next year. The book is based on a story of my own experience the day my cochlear implants were switched-on and all my adventures in the world of sounds. The profits will go towards Catch Sounds Foundation funds.

Written by Vanessa Papas from People Magazine

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