Ilouise Le Roux Speech Therapists & Audiologists

18/03/2026

Swallowing is something most of us take for granted… until it becomes difficult! 🗣️

Today, on Swallowing Awareness Day, we’re shining a light on the importance of safe swallowing and the role Speech Therapists play in supporting those with swallowing difficulties (dysphagia).

Signs to look out for:
• Coughing or choking when eating or drinking
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing
• Food “sticking” in the throat
• Unexplained weight loss
• Frequent chest infections

Our Speech Therapists are trained to assess and manage swallowing difficulties, helping patients eat and drink safely while maintaining quality of life.

If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these signs, don’t ignore them—early support makes a big difference.

05/03/2026

Vandag tydens 'n sessie met 'n pasiëntjie, gebruik ek 'n boek oor troeteldiere om te werk aan woordeskat. My pasiënt noem haar naam en die woord "kat". Ek reageer en vertel haar die boek gaan nie oor 'n kat nie maar daar sal dalk 'n prentjie van 'n kat wees. Weer noem sy haar naam en die woord "kat". Ek sê weer ek het nie 'n boek oor 'n kat nie maar ek weet sy het 'n kat want ek het al gesien dat sy 'n krap merk op haar arm gehad het. Ek begin die storie lees en sy luister mooi maar aan die einde van die storie begin sy huil. Ek sê dat ons 'n prentjie van 'n kat kan teken en sy huil nog meer. Haar liefdevolle ma troos en verduidelik dat haar troeteldier kat n week of wat gelede dood is. En daar breek my hart vir hierdie dogtertjie wat met beperkte woordeskat vir my probeer vertel het van haar geliefde kat en dat sy steeds oor hom treur. Soos die afgelope 20 jaar van my loopbaan leer ek weer 'n les by 'n kind. Net omdat jy soms nie weet hoe om iets te sê nie, jou woordeskat klein is, jou kommunikasie beperk is, beteken nie dat jy nie iets het om te sê nie en dat jy steeds die lewe se goed en sleg beleef en ervaar soos enige ander mens. As ons grootmense tog net bietjie wil stil staan en luister.

03/03/2026

👂 Why Is It Important for Children to Have Their Hearing Tested?

Hearing plays a huge role in your child’s development — especially in the early years. Even a mild hearing loss can affect learning, speech, and confidence.
Here’s why regular hearing tests matter:

✨ Speech & Language Development
Children learn to talk by listening. If they can’t hear sounds clearly, speech and language skills may be delayed.

📚 School Performance
Hearing affects reading, spelling, following instructions, and classroom participation. Undiagnosed hearing loss can sometimes look like “inattention” or “behaviour problems.”

🧠 Brain Development
The brain develops rapidly in early childhood. Good hearing stimulation supports healthy brain pathways for communication.

💬 Social & Emotional Confidence
Children who struggle to hear may withdraw socially, feel frustrated, or lose confidence.

🦠 Ear Infections Are Common
Frequent ear infections can cause temporary hearing loss — and parents may not always notice.

👶 Early Detection = Better Outcomes
Early identification allows for early support — and that makes all the difference.

The World Health Organization estimates that many cases of childhood hearing loss can be prevented or effectively managed when identified early.
If you notice your child:
• Says “what?” often
• Turns the TV up loud
• Struggles to follow instructions
• Has delayed speech
• Seems inattentive
It may be time for a hearing check.
📞 Book a child-friendly hearing assessment with us today!

https://www.ilouiseleroux.co.za/

03/03/2026

This WORLD HEARING DAY, we are reminded that hearing is more than just sound — it’s connection.

According to the World Health Organization, millions of people worldwide live with preventable or untreated hearing loss. Early detection makes all the difference.

As your local Audiology team, we are committed to:

👂 Early identification
👂 Professional hearing assessments
👂 Hearing aid support & care
👂 Ongoing guidance for families

If you or your child haven’t had a recent hearing screening, this is your sign to book one. https://www.ilouiseleroux.co.za/

Let’s protect what matters most — the sounds of life!

02/03/2026

FAQ – How do I know my hearing aids are properly charging?

Knowing your hearing aids are charging correctly is important to ensure they last throughout the day. Here’s what to look for:

✅ 1. Check the indicator lights

Most rechargeable hearing aids (such as those from Phonak, Oticon, Widex, or Signia) have small LED indicator lights.

Solid light – Usually means fully charged

Blinking light – Charging in progress

No light – May not be seated correctly or charger not powered

(Colours may differ depending on the brand – always check your user manual.)

✅ 2. Make sure they are seated correctly

You should feel or see the hearing aids click or sit securely into the charging ports. If they are not positioned properly, they won’t charge.

✅ 3. Check the charger power source

Ensure the charger is plugged in properly

Confirm the wall socket is switched on

If using a portable charger, make sure the charger itself is charged

✅ 4. Morning check

When you remove your hearing aids from the charger:

The indicator light may briefly turn on

You should hear the start-up melody or feel them power on

If they turn off shortly after putting them in, they may not have charged fully.

⚠️ If you are unsure:

Clean the charging contacts gently with a dry cloth

Try a different power outlet

Contact your audiologist for a quick check and clean

At our practice, we’re always happy to check your devices to ensure everything is working perfectly 💛

25/02/2026

✨ Celebrating Sound, Speech, and Connection ✨

On International Cochlear Implant Day, we celebrate the amazing children and adults who hear the world in a new way through cochlear implants. From first sounds to first words—every moment matters.

Thank you to families, audiologists, speech therapists, and implant teams who support every step of the journey!

Let’s keep listening, learning, and connecting! 👂💬

https://www.ilouiseleroux.co.za/

23/02/2026

🧠 Hearing & Brain Health: Why Listening Takes Energy as We Age 🧠

Hearing isn’t just something your ears do, it’s something your brain works hard to manage.
When hearing changes, the brain has to fill in gaps, guess missing words, and work overtime just to keep up.
Over time, that extra effort can show up as:
• Mental fatigue after conversations
• Difficulty focusing in noisy spaces
• Feeling “drained” by social situations
• Slower processing and reduced clarity
This is known as listening effort, and it places added load on the brain, especially as we age.
💡 Supporting hearing reduces that load. When sound is clearer and easier to process, the brain can focus on meaning, memory, and connection instead of constant problem-solving.
That’s why hearing care is brain care.
It supports energy, focus, confidence, and participation in everyday life.
📞 If conversations are feeling more tiring than they used to, it may be time to check in. Book with Ilouise Le Roux Speech Therapists & Audiologists and support both your hearing and your brain!

19/02/2026

🗣 MYTH BUSTERS!

18/02/2026

https://www.ilouiseleroux.co.za/

Any parent can improve their child’s behaviour, language or learning abilities. At our practice, we understand how difficult it is to seek help for your child, yourself or even a loved-one struggling with a communication difficulty or hearing related problem.

17/02/2026

https://www.ilouiseleroux.co.za/services/

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16/02/2026

Most people think the hearing test is the finish line.
Ilouise Le Roux Speech Therapists & Audiologists, it’s the starting point.
Because hearing doesn’t stay the same and neither does life.
As we age, listening needs change. Health becomes more complex. Environments get noisier. Conversations require more effort.
That’s why hearing care can’t be a once-off moment.
We partner with you you over time to:
🧠 Support how your brain processes sound as it changes
💬 Provide education and counselling so you understand what you’re experiencing
🎯 Adjust and refine care as your listening environments, health, and priorities evolve
This ongoing support helps reduce listening effort, protect independence, and build confidence, not just today, but for the years ahead.
Hearing care isn’t about devices.
It’s about coping well, staying connected, and continuing to live fully as life changes.
📞 If you’re looking for hearing care that grows with you, book with our and start a journey, not just a test!

09/02/2026

👂 Why Hearing Care Requires More Than a Screening 👂
“I passed my hearing test, so why am I still struggling?”
It’s a question many people ask and it highlights an important truth: Hearing difficulty isn’t always about how soft a sound is.
You can hear tones clearly and still struggle with:
🔊 Following conversations in noisy places
💬 Keeping up when more than one person is speaking
🧠 Feeling mentally drained after social interactions
⏱️ Processing speech quickly and confidently
That’s because hearing is more than your ears, it’s how your brain makes sense of sound in real life.
Ilouise Le Roux Speech Therapists & Audiologists don’t stop at pass-or-fail results!
Time is spent understanding how you listen, where you struggle, and what environments matter most to you.
The focus is on:
✔️ Listening effort, not just volume
✔️ Clarity, not guesswork
✔️ Confidence, not compensation
✔️ Ongoing monitoring and support and not a once-off appointment
💡 Because meaningful hearing care looks at the whole listening experience, not just the test result!