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Monday 08:00 - 17:00 Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00 Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00 Thursday 08:00 - 17:00 Friday 08:00 - 16:00

Distinct Hearing

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Distinct Hearing

We are an independent private Audiology practice operating from the heart of George, along the beautiful Garden Route.

Distinct Hearing is committed to providing state of the art hearing health care with a prominent patient centered approach.

17/02/2026

Most people think the hearing test is the finish line. 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 gets noisier.
Conversations require more effort.
That’s why hearing care can’t be a once-off moment.

Audiologists and Acousticians partner with 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.

Schedule an appointment with one of our Audiologists in George: Ilke Lategan or Jonathan Stokell. They are always happy to discuss ways to improve your hearing.

Contact us at☎️044 873 3809 or visit www.distincthearing.co.za

13/02/2026

👂 Diabetes Can Show Up in Your Ears First

Most people know that diabetes can affect the eyes, kidneys and heart, but fewer realize it can also impact hearing.

Why?
Healthy hearing depends on tiny blood vessels and nerves in the inner ear.
Over time, elevated blood sugar levels can affect circulation and nerve health, making these delicate structures more vulnerable.

Early signs may include:
• Difficulty following conversations, especially in noise
• Sounds feeling muffled or unclear
• Increased listening fatigue
• Subtle changes that are easy to dismiss

Hearing changes linked to diabetes are often gradual, which is why they’re frequently overlooked. Regular hearing tests can help identify changes early and support better long-term outcomes.

Hearing health is part of whole-body health. When you care for one, you support the other.

Concerned about your hearing health? Schedule an appointment with one of our Audiologists in George: Ilke Lategan or Jonathan Stokell. They are always happy to discuss ways to improve your hearing.

Contact us at☎️044 873 3809 or visit www.distincthearing.co.za

10/02/2026

That ringing in your ears isn’t actually coming from your ears at all.
It’s coming from your brain.

When the brain stops receiving the sound input it expects (often due to subtle hearing changes) it doesn’t stay quiet. Instead it creates its own sound to fill the gap ➡️ That’s tinnitus.

Your brain is doing what it does best, adapting.
The goal of tinnitus care isn’t silence.
It’s teaching the brain that the sound is not a threat, so it can fade into the background of life again.

This is why counselling, sound strategies, and auditory training can be life-changing they work with the brain, not against it.

Tinnitus isn’t a sign that your ears are failing. It’s a signal that your brain is asking for support.

Schedule an appointment with one of our Audiologists in George: Ilke Lategan or Jonathan Stokell. They are always happy to discuss ways to improve your hearing.

Contact us at☎️044 873 3809 or visit www.distincthearing.co.za

06/02/2026

👂 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.

Audiologists and acousticians 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.

Schedule an appointment with one of our Audiologists in George: Ilke Lategan or Jonathan Stokell. They are always happy to discuss ways to improve your hearing.

Contact us at☎️044 873 3809 or visit www.distincthearing.co.za

03/02/2026

Hearing changes don’t usually announce themselves with silence.
They arrive quietly in moments you start working harder to keep up.

You might notice it as:
🧠 Feeling exhausted after conversations
👥 Struggling to follow group discussions
💬 “I can hear people talking, I just can’t understand them”
📺 Turning subtitles on more often than before

This isn’t about paying attention harder.
It’s about your brain working overtime to fill in missing sound.

When hearing changes are picked up early, adapting feels easier, with less strain, less fatigue and more confidence in everyday conversations.

Early checks don’t mean something is “wrong.”
They mean you’re giving your brain the support it needs to keep listening comfortably.

Schedule an appointment with one of our Audiologists in George: Ilke Lategan or Jonathan Stokell. They are always happy to discuss ways to improve your hearing.

Contact us at☎️044 873 3809 or visit www.distincthearing.co.za

30/01/2026

Feeling Unsure About Hearing Aids? You’re Not Alone.

Making a decision about hearing aids can feel overwhelming, not because of age but because it’s new.
And taking the first step toward a hearing test is often the bravest part.

Here’s what we want you to know:
👂 Hearing aids aren’t a sign that something is “wrong.” They’re tools that help you stay connected, confident and fully involved in daily life.

✨ Try shifting the focus from fear to possibility:
• “I’ll enjoy conversations without strain.”
• “I won’t need to ask people to repeat themselves as often.”
• “I’ll hear the laughter, music and everyday sounds I’ve been missing.”

Hearing aids are not about loss, they’re about gaining clarity, connection and ease.
Millions of people rely on them, not because they’re old, but because they value communication and independence.

🧠 And remember:
Hearing aids start the process.
With guidance, support and consistent use, your brain gradually adjusts and sound begins to feel more familiar and natural again.
You’re not “just getting a device” you’re choosing to improve your quality of life.

Be kind to yourself. This journey isn’t about decline, it’s about empowerment, understanding, and taking ownership of your wellbeing.

Schedule an appointment with one of our Audiologists in George: Ilke Lategan or Jonathan Stokell. They are always happy to discuss ways to improve your hearing.

Contact us at☎️044 873 3809 or visit www.distincthearing.co.za

27/01/2026

👂 Hearing Care Starts With Understanding Your Whole Hearing Story.

Hearing care is so much more than a simple “pass or fail.”

Audiologists and Acousticians use a range of diagnostic tests to understand how you hear, where you may be struggling, and what support will help you stay connected.

Here are some of the key hearing tests you may experience:
🎧 Pure-Tone Audiometry = Measures how well you hear different tones and pitches through air and bone conduction.
💬 Speech Audiometry = Assesses how clearly you understand spoken words in quiet settings.
🔊 Speech-in-Noise Testing = Evaluates how well you follow speech in busy environments (like restaurants, family gatherings, or social events).
🧠 Tympanometry & Middle Ear Testing = Checks eardrum movement and middle-ear function to identify blockages, pressure issues, or fluid.
⚡ Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE) = Measures the response of tiny inner-ear hair cells that help detect soft sounds.

Each test adds an important piece to your hearing picture by helping your care provider understand your hearing, your brain’s listening demands and what will support your daily life best.

Schedule an appointment with one of our Audiologists in George: Ilke Lategan or Jonathan Stokell. They are always happy to discuss ways to improve your hearing.

Contact us at☎️044 873 3809 or visit www.distincthearing.co.za

23/01/2026

🎧 Technology can amplify sound, but only care can help you understand it.

We believe that great hearing care isn’t about the newest device, it’s about the relationship that supports it.

We combine hearing technology with human connection:
🧠 Auditory training that helps your brain relearn clarity
💬 Counselling and education for you and your family
🔄 Ongoing follow-up to adapt as your needs change

Because even the smartest hearing aid is only as effective as the care behind it.

Hearing well is not just about devices, it’s about understanding, confidence and connection.

Schedule an appointment with one of our Audiologists in George: Ilke Lategan or Jonathan Stokell. They are always happy to discuss ways to improve your hearing.

Contact us at☎️044 873 3809 or visit www.distincthearing.co.za

16/01/2026

5 Most Popular Reasons for Hearing Loss and Why Awareness Matters :

Hearing loss often happens gradually, so slowly that many people don’t notice the early signs until communication starts to feel harder. Understanding why it happens is the first step toward protecting your hearing health.

Here are 5 of the most common causes:
1️⃣ Ageing (Presbycusis): Natural changes in the inner ear can make higher-pitched sounds harder to hear over time.
2️⃣ Noise Exposure: Repeated loud sounds from concerts, power tools, or even earphones can damage delicate hair cells in the inner ear.
3️⃣ Ear Infections or Wax Build-up: Temporary blockages or chronic infections can cause hearing difficulties if left untreated.
4️⃣ Medical Conditions: Diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease can affect blood flow to the inner ear, reducing hearing sensitivity.
5️⃣ Ototoxic Medications: Some antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, or long-term pain medications can affect hearing as a side effect.

Knowing the cause is key to finding the right care. Audiologists and Acousticians are trained to identify, explain and support every unique hearing journey.

Schedule an appointment with one of our Audiologists in George: Ilke Lategan or Jonathan Stokell. They are always happy to discuss ways to improve your hearing.

Contact us at☎️044 873 3809 or visit www.distincthearing.co.za

13/01/2026

👂 How’s Your Hearing This Year? 👂

As the year settles in, it’s the perfect time for a quick self-check not just on your goals, but on your hearing.

Ask yourself:
Do conversations feel a little more effortful than before?
Do voices seem softer, or background noise more distracting?
Do you turn up the TV or radio a little higher than others prefer?

If you nodded “yes” to any of these, your ears (and brain) might be asking for a little extra care.

Early hearing assessments and auditory training help you stay sharp, confident, and connected so you don’t miss a single moment that matters this year.

Schedule an appointment with one of our Audiologists in George: Ilke Lategan or Jonathan Stokell. They are always happy to discuss ways to improve your hearing.

Contact us at☎️044 873 3809 or visit www.distincthearing.co.za

09/01/2026

“Once I get hearing aids, my hearing will be normal again.”

Fact: Hearing aids give you access to sound, but your brain is what gives that sound meaning.

When you first start wearing hearing aids, everyday noises can feel too sharp, too loud, or simply unfamiliar.
That’s completely normal.
Your brain is adapting and learning how to interpret sound again.

This is where ongoing auditory training and support from an audiologist become essential.
With time, guidance and consistent use, listening becomes clearer, conversations feel easier and connection grows more comfortable.

Technology starts the process.
Auditory training helps your brain make sense of sound.

Schedule an appointment with one of our Audiologists in George: Ilke Lategan or Jonathan Stokell. They are always happy to discuss ways to improve your hearing.

Contact us at☎️044 873 3809 or visit www.distincthearing.co.za

26/09/2025

⚠️ Hearing Loss & Workplace Safety ⚠️

In the workplace, hearing isn’t just about communication it’s about safety.
From hearing warning signals to detecting approaching vehicles or machinery, healthy hearing can prevent serious accidents.

The risks:
🔹 Untreated hearing loss can delay reaction time.
🔹 Missed verbal instructions can lead to costly mistakes.
🔹 Noise exposure without protection can cause permanent damage.

💡 Tip: Regular hearing screenings and proper hearing protection are essential for anyone working in noisy environments; whether it’s construction, manufacturing or hospitality.

Your safety and the safety of those around you starts with your ears.

Schedule an appointment with one of our Audiologists in George: Ilke Lategan or Jonathan Stokell. They are always happy to discuss ways to improve your hearing.

Contact us at☎️044 873 3809 or visit www.distincthearing.co.za

Address

34 Cathedral Street, George Central
George
6529

Opening Hours

Monday	08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday	08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 17:00
Thursday	08:00 - 17:00
Friday	08:00 - 16:00

Telephone

+27448733809

Website

http://www.distincthearing.co.za/

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