Audiologist taking his skills and passion for the job to Malawi

MSG specialist audiologist Dr Lawrence Hill, 44, is embarking on the move, initially for one year but possibly for longer, to work as a lecturer and help manage the only audiology clinic in the African country as part of a programme set up by the University of South Florida.

Medical charities offer five-year training, and Dr Hill will be joining an American couple who are also undertaking the programme.

Dr Hill will accompanied by his family – wife, Charmaine, 43, and children, Ruark 11, Levi 9, and Ambrose, 5. They will be living on campus too and are all looking forward to the move.

Dr Hill has been an audiologist for more than 15 years and joined the MSG from the Royal Berkshire Hospital in 2016. He followed his calling because of his passion to help those who suffer the most with hearing and balance problems.

‘I enjoy the technical aspect but also the people aspect, when you diagnose a baby and fit hearing aids you can change someone’s life. People also become desperate with tinnitus and balance concerns. It is hard work but I naturally enjoy helping people.’

In Malawi, when a child or newborn gets an ear infection, there are no GPs, like in the UK, to diagnose the many ear infections.

There is widespread HIV and malaria, and malaria can also cause hearing loss along with malnutrition.

Audiology involves audiometers, a tool used to identify the type and severity of hearing loss, otoscopy, the process of looking into the ears, and many other methods of diagnosis.

Hear the World Foundation funds the training facility in Malawi. The organisation is funded by a lot of musicians, such Summer of '69 singer Bryan Adams, who suffer from hearing loss.

Dr Hill has chosen Malawi because of his recent volunteering work at Ears Inc, where he taught at the only audiology programme in the country and realised that it was the place where he could help those who suffer the most.

The burden of children with hearing loss is estimated to be 100 times higher in Malawi than in high-income countries. According to the World Health Organisation, 60% of it is preventable.

The visit is part of a collaboration between Ears Inc – an Australian non-profit organisation which helps people hear in low- and middle-income countries – and African Bible Colleges, an English-speaking Malawian University system. Dr Hill will be working and living on the college campus, which provides a hospital and lecture theatres.

This basic infrastructure stands out in a country where 80% of Malawians have no electricity or running water. To increase infrastructure around the campus, he must create several alliances with a lot of different charities.

Helping on the clinical side of the project, Dr Hill described the programme as a helpful initiative for the Malawian children who will benefit from both the audiology healthcare and the educational opportunities that African Bible Colleges provides. For him, although living in Malawi will be difficult, it is a beautiful part of a beautiful country.

‘It’s important to help in terms of the injustice babies born with hearing loss face. I am hoping to give the population time to live and choose.’

. You can follow the projects the Hill family will be involved in via www.hillfamilyinmalawi.com.

‘I’m proud of what I achieved in seven years in Guernsey’

DR Lawrence Hill said he was proud of what he had achieved in seven years as an audiologist in Guernsey.

‘One of my aims was to have world-class equipment, and with the help of the Guernsey Deaf Children’s Society, we managed to purchase wide band tympanometry which has proved very helpful to patients.’

This test is not routinely available on the NHS.

‘It’s always been such deep joy for me when I help children with hearing loss through their school years and see them successfully go on to university or start work. Nothing makes me prouder.’

Dr Steve Evans, MSG chairman, thanked Dr Hill for his time at the group and wished him all the best in Malawi.

Locally he will be replaced by locum Dr Nel Govender, who also covered for Dr Hill when he took a six-week sabbatical in Malawi at the turn of the year. She has more than 20 years’ experience as a clinical audiologist in the NHS and private sector.