UP partnership launches WhatsApp AI training for early hearing loss detection in schools

The University of Pretoria (UP) has announced its partnership with the hearX Foundation to launch the latest evolution of the EARS teacher training programme. This fully automated, AI-powered hearing health training tool is delivered via WhatsApp, and is available free of charge to educators at every level, from preschool to secondary school.

The initiative aligns with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) 2026 World Hearing Day theme, ‘From Communities to Classrooms: Hearing Care for all Children’. This call to action is at the heart of the work of the University, which is home to Africa’s only WHO Collaborating Centre for the Prevention of Deafness and Hearing Loss.

Millions of children are going unheard

Globally, an estimated 90 million children and adolescents aged 5 to 19 years live with hearing loss, and the majority remain undiagnosed. In low- and middle-income settings, limited access to audiological services means that teachers are frequently the first adults to observe the signs of a hearing difficulty. When hearing challenges go unidentified, the consequences extend far beyond the classroom – they affect speech and language development, literacy, social participation, mental health and long-term life opportunities.

More than 60% of childhood hearing loss is preventable through cost-effective public health measures. Early identification is the critical first step, and teachers are uniquely positioned to take it.

Evidence-based from the ground up

The EARS programme emerged from rigorous scientific research. A published study demonstrated that the original mHealth-supported WhatsApp training significantly improved hearing health knowledge among more than 1 000 early childhood development practitioners, with knowledge gains sustained six months after training. The study established a model for scalable, accessible, evidence-based hearing health training in under-resourced settings.

This 2026 iteration builds on that foundation with a transformative upgrade: the programme is now fully automated and incorporates an AI agent trained on evidence-based materials, including WHO guidelines, enabling the programme to answer participant questions in real time, provide personalised guidance and offer ongoing support – all within a familiar WhatsApp environment.

“Healthy hearing is the gateway to healthy learning,” says Professor De Wet Swanepoel, of UP’s WHO Collaborating Centre for the Prevention of Deafness and Hearing Loss. “As Africa’s only such WHO Collaborating Centre, the University has a responsibility to translate research into real-world impact. This partnership with the hearX Foundation does exactly that. By placing an evidence-based, AI-supported training tool in the hands of every teacher, we are taking the science out of the laboratory and into the classroom, where it truly matters.”

What the EARS programme offers teachers

Delivered entirely via WhatsApp, and requiring no app download, no special equipment and no prior technical knowledge, EARS guides teachers through practical, accessible modules covering:

  • early signs and risk factors for hearing difficulties in children;
  • the impact of untreated hearing loss on academic achievement and development;
  • red flags to look out for in everyday classroom interactions; and
  • practical steps to support learners and facilitate timely referral for assessment.

The WhatsApp delivery is made possible through the messaging infrastructure of Turn.io, a leading conversational platform built on the WhatsApp Business application programming interface, enabling the programme to scale reliably to teachers across South Africa and beyond.

The integrated AI agent, trained on WHO resources and the latest evidence, ensures that teachers are not left with unanswered questions. It provides responsive, evidence-aligned support throughout and after the training, making the programme a living resource rather than a once-off exercise.

Free and available now — how to start

Teachers working with preschool and school-aged children are encouraged to participate. The training is free of charge.

To start: Send the word “EARS” on WhatsApp to +27 87 813 4013  or visit: https://wa.me/27878134013

 

Prof De Wet Swanepoel
Prof De Wet Swanepoel.

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