WHEN we think of the most pressing health issues in this country, hearing isn’t one that immediately springs to mind.
However, this Hearing Awareness Week, Acoustic Health Swan Hill are attempting to change that mindset and highlight an issue that affects 22 per cent of our population 15-and-over.
Some 3.5 million Australians 15-plus have mild to severe hearing issues, and HAW is a vital part of the Federal Government and its NGOs’ effort to improve the problem.
Acoustic Health director Merryn Transton said the week is about ensuring hearing problems become as ingrained in the national psyche as dental or optical.
“It’s about making hearing health accessible to everyone – those people who don’t think about hearing hopefully will become aware of it,” she said.
“There are a lot of unaddressed issues with so many people who put down their issues to other problems when hearing is the primary reason why there suffering.
“I understand if people don’t think about it too much – I’ve been in this industry 21 years, but before that, I had no idea hearing was an allied health – so we just really want to make people more aware there is this part to the health sector.”
Timely action is critical in preventing and addressing hearing loss – which Ms Transton said we generally do poorly.
“One of the things we notice is people wait on average about 20 years between noticing symptoms and doing anything about it,” she said.
“The sooner you do something, it’s a much better outcome – especially when it comes to requiring hearing aids or some sort of amplification – because hearing is a learned ability.”
The shocking 22 per cent figure highlights the magnitude of the problem and is why we need to get on top of the issue.
“We definitely need to take it more seriously,” Ms Transton said.
“A lot of that percentage comes from Indigenous people – they are hit hardest with middle ear conditions – it’s something that should be looked at more intensely.”
Acoustic Health is there for all when it comes to hearing problems.
“We have services for everyone – from the ages five-and-up, we will do hearing assessments – for children with developmental, learning abilities and speech development issues,” Ms Transton said.
“When it comes to adults, it’s more along the lines of getting you back into a community environment where you can enjoy an everyday social life.
“For pensioners, anyone who’s on an aged or disability pension, we offer free services through the government’s hearing services program.”
