For more connection and less frustration, take a hearing check

Hearing Australia Hear&Now 2020 Challenge

If you’re tired of your family complaining about your hearing, a hearing check could help end the frustration – for you and your loved ones.

According to research commissioned by Hearing Australia, more than 59 per cent of respondents say their partner or parent doesn’t believe they have a hearing problem or they think they’re coping fine – despite knowing their hearing isn’t what it used to be (39 per cent).¹

For the over 50s, almost 75 per cent of those who have a family member who hasn’t had a hearing check, say it’s likely due to them thinking they don’t have a problem.¹

The research findings also indicate that the most common emotion felt by those who have a family member with hearing loss was frustration (68 per cent) – and the most affected are women and those aged over 50.¹

To make getting hearing help easier, Hearing Australia is calling on all Australians to take part in the Hear&Now 2020 Challenge by jumping on to hearing.com.au to do a free* 10-minute hearing check.

“The research highlights why it’s really important for families to encourage and support their loved ones to take that first step. An easy and effective hearing check can help you learn how well you hear and how to get support if you need it,” explains Emma Scanlan, Principal Audiologist at Hearing Australia. “With Australian seniors playing a more active role in their family’s lives than ever before², taking control of your hearing could also help to improve your communication and enhance relationships.”

“While putting off caring for your hearing health may feel easier in the short term, there’s no need to wait,” adds Emma. “The right combination of hearing services, expertise, support and technology, can help you stay connected to the people you love and keep enjoying the things you love to do.”

Hearing Australia client Stephen Hodge, 67, says support from his partner Maree, his Army mates and Hearing Australia, helped him accept his hearing loss and take action. The semi-retired ex-Army officer, believes that not only has his hearing improved considerably, he now enjoys life again.

“A significant aspect of poor hearing is continually having to ask people to repeat themselves – and background noise was also very frustrating,” says Stephen. “I now find my volunteer work even more pleasurable and I find great joy in speaking with my three grandchildren. Now I have to remind Maree, my mates and my family that they don’t need to shout at me anymore!”

So how can you help your family members take control of their hearing health?

“If you notice they’re starting to ask people to repeat themselves, have difficulty in following along with conversations in a group, particularly in noisy places, turn the TV up really loud or struggle to hear on the phone, it’s time to jump on our website and take the Hear&Now

Challenge together,” recommends Emma. “It only takes a few minutes and it could change their life – and yours.”

The world-renowned National Acoustic Laboratories, the research division of Hearing Australia, developed this innovative online hearing check. It identifies your hearing needs by integrating a subjective assessment of your hearing ability, attitude and beliefs with an objective speech-in-noise test. This assesses your ability to hear when there is background noise.

“The aim of our Hear&Now 2020 Challenge is to help families take action to improve their hearing health and to enhance the wellbeing of all Australians,” says Kim Terrell, Managing Director of Hearing Australia. “This is our purpose and has been for over 70 years. In the past 20 years, we’ve helped over one million Australians hear again, or for the first time. With a national team of over 500 qualified audiologists, many with extensive years of experience, we’re here to help people break through barriers to overcome hearing loss and celebrate the sounds they love.”

The Hearing Australia Hear&Now 2020 Challenge kicks off during Hearing Awareness Week (1-7 March) and runs until 30 April 2020. Visit www.hearing.com.au, drop into one of the over 1,000 free* hearing check community events each month across the nation, or call 134 432.

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*A free hearing check is a screening that helps identify someone who may have a hearing loss. Other services may attract fees or be subsidised for those eligible under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program.

References

1. Hearing Australia Study – YouGov survey commissioned by Hearing Australia surveyed 1,274 Australians aged 18 and older 24-28 January 2019. Following the completion of interviewing, the data was weighted by age, gender and region to reflect the latest ABS population estimates. In the final result, those with hearing difficulties were weighted to ensure they are represented in their true proportion within the population.
2. Australian Institute of Family Studies – Australian households and families, Lixia Qu and Ruth Weston, 2013 –  https://aifs.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/aft4.pdf

About Hearing Australia

For over 70 years, Hearing Australia has been helping Australians rediscover the joy of sound. Its purpose is to provide world leading research and hearing services for the wellbeing of all Australians. Hearing Australia has over 600 locations across Australia and is the nation’s largest provider of government-funded hearing services for children, young adults up to 26, adults with complex communication needs, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, pensioners and veterans.

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