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WITH our ageing population, hearing loss is projected to rise to one in five Australians by 2060 and if left untreated, this serious health issue can cause frustration, isolation, fatigue, social withdrawal and poor mental and overall wellbeing.
Hearing loss is certainly a growing concern in Australia, affecting one in six of the general population, 60 per cent of those over 60 and second only to musculoskeletal disease.
Only one in four Australians who could benefit from hearing aids actually wear them, and it takes an average of seven to 10 years from the onset of hearing loss for people to seek help.
“The sooner you can address hearing loss the better,” said Janette Thorburn, audiologist at Australian Hearing, the nation’s largest provider of government funded hearing services.
“If people consider a hearing check as part of their regular good health regimen - like attending a fitness class, testing their blood pressure or getting their eyes checked - the better the outcome will be for them.”
There are different types of hearing loss. These include conductive loss, due to damage or a blockage in the outer or middle ear, and mixed hearing loss.
But the most common form is sensorineural, where there is damage to, or malfunction of the cochlear or the auditory nerve, causing 87 per cent of all hearing loss in adults.
Hearing loss can be caused by genetics or factors that occurred before, during or just after birth, however, the most significant cause of hearing loss is exposure to loud sounds. And with their increased popularity, we’re seeing more and more damage from headphones and ear buds.
In fact, 37 per cent of adult hearing loss in Australia is preventable.
Because hearing loss is usually gradual, it often goes unnoticed by most people. In some people, they see it as a sign of ageing and are reluctant to admit they’re having problems hearing.
If you suspect hearing loss, there are a few short questions you can ask:
- Do you often ask people to repeat themselves?
- Do you mishear what people say?
- Do people around you complain that the TV or radio is too loud?
- Do you have trouble hearing conversation when it’s noisy?
- Do you miss the doorbell or phone?
- Has anyone suggested that you have your hearing checked?
For more than 70 years, Australian Hearing has played a significant role in providing world leading research and hearing services to all Australians.
Visit an Australian Hearing centre for a free hearing check or call 1800 740 301. www.hearing.com.au
