Do you turn up the volume on your radio or TV? It may be a sign to have your hearing checked this Hearing Awareness Week according to Cochlear.
A national survey by Newspoll has shown that 67% of those with a hearing problem turn up the TV.
A leading Australian hearing and speech expert, Professor Richard Dowell from the University of Melbourne, says younger Australians are more complacent than most when it comes to hearing, with 51% of 18-34 year olds unaware of any health problems related to hearing loss.
“Young people are exposing their ears to even louder volumes than in the past – and for longer. For example, where the Walkman of the 80s only lasted for one CD, iPods today are basically infinite,” says Professor Dowell.
“Watching TV is one of our favourite pastimes and turning up the volume is an easy solution as hearing deteriorates.
“Hearing problems don’t generally appear until we get older, and then it can be too late to take preventative action. A hearing test is quick, pain-free and straightforward, so really there’s no excuse for not having one.”
The survey found that those in the 18-34 age bracket are more likely to have never had their hearing checked (32%), compared with those aged 35-49 (21%) and 50+ (17%). Interestingly, females are more likely to have never had their hearing checked compared with males - but men are almost more likely to have a hearing problem than women.
Hearing problems can often see people withdrawing from social situations, which can lead to a feeling of isolation.
“Not being able to hear can lead people to withdraw from their friends and family, and it can also have significant consequences at work,” says Professor Dowell.
“Hearing is an essential function for healthy living. There is a constellation of technological options available that allow all patients to hear better, no matter what their age or the severity of their hearing loss.”
Professor Dowell said that one-in-five Australians have a hearing problem, which is expected to increase to one-in-four by 2050 because of the ageing of the population. Early warning signs of hearing loss include:
- you can hear but not understand
- you find it harder to hear in noisy situations with groups of people
- you have difficulty understanding people unless they are facing you
- you think people mumble
- you don't always hear the doorbell or the phone, and
- you need to turn the TV up louder than other people.
The first step is to see your doctor. Some conditions can be treated relatively easily (such as an ear infection causing hearing loss). If your hearing loss is permanent your doctor will refer you to an audiologist or ear specialist for expert help and advice.
The Australian Government, via Australian Hearing, gives support to young people under 26 years of age with permament or long-term hearing loss. This service includes:
- regular monitoring of your hearing and hearing needs
- hearing aid fitting and maintenance
- assistance with maintenance of cochlear implant speech processors
- cochlear implant speech processor upgrades, and
- replacement of lost or damaged cochlear implant processors.
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