March is Hearing Awareness Month which aims to raise awareness around hearing health, kicking off with World Hearing Day on the 3rd of March.
This year the theme is around ‘overcoming challenges posed by societal misperceptions and stigmatising mindsets’ through education, awareness-raising and information-sharing.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), changing mindsets related to ear and hearing care is a crucial precursor to improving access to health care and rehabilitation, as well as mitigating the ‘cost’ of unaddressed hearing loss (productivity loss and social exclusion).
It can be a challenge when someone close to you is experiencing hearing difficulties. It is not easy to find the right time to start a conversation about hearing loss. Reactions can be mixed, because hearing loss can be a gradual process, which people learn to accommodate and find it difficult to accept. Additionally, deeply ingrained societal misperceptions and stigmatisation around hearing loss can also limit efforts for prevention and seeking help to address hearing loss.
Ear and hearing problems are among the most common problems encountered in the community with an estimated 1 in 6 New Zealanders experiencing hearing loss1, so we all know someone who is impacted. The good news is, having accurate and evidence-based information and seeking treatment earlier, means the better off you will be with your quality of life and your ability to communicate with others2. Managing hearing loss earlier may also help prevent cognitive decline and dementia3.
If you or a loved one might be experiencing hearing loss, there has never been a better time than now to talk about it with one of our specialists.
If you are worried about your hearing, or that of a loved one, book an appointment with one of our specialists today to check your hearing health. At Bay Audiology, we are here to help determine which type of hearing loss you have, how it was caused, and what can be done to help.
To learn more about how to challenge common misperceptions related to ear and hearing problems, the Bay Audiology website has a range of articles you may find helpful:
You can also head over to the World Health Organisation (WHO) website to learn about World Hearing Day on March 3.
1 Deloitte Access Economics, (2016). The Economic Impact and Cost of Hearing Loss in New Zealand (p.9).The National Foundation for the deaf.
2Kochkin, S. (2011, June). Patients report improved quality of life with hearing aid usage. The Hearing Journal, 64(6), 25-32
3G Livingston, Jonathan Huntley, Andrew Sommerlad, et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. The Lancet. July 30, 2020.
