Early intervention the key to hearing loss

Early intervention remains the key to reducing the rate of hearing loss in Australians, Assistant Minister for Health Fiona Nash said.

Speaking at the Hearing Care Industry Association breakfast at Parliament House ahead of Hearing Awareness Week (23–29 August), Minister Nash said hearing once damaged often cannot be repaired, echoing the theme of the week: Hearing is precious and fragile.

“Hearing is something most Australians take for granted, but imagine a life without it,” Minister Nash said.

“One in six Australians currently experience some sort of hearing loss and this figure is expected to grow to one in four Australians by the year 2050 as the population ages.

“Hearing loss reduces our ability to communicate with our friends and family and to participate in social situations. It can also affect education and job prospects.

“Young people and those in loud working environments are particularly susceptible to hearing loss from exposure to loud noises.”

Minister Nash said the Australian Government is investing in research through the Hearing Loss Prevention Programme and the National Acoustic Laboratories to help identify the causes of preventable hearing loss and will invest in around 30 different projects during 2015–16.

“While research is helping to understand the reasons for hearing loss and how to prevent it, the government, through the Hearing Services Programme, is continuing to support people whose hearing is already impaired,” she said.

“The Voucher Programme allows Australians to access fully and partially subsidised hearing services from a national network of contracted service providers.”

For further information, visit the Hearing Awareness Week or the Hearing Services Program.

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