Media Release
Audiology Australia acknowledges the release of important research findings today by Anovum GmBH on behalf of the Hearing Care Industry Association (HCIA), which highlights that most Australians who wear a hearing aid will wait several years between becoming aware of their hearing loss and obtaining a hearing aid.
The sample size of 1,200 hearing impaired individuals cited numerous concerns for not owning or using a hearing aid. These included affordability issues, higher priority concerns, and that they will be made fun of or be rejected because of their hearing aids.
Audiology Australia notes that with one in six Australians experiencing some form of hearing loss, it is integral that the hearing health sector and broader health care sector work better together to challenge stigmas around hearing loss and improve access to hearing devices.
“Hearing care is health care,” said Audiology Australia President Lia Traves.
“We have a duty to work together to encourage hearing checks to be part of every Australian’s health care routine.”
Audiology Australia notes that challenging these perceptions and improving access requires a multi-layered approach including:
- involving an Audiologist as soon as possible. All health care professionals, but especially GPs, should encourage patients to find an Audiologist as the first point of call if they notice signs their patient may need a hearing check.
- continued advocacy to government. Continuing our work to advocate to government for increased financial support to help cover the cost of clients’ diagnostic audiology services and hearing devices. Audiologists can help strengthen these initiatives by providing essential clinical insights about best-practice hearing care to achieve optimum outcomes for clients.
Audiology Australia thanks HCIA for releasing these important findings and looks forward to continuing to work with government, other representative health care organisations and audiology employers to overcome these challenges.
Read HCIA’s media release here
Available for interview
- Lia Traves, President of Audiology Australia
For more information