People across the country are being encouraged to protect their hearing and have regular hearing checks throughout their lives.
On World Hearing Day last week (3 March), Minister for Government Services and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Senator Linda Reynolds said this year’s theme of To hear for life, listen with care was a timely reminder for everyone to focus on the importance of preventing hearing loss.
“It’s important that people know how to take care of their hearing,” Senator Reynolds said.
“This includes making sure you protect yourself from exposure to loud sounds, which is the most significant cause of preventable hearing loss in the Australian population.”
She said there were approximately 3.6 million Australians living with hearing loss and, as the population aged, this number was expected to double to an estimated 7.8 million people in 2060.
Minister for Regional Health, Dr David Gillespie said many common causes of hearing loss could be prevented.
“As a doctor practising in regional Australia for three decades I saw the burden of preventable hearing loss in the community—for the individual and their families,” Dr Gillespie said.
“It’s life changing and there (are) ways everyone can protect their hearing,” he said.
“One in six Australians experience some form of hearing impairment and, for a third of these people, their hearing loss could have been prevented.”
Dr Gillespie said the theme of this year’s World Hearing Day encouraged people to think about how they could listen safely in all situations, every day.
