An alarming number of people are neglecting their hearing in favour of sight according to a new survey from Audika, and this is despite over 77 per cent of respondents knowing someone who is hard of hearing.
Speaking about her journey with hearing loss at a media event was Audika ambassador and Matilda’s goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold. She said her brother, who has hearing loss, was her biggest advocate in getting her hearing checked, along with workmates who also made her aware of her hearing difficulties.
“Because hearing loss can be a bunch of different things is probably why it took me so long to recognise it,” she said. A major turning point was during Covid when she struggled with wearing a mask. “The social aspect and withdrawing from conversations made me realise what an impact this was having on my life.”
And overcoming the biggest hurdle: “getting my hearing checked which once I accepted, changed my life”.
One of the biggest misconceptions that needs to be addressed is that hearing aids are for the elderly, also how much the design of hearing aids has evolved.
Arnold is also launching a series of children’s books, “which I hope will encourage a new generation of readers and footballers”, she told F2L. The brightly illustrated books, which draw on her life and career, will be available on July 2.
“I get a lot of parents contacting me about their children with hearing issues which is amazing.”
Audika audiologist Lauren McNee said hearing can profoundly impact the way people engage with the community, alongside senses such as sight and touch. “While it is often an overlooked health issue, it is one that can greatly impact mental health and emotional wellbeing,” she said.
Most survey respondents ranked sight as their most important sense, with hearing coming in second. And the key reasons for neglect were lack of understanding and stigma with the latter that increased significantly amongst the younger age group, although 41 per cent of senior respondents said there was negative stigma surrounding hearing aids.
Audika, which operates more than 300 clinics nationally, is encouraging all Australians over 26 to ‘Love Your Ears’ and take the five-minute online hearing check via: www.audika.com.au.