Hearing is believing with new technology
New high-tech hearing aids will be available free of charge to eligible Australians following major changes to the Australian Government Hearing Services Program.
The changes, planned to come into effect from October 1, include additional features on ‘behind the ear' devices, including directional microphones and noise suppression capabilities.
In launching Australian Hearing's Hearing Awareness Month in Sydney, the Minister for Human Services, the Hon Joe Hockey MP, said: “This represents a major advance for many Australians living with significant hearing loss.”
Hearing loss is already estimated to be the second most prevalent health condition in Australia, with about one in every five people over the age of 15 years experiencing some sort of hearing impairment.
“There is no doubt we are moving into a rapidly developing era of new intelligent hearing aids,” said Minister Hockey.
“As the population ages, we need to use the very latest technology to help people overcome the problems associated with hearing loss – like social isolation and loss of independence.”
The changes to the Australian Government Hearing Services Program, recently announced by the Minister for Ageing, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, will improve the quality of life of many Australians, he said. For 87-year-old Keith Heggie, being fitted with the latest hearing aids has allowed him to fulfil his ultimate dream – to become a pilot.
“Learning to fly meant that I had to go through medical examinations including a hearing test. Thanks to having the best hearing aids for me – which fit right inside my ear so that I can still wear the headphones in the cockpit – I passed my hearing test with ‘flying' colours,” he said.
Mr Heggie was first diagnosed with age-related hearing loss and fitted with hearing aids 25 years ago.
“It was terrible,” said Mr Heggie. “Even with the aids, I was becoming more and more agitated at not being able to hear enough to participate in conversations and meetings at my local club. I still couldn't even hear the television and would only watch sport because I could follow it without having to hear the commentators.”
However with rapid developments in hearing aid technology, those problems are in the past. His new hearing aids have three settings for different listening situations. There is one for normal conversation, one for cutting out background noise, and another for the telephone.
Participating in the launch of Australian Hearing's Hearing Awareness Month today, Mr Heggie encouraged more people like him to get their hearing tested so that they could get out there and enjoy life.
Ms Gina Mavrias, Australian Hearing's Operations Manager, said Australian Hearing had chosen to make the new high-tech devices available to its clients immediately, ahead of the October 1 industry start date.
“This is a great outcome for clients of Australian Hearing,” she said.
Ms Mavrias said the technological advances in audiology, hearing aids and rehabilitation expertise that exists at Australian Hearing are among the best in the world.
Australian Hearing recommends people over the age of 65 have their hearing checked every two years to ensure any hearing loss is identified early and the best treatment options and care provided.
“Australian Hearing is one of the largest and most comprehensive providers of hearing services in the world, and is an industry leader in hearing rehabilitation and counselling, acoustic research, hearing aid development, hearing preservation and also community education.
An Australian Government agency, Australian Hearing provides subsidised hearing care to most veterans and also to pensioner concession cardholders.