Resident of Sunraysia and the Mallee are being encouraged to view hearing loss not as something to hide, but as a sign of a life well lived filled with concerts, celebrations, family gatherings and unforgettable moments.
Today is World Hearing Day, and a new consumer survey commissioned by Specsavers reveals more than half (52%) of Australians over the age of 55 frequently listened to loud or live music when they were younger, yet only one third (35%) have had their hearing tested in the past year and nearly half (45%) admit it has been over a year since their last hearing test.
In addition, one in six (17%) say they have never had their hearing tested, with women more likely to have never had a test (20%) compared to men (14%). This is despite calls for those aged over 50 years to get regular hearing checks.
For those who have never had a hearing test or haven’t in the past year, over half (51%) say they don’t think they need one. Meanwhile, nearly 1 in 6 (15%) admit they keep putting it off.
The survey also highlights the subtle yet profound ways hearing challenges can affect social activity, with one third pretending to hear what is being said (31%) or smiling and nodding (30%), followed by lip reading (15%).
One third (33%) say they avoid noisy places altogether.
