The impact of hearing health on communities has been put into numbers in recent years with the latest estimates predicting that nearly $12BN is lost every single year due to hearing loss. This includes the loss of productivity from the economy and the lower uptake in employment and access to services for those suffering from hearing loss.Money spent on medical treatments to address specific hearing loss issues accounts for as little as 6% of this loss.
While some will consider that figure and come to the conclusion that hearing loss is a personal issue that solely impacts the individual, consider this eye-opening statistic: The average age for someone to access hearing health assistance is 79, but the median age to suffer from hearing loss is just 65. This shows that there is a generational lag between suffering from hearing loss and seeking help. But this is not simply an issue for those in their later years.
The impact of hearing health on communities is shown clearly by the drop in employment rates by those suffering from hearing impairment. For those aged 45-65 (who represent the most experienced section of the workforce), employment rates drop 20.5% for men and 16.5% for women. This is due to a variety of interlinked factors: inability to perform at the required level, loss of confidence and a tendency to withdraw.
Current guidance from the HCIA (Hearing Care Industry Association) strongly urges the federal government to focus the majority of their resources and efforts on engaging with the 45-65 demographic. They’re the most likely to suffer from hearing loss but to put off seeking help. Those who get the help they need early may well be able to restore their hearing to a far higher degree than they perhaps think.
Outreach into the community to tackle hearing loss really started to become a major issue in 1947 with returning veterans being treated for high rates of hearing loss that occurred during World War Two. But it wasn’t until as recently as 1996 that a voucher system was introduced to help those in need in a wider way. The annual expenditure tends to be in the region of $300m, with a wide variety of organisations, public bodies and government departments responsible for providing the services.
While any effort to help those with hearing issues should be applauded, more still needs to be done to actively reach out and offer support and care to those in need.
Last modified: May 20, 2022
