Problem Of Hearing Loss In Australia And Its Solution: The Hearing Aid

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Hearing loss is a major disability that is very prominent amongst Australians. Almost one out of every six Australian faces hearing loss problems. These numbers increase with age as 75% of all Australians above the age of 70 suffer from hearing disability. This adds up to approximately 3.5 million Australians suffering from hearing loss. There are numerous causes for hearing loss such as long term exposure to loud noise, accidents, ear wax build up, ear infections, illness, exposure to certain drugs and chemicals or maybe even natural aging process. A person suffering from hearing loss will also face many other problems like decline in social life, negative impact on relationships, decrease in efficiency at work, and these can lead to depression, anxiety, anger, frustration and other psychological problems. Hearing loss is devastating to any individual but it also impacts the country’s economic welfare. Hearing loss has cost the Australian economy 1.4% of its GDP per annum, which is approximately 12 billion dollars of losses. This only counts for the amount of people who do not work or quit their jobs due to hearing disability. ...
... If the indirect impact of hearing loss was to be calculated then these figures would further rise.

Mainly there are two key solutions to counter hearing loss: one is the use of hearing aids and the other is medical surgery. Let’s discuss upon the first option of hearing aids. A hearing aid is an electrical device that helps amplify the sound waves coming from a source and thereby allows a hearing impaired person listen to the world around them better. Medical research has shown that almost 95% of all hearing disabilities can be cured or rectified with the help of hearing aid, while only 5% require medical or surgical treatment. Hearing aids have helped improve the lives of people with hearing loss problems for years. People who have used hearing aids tend to be more confident, more socialising, maintain better relationships, and work more efficiently than people who do not wear them.

One of the main factors that drive people away from taking this solution is the hearing aid prices. Prices of hearing aid can range from a few hundred to a few thousands of dollars. Many Australian insurance companies also do not cover the cost of hearing aid in the insurance policy. These high hearing aid prices cause many Australians to continue with their struggling hearing disability. Some of the lucky people do get aids from the Australian government but for the rest, they will have to go through the process of finding a hearing aid that fits their need and their pockets.

The process of buying the perfect hearing aid that fits your budget is very difficult but here are a few things to keep in mind while shopping for one. Firstly, get a hearing test done by a professional. This will help determine the level of your hearing loss. Looking at the specifications required for your hearing aid, one has to shop around as it is very well possible to find the same machine of the same brand at two different rates in different shops or clinics. Once you find the hearing aid which suits your needs, check it properly under all conditions. Even ask for a trail period from the shop. After that remember to enquire about servicing and warranty periods and procedures to take care of the hearing aid.

Author is an experienced Health writer. The article tells about the features and usage of Hearing aids, Hearing aid, Hearing aid prices and Phonak.