With years of experience as an audiologist in the Melton and Sunbury areas, Marc Vandenberg has an intimate understanding of how hearing loss affects the community.
“They call it the hidden handicap, because it’s something you can’t see, and it’s something people don’t go out of their way to address,”Mr Vandenberg said.
“Studies show that people wait eight to10 years before doing something about [hearing loss].
“Hearing loss happens over time. If you are continually exposed to excessive noise, the damage is permanent. So the message is all about conservation of hearing, and limiting that exposure.”
On March 3, Mr Vandenberg marked World Hearing Day alongside Hearing Australia.
The annual day of acknowledgement was established to raise awareness of the prevalence of deafness and hearing loss in Australia.
According to a Hearing Australia survey, only 23 per cent of respondents had checked their hearing in the past 12 months, while a further 25 per cent don’t recall ever testing the sense.
Mr Vandenberg said there is also a stigma attached to losing your hearing, which makes people less inclined to get tested or wear hearing aids, despite the profound benefits.
“Anyone can contact us for a free hearing check at any time,” he said.
To book your free hearing test, head to the Hearing Australia website.
Details: www.hearing.com.au
Oliver Lees
