2 July 2010 - Media Release

HEARING TESTS FOR EVERYONE OVER 50 YEARS OLD CALLED FOR BY OVERSEAS EXPERT Hearing tests for every New Zealander from the time they turn 50 years old are being recommended as a way of dealing with the major public health issue and cost to society of hearing loss. American expert, Head of the UCLA Audiology Clinic and Past President of the American Academy of Audiology, Doctor Alison Grimes has made the call during the annual conference of the country's audiologists.

"Hearing impairment is a significant public health issue. A review of research and literature shows there are major consequences when people do not attend to their hearing loss." says Dr Grimes. "They have a lower quality of life, their cognitive capacity decreases and they experience social isolation and depression. Good hearing is known to improve memory and cognitive function - reducing many of impacts of ageing."

"There is significant evidence that seniors who are hearing impaired need more supportive care. The World Health Organisation identifies untreated hearing loss as a major public health issue because of the economic costs resulting from reduced ability to work and the social impact on families and relationships. People want to keep living full, active, vital lives from their 50s onwards. Ignoring and not treating hearing loss will ensure they don't."

"I strongly believe that introducing hearing tests for people aged 50 and regularly after that as part of standard disease prevention and wellness checks is crucial to helping help turn around the public health issue hearing loss is becoming," says Dr Grimes.

The New Zealand Audiological Society and Oticon New Zealand are backing the call for hearing tests for everyone over 50 years old. "Hearing loss is a major public health issue that will increasingly impact on our society and economy as the population ages. People must be encouraged and financially supported to have their hearing checked and their hearing loss treated," says Lesley Hindmarsh, President of the New Zealand Audiological Society.

"We have prevention and screening and testing programmes for other public health issues and we know that quality of life improves when they do something about their hearing loss. Figures show that it can take people between 7 to 10 years to do something about their hearing once they know they have an issue," says Karen Pullar, General Manager of Oticon New Zealand. "We need to remove the stigma associated with getting hearing checked and fixed if we are to help people age well and life full active lives as the get older."

Overseas and local experts are presenting to the annual New Zealand Audiology Society Conference which is being held at the Blenheim Convention Centre, which ends Saturday 3 July.

30 June 2010 - Media Release

MORATORIUM ON MORE ACC CHANGES CALLED FOR AS 1 JULY LAW CHANGE KICKS IN

The Minister for ACC has been approached to order a moratorium on planned cuts for the hearing impaired, as a new law kicking in tomorrow [1 July 2010] will see thousands refused ACC cover.

From Thursday 1 July anyone with less than 6 percent noise induced hearing loss will be declined ACC cover. Further planned changes mean the Government will no longer cover the full cost of the hearing aid needed by someone who has lost their hearing because of exposure to noise.

"The country's audiologists have met and voted unanimously for planned cuts to hearing aid cover to be put on hold while the Government, ACC and the industry work on an alternative way forward," says Lesley Hindmarsh, President of the New Zealand Audiological Society.

"The 1 July changes impose a rigid, numeric threshold of less than six percent hearing loss before being eligible for ACC. We are saying to the Government enough is enough. "

"We are asking ACC Minister Nick Smith to show leadership and really make a difference to the ACC expenditure by working with the hearing care profession, employers and employees to make workplaces safer."

"Audiologists constantly get people through their doors who are suffering from noise induced hearing loss that is both historic - and new," says Mrs Hindmarsh. "Instead of trying to save money by abandoning people who have a hearing loss through no fault of their own, there is real potential to limit future claims by enforcing workplace safety standards."

"There is something seriously wrong with the way ACC and the Government is singling out people with hearing impairment, as if they don't matter."

"People with less than six percent hearing loss, who from tomorrow won't get any ACC cover for their noise induced hearing loss, commonly cannot hear in work meetings, their work performance is affected because they fail to hear crucial information, they can experience social isolation, depression and strained relationships."

"Instead of abandoning people with hearing loss, there is an opportunity for the Government to find a constructive solution to any concerns it may have. Now is the time to work on those solutions."

June 2010

MAJOR cuts are being planned by ACC cover for people with noise induced loss. A media release and copy of the NZAS submission to government on this issue can be found using this link.