Posted Wednesday March 3, 2021
During the week all our clinics offered full diagnostic hearing tests at a reduced price, and 100% of the fees were donated to the National Foundation for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the voice of deaf and hearing impaired people in New Zealand.
World Hearing Day is an annual initiative of the World Health Organisation (WHO), and this year’s theme, Hearing Care for All! Screen. Rehabilitate. Communicate coincides with the launch of the first World Report on Hearing. WHO is calling “for international action to address hearing loss and ear diseases across the life course”.
WHO’s key messages are that the number of people with unaddressed hearing loss and ear diseases is unacceptable and official action is needed to prevent and address it. National health plans for universal health coverage must include person-centred ear and hearing care, and official intervention will benefit people with hearing loss and financially benefit society.
What can you do?
Good hearing and communication are important throughout your life, so protect your hearing from loud sounds, and learn to care for your ears (download the brochure below). Make sure your children’s immunisations are up-to-date to avoid hearing damage from common, avoidable childhood diseases. If you have hearing loss or ear diseases, seek care from your audiologist or doctor. If you’re at risk of hearing loss, for example you work in a noisy environment, have regular hearing checks.
You can find out more about World Hearing Day at the WHO website.
