HearingMatters

Journal of

SHHH Australia Inc.Self-help for Hard of Hearing People

May 2017

In this issue:ACCC Investigation into the Hearing Aid IndustryHearing Loss-a Problem Shared? Book review and pages to entertain!

Print Post Number: PP 2467 641 00005 ISSN: 1444-5417 ABN: 13 078 141 787 May 2017

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SHHH | Hearing Matters /May 2017

SHHH MISSIONSHHH Australia Inc. is a voluntary

organisation giving services and support to hearing-impaired people throughout

Australia who communicate orally.

SHHH is on Facebook! http:/www.facebook/SHHHAust

SHHH is on Twitter! @shhhaus

HearingMattersFeatures

4 The Importance of the Audio Loop in Consulting Rooms 5 ACCC and the Hearing Industry

What it means for you 6 Hearing Loss-a Problem Shared? 8 Technology Vs Technology 10 Book Review 11 Volunteers corner 13 Hearing Loss in Musicians 14 Foodie Antics 15 Brain Training

Have your say!

SHHH welcomes your suggestions and ideas to spread and share with the community. You can do this through your letters (emails), comments and written contributions, which you would like us to publish. Personal experiences, difficulties faced, matters which can enhance the quality of life for the hard of hearing.

Please send your emails with “Attention: Editor, Hearing Matters”, in the subject line. Send it to shhh@netspace.net.au

All material considered appropriate by the team will be published.

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SHHH | Hearing Matters /May 2017

President’s Message

Much has happened since my February Hearing Matters message. On the 3rd of March, which was World hearing Day, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) delivered its report into the hearing industry which effectively put hearing aid providers “on notice”. The report, which attracted much media attention, noted that commissions, incentives and sales targets are pervasive in the audiology industry and that some clinics are in relationships with finance providers. The Commission also found that “commissions, incentives and other mechanisms designed to drive sales can create a conflict with clinical independence, professional integrity and the primary obligation to consumers.” SHHH welcomes the ACCC findings and endorses its recommendations to improve the transparency and customer focus of the hearing device industry. The findings of the commission are consistent with SHHH’s own submissions to the Hearing Health Inquiry and it is our view that the key requirement for hearing device consumers is reliable and unbiased information from the professionals in whom they place their trust. We also believe that there is a role for advocacy groups to help consumers maximise the benefits of the hearing devices recommended by hearing health professionals. In this issue of Hearing Matters Lucinda Bryan explores the findings of the ACCC report in more detail.The ACCC report seems to have coincided with several requests for Parliamentary submissions to various Senate inquiries over recent months. SHHH has again recently lodged a submission; this time to the Senate Inquiry into the Delivery of Outcomes under the National Disability Strategy 2010-2020 to Build Inclusive and Accessible Communities. The recommendations made in this submission were aimed at raising hearing loss awareness particularly in relation to the environment in which people live and work, and to generate sound policy decisions by government agencies. Currently, public hearings on submissions to the Senate Inquiry into the Hearing Health and Wellbeing of Australia are being conducted in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. If you would like to express your own views and experience and have your voice heard I would ask that you email or write to your Federal Member of Parliament and ask that he/she encourage the Minister and his colleagues on the Parliamentary Committee to listen to the peak consumer groups such as SHHH Australia, Better Hearing Australia, and Whirled Foundation – all of which have made submissions.In other news, it was with great pleasure that SHHH recently presented former President Richard Brading with a Life Membership Award. Richard has had a long and ongoing relationship with our organisation and led us as President for over 25 years. Through his dedication and sound leadership SHHH has maintained its function providing essential representation, advocacy and peer support for people with hearing loss.Also in this issue we have items about the effects on family members of hearing loss suffered by a loved one, Hearing Loss and Music, Technology versus Technology, a further update on hearing loops at Sydney railway stations and a related article on hearing loops contributed by Peter Lindley. I hope you enjoy the read.

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SHHH | Hearing Matters /May 2017

The Importance of the Audio Loop in the Consulting Roomby Peter Lindley, Advocate for Better Hearing Brisbane

Better Hearing Australia (Brisbane) and the Redlands Hearing Impaired Support Group (Redlands Shire, Queensland) are two consumer groups who report similar experiences regarding T switch use and loop system in relation to their members. We are aware, anecdotally, of other groups who make the same observation is when members attend activities for the first time, it is evident that they are unaware of the benefits of loop systems and the use of T switches with Assistive Listening Devices.

When they access private or public Audiological or Audiometric services, and are, fitted with appropriate hearing aid/s, they are also provided with written or verbal information concerning the use and benefits of the T switch - where incorporated (although unfortunately we find that often, the T switch option is not offered).

Again, we know through our experience that this written and verbal information is poorly understood by many elderly people, due we believe to their difficulty understanding the technology. However, when they have the opportunity to experience the loop system on a subjective level, they are delighted by their experience, and finally understand the benefits of the T switch.

It is our contention therefore, that all Audiological and Audiometric consulting rooms, should have a loop system installed, so that the use and benefit of the T switch can be demonstrated subjectively, at an appropriate time determined by the clinician. This could be in terms of spoken information e.g. via a microphone or from a radio, to demonstrate the benefits of voice and music using the technology.

We know that the provision and use of a loop system need not be expensive or time consuming. However, it would render a great and significant service to their clients in assisting them to maximize the use and benefits of aided hearing - and contribute to addressing the problem of lack of hearing aid use, as evidenced through the research literature.

Additionally, consumer organizations lobby governments, councils and private organizations to provide communication access i.e. audio loop systems / infra red / FM systems. It has been our experience that when communication systems are installed, often the provider involved invariably complains that they do not get used. Sometimes the International Symbol of the Deaf is displayed to denote availability of communication access - however, the majority of people, either hearing or hearing impaired do not know the meaning of the symbol.

We believe that it would be of great benefit if audiologists and audiometrists provided a subjective experience of a loop system and an explanation of the International Symbol of the Deaf. This would ultimately result in improved quality of life for the hearing impaired person as well as reducing the financial wastage of hearing aids worn in the bottom drawer.

Peter Lindley Advocate for Better Hearing Brisbane Advocate for Redlands Hearing Impaired Support Group Member of Deafness Forum of Australia Member of Cochlear Implant Club and Advisory Association Life Member of Self Help for the Hard of Hearing (SHHH)

(Reproduced with permission of Peter Lindley from Australian College of Audiology’s publication).

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