Media Release
Give your ears a sporting chance
11 September 2007
Want to hear your teams in action at the NRL and AFL Grand Finals? Or the crowd’s cheer as the Wallabies bring home the Rugby World Cup?
If you want to catch all the action of another exciting finals season, you should make sure your hearing is up to scratch.
Australian Hearing is once again urging older men to check their hearing.
An easy first step is to use Australian Hearing’s new national telephone hearing screening service Telscreen.
People can access the service by calling the toll-free number 1800 826 500 and by following the prompts to start the check.
The Minister for Human Services, Senator The Hon. Chris Ellison said that Telscreen provided the perfect opportunity for men to check their hearing at home, from anywhere in Australia.
“They may decide to then take the next step and get a face-to-face hearing screening at one of Australian Hearing’s 92 hearing centres or 220 visiting sites around the country,” Senator Ellison said.
According to Senator Ellison, hearing loss is more prevalent amongst men than women.
“More than 1.6 million Australian men suffer from a hearing loss , which represents 62 per cent of those with a hearing impairment1,” he said.
“Hearing loss is gradual and many men don’t realise they have a problem.”
“It has a damaging effect on relationships and can be frustrating for both the sufferer and their family,” Senator Ellison said.
“Sport is a big part of Australian culture, but it can be difficult to enjoy a noisy sports event, particularly when you’re trying to follow a conversation at the same time.”
Call 131 797 to be connected to your nearest Australian Hearing centre.
Media Contacts:
Michael Barrett (Minister’s Office) – 0419 424 359
Rena Richmond (Australian Hearing) – 0408 863 201.
About Australian Hearing
To be eligible to receive services under the Australian Government Hearing Services Voucher Programme and Community Service Obligation a person must be:
- An Australian pensioner concession cardholder or dependant of a cardholder
- A Department of Veterans’ Affairs gold or white repatriation cardholder (specifically for war-related hearing loss) or a dependant of a cardholder
- A sickness allowance recipient or their dependant
- A referred CRS Australia client
- A member of the Australian Defence Forces
- Australian citizens or permanent residents under 21 years
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples aged 50 years or over
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples participating in a Community Development Employment Program
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples who were former participants of a Community Development Employment Program between 1 December 2005 and 30 June 2007
Australian Hearing is one of the largest hearing services providers in the world. It delivers services at more than 92 permanent sites and 220 visiting sites around the country and is an industry leader in hearing rehabilitation, technology development and education.