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Hearing impairment
Hearing is a vital part of our enjoyment of life. At around 20 years of age, our hearing starts a gradual decline. This age-related hearing loss is normal and rarely leads to deafness.
Hearing loss
There are many causes of hearing loss. Some hearing losses may be temporary due to short-term medical conditions such as colds, flu, ear infections or wax in the ear canal.Other causes are often permanent. They may include viral attacks on the inner ear nerves, circulatory problems with blood flow to the ear, disruption of the tiny bones of the middle ear, some drugs, exposure to loud noise or inherited progressive hearing loss.
For many older people, the cause may simply be an accumulation of wear and tear over a lifetime. Some people may be able to have their hearing improved with medical treatment.
Some people with hearing loss may feel inadequate or ashamed because of this condition. This can lead them to deny the problem exists at all, or to try hiding their difficulties from friends and family. This can then lead to social isolation and depression.
If you are having a problem with your hearing the first step is to see your doctor.
There are consumer support organisations in every capital city and many regional areas throughout Australia. These organisations have advisors and teachers who can greatly assist you with your hearing issues, including helping you to manage your hearing loss. Some organisations have a small fee for these services, others are completely free. By talking to these people you will be able to make an informed decision about what will be helpful for your personal needs. When you visit your hearing service provider, ask them the name of any organisation in your local area that may be able to help you.
For more information about hearing see Health Insite or the Better Health Channel.
The Voucher Program
To be eligible for this program you’ll need your application authorised by a doctor and you’ll need to be:- a Pensioner Concession Card holder;
- receiving Sickness Allowance from Centrelink;
- the holder of a Gold Repatriation Health Card (more information);
- the holder of a White Repatriation Health Card (more information) issued for conditions that include hearing loss;
- a partner (including married, de-facto or same sex partner) of a person in one of the above categories;
- a dependent child between the ages of 21-25 undertaking full time study, of a person in one of the above categories;
- a member of the Australian Defence Force; or
- a person referred by an Australian Government funded Disability Employment Services provider.
You can contact the Office of Hearing Services on 1800 500 726 or TTY 1800 500 496
Community Service Obligations (CSO) program
To be eligible to receive other declared hearing services you need to be an Australian Citizen or permanent resident of Australia and:- under 21 years of age;
- eligible for the Voucher Program but have complex hearing needs;
- eligible for the Voucher Program and live in a remote area;
- an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander who:
- is eligible for the Voucher Program; or
- is over 50 years of age; or
- is a participant in a Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program; or was a participant in a CDEP program between 1 December 2005 and 30 June 2008.
If you are eligible to apply for other declared hearing services you should contact Australian Hearing on 131 797.
Tips for living with a hearing disability
If you have problems with your hearing:- make sure that hearing aids are functioning and being used effectively
- install visual smoke detectors in the house
- investigate other visual alerts such as alarm clocks and front door alerts, and
- install assistive-listening devices such as volume-controlled phones for contacting others in an emergency.