Your hearing is a valuable commodity and hearing well goes far beyond the ability to just hear. It is tied to your social-emotional, cognitive and physical well-being. However, once damage has been done to the auditory system, it could be irreparable. So, it is essential for you – and your friends and family – to take care of your hearing before the damage is done. By this, we don’t just mean with hearing aids; we’re talking about everything from hearing protection while at work, right through to keeping up with your annual hearing checks to make sure your hearing is kept in tip top shape – no matter your age.

Did you know:

1.1 billion people are estimated to be at risk of noise-induced hearing loss around the world1

50% of young people listen to their music or other audio too loudly2

70% of people exposed to loud noise never or seldom wear hearing protection3

Common signs of hearing loss include:
  • Having trouble hearing people on the phone
  • Finding it difficult to hear people talking in noisy environments, like restaurants or crowded places
  • Needing to always turn the volume up on the TV or radio
  • Speaking too loudly without realising
  • Mishearing certain sounds, such as S’s & F’s
  • Difficulty communicating with people who aren’t facing you
If this sounds like you, a family member or friend, you’re not alone.


Osher Günsberg and hearing loss

Osher Gunsberg and hearing lossFor Osher Günsberg – a name synonymous in the Australian TV and media industry – success has been accompanied by challenges including hearing loss, which Osher puts down to his exposure to live, loud music over extended periods, having spent his late teens working as a roadie and his ongoing career in the music industry.
 
After 10 years of living with impaired hearing, Osher lost his desire to participate in social activities, like going to dinner with friends; though it was ultimately the impact on his relationship with his wife and step-daughter that prompted Osher to finally take action and seek help.
 
“For 10 years, my hearing health had a negative impact on my relationships.
Getting hearing help and access to amazing hearing technology has transformed my connectionto the people who matter most in my life.”
 
Just as Osher has acknowledged, hearing loss is not just the absence of sound in your life, it is being out of reach from the people who matter most to you; and at Connect Hearing, we want all Australian’s to recognise the signs of hearing loss so everyone can stay fit for real life with healthy hearing and strong listening skills.
 
Today, it’s not just about hearing aids, it’s about hearing tech. Advancements in technology have disrupted the ‘traditional’ way of helping people on the road to better hearing. We’ve seen the introduction of an array of innovative hearing solutions to suit a variety of listening lifestyles – from hearing protection, hearing amplification and TV solutions, to the most highly featured hearing aids that sit on your ear, through to 100% invisible solutions.


Hearing solutions fit for real life

At Connect Hearing, we’re proud to be able to offer end-to-end hearing solutions to ensure our clients are empowered and at the top of their game at all stages of life and all stages of their hearing journey.
 
Osher says, “the best thing about Connect Hearing is that they will work with each individual to find the best solution for their hearing loss, based on their lifestyle, personal preferences and budget.”
Hearing Test

Do it from your place, do it from work or do it at ours – just do it! It takes five minutes, you can do it online and it’s free: The Speech Perception Test reads you 50 words – you just type what you hear (don’t worry, the spelling is not important!). You will get a score out of 50 for how many words you identify correctly. Do it once a year; it’s as easy as that! Take the Speech Perception Test or read more about the Speech Perception Test. How many words do you miss?
Speech perception test
Hearing Protection


Hearing Protection
 
Do you or someone you know love to listen to loud music through your headphones? Or, perhaps you work in a noisy environment and don’t wear hearing protection?

Exposure to excessive noise is one of the most common causes of hearing loss.
That’s why you should be vigilant when it comes to exposing yourself to loud noise. This is where wearing hearing protection plugs early in life can help.

Not only do earplugs help improve focus and the quality of rest; they most importantly help protect our hearing by cancelling loud noise, while losing none of the original sound and, keep our ears ventilated for comfort.
Assistive Listening Devices

For a solution that will enhance music, entertainment such as the TV and communication (for example, conference calls or a Zoom meeting with friends) – where you may be noticing you are currently having some difficulty hearing – there is a range of audio solutions for assistive listening, including noise cancelling headphones and wireless earbuds – all of which can be fully personalised to your hearing.

These might just be the answer you’ve been waiting for.
Assistive Listening Devices
Hearing Protection

Hearing aids
 
As time progresses and your hearing needs change, there are many hearing aid solutions that boast sophisticated features to assist with speech understanding in quiet or noisy environments, improved awareness of where sounds come from, as well Bluetooth connectivity, allowing hands-free phone calls and delightful music, automatically.
“Before I got my hearing aids, I didn’t know why I was not feeling great about spending time
with friends and family. It was because I would ultimately end up just sitting at a restaurant and not hear what anyone was saying. I would feel isolated and wouldn't get involved in conversations. I used to also avoid talking on the phone and would send calls to voicemail or ask people to send me a text instead.” – Osher Günsberg.
Wireless accessories
 
There’s no question that hearing aids make speech understanding more enjoyable, even in the most challenging listening situations. But sometimes, an extra boost can be useful. Wireless accessories like the PartnerMic, allow you to hear someone’s speech clearly through your aids^, be it around the home, office or while out and about, up to a 25 meter range! Accessories can also enhance a hearing aids performance and keep you connected.
Wireless accessories phonak partnermic
100% invisible solutions
100% invisible solutions
 
And finally, for the ultimate in discreet hearing solutions, look no further than Phonak Lyric™ (or as we like to call it – the contact lens for your ear!). Lyric is a 100% invisible, extended wear hearing device that rests inside the ear canal and can be worn 24/7, for months at a time without taking it out* during daily activities such as exercising or even showering**.

If this sounds like you, reach out to talk to a Lyric expert
The time is now
 
There has never been an easier time than now to test your hearing to determine whether you may benefit from protection or amplification. Take an online hearing test – go on, just do it!

What do you have to lose? Find out how well you hear – online, on your terms, wherever you are. The sooner you act, the sooner you can get on with the things that matter most.
 
Because your hearing is our only priority.


1 World Health Organization (2020, March 1). Deafness and hearing loss: Key facts. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss.
2 National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. (2017, July 27). Listen Up! Protect Your Hearing (infographic). Retrieved from https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/listen-infographic.
3 Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (2020, January 6). Vital Signs – Too loud! For too long! Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/hearingloss/index.html.
4 Australian Government Department of Health (2020). Ear health. [online] Available at: https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/ear-health. [Accessed 11 November 2020].
^Compatible with Phonak Paradise or Marvel or Unitron Blu or Discover Next hearing aid technologies.
*Individual patient needs may vary. Lyric is not appropriate for all patients. See a Lyric provider to determine if Lyric is right for you.
**Lyric is water resistant, not waterproof, and should not be completely submerged underwater.