Australian Hearing Magazine

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- Summer 2014/15 Edition -

Country music star Troy Cassar-Daley joins the Australian Hearing team!

Take a look inside.....

The right hearing device for you hearing.com.au

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The Hearing Bus visiting a town near you

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Wireless technology, how does it work?

About us For over 67 years, Australian Hearing has been dedicated to providing hearing care for Australians. We are the nation’s leading hearing specialist and largest provider of government funded hearing services.

We provide subsidised hearing care for aged pensioners, veterans, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders over 50, and children and young adults under 26. To find out if you are eligible, call us on 131 797 or visit www.hearing.com.au. If you require an interpreter, call 131 450 (TIS national) and ask to be connected to Australian Hearing.

Contents 3. Gym class noise levels 4. Troy Cassar-Daley 6. Binax: Jack’s Story 7. All about hearing aids 8. Go wireless 10. Choosing a phone 11. The Hearing Bus

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AH Magazine Summer 2014/15 Edition

Raising awareness in the community Australian Hearing awarded Best Digital Campaign - Asia Pacific, at the SABRE Awards 2014 Australian Hearing recently triumphed over 1,400 organisations across the Asia Pacific region to win the coveted ‘Digital Campaign of the Year’ at the SABRE awards.

Our ‘Loud House’ campaign used lots of different and new ways to tell the story of the effect of hearing loss. The really impressive part of this was a 70 second video that you really must see. It created a funny scene of a ‘Loud House’- a house that was too loud and how a person with hearing loss may not realise how their condition affects friends and family.

The result is funny, truthful, and a real story of daily life with a hearing loss that can be shared and related to.

You can watch the video here: www.hearing.com.au/loudhouse

Turn it down: gym class enthusiasts risking hearing loss

Fitness lovers listen up: a study by Australian Hearing’s research division, the National Acoustic Laboratories, and the University of Newcastle, has found instructors are pumping up the music to potentially harmful levels.

According to the report, noise levels in fitness classes are dangerously high – often to that of nightclub levels.

High intensity classes such as spin, boxing and circuit classes experienced the loudest music on average.

Tips for managing the noise Ask the instructor to lower the volume, if not for the duration of the entire class, then at certain intervals in the program.

Take ear plugs to dull the noise level.

Download a smartphone app that detects the decibel levels so you know when the levels are getting harmful.

Select other workout options if necessary.

If you have no joy with the instructor, speak to the centre manager as he has a legal requirement to keep noise levels under 85 decibels.

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Australian Hearing welcomes Troy Cassar-Daley Australian Hearing recently welcomed multi-award winning country music singer Troy Cassar-Daley to the family, as our official national ambassador.

Troy said he was proud to be formally associated with the organisation: “As an Aboriginal musician, I have strived to make a difference in people’s lives, with the positive messages in song.

Australian Hearing has been giving people a better quality of life, on so many levels, for years and tries to achieve the best outcomes for everyone they deal with. I have admired their work in our communities for a long time now and I will try to make them proud as their ambassador.”

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AH Magazine Summer 2014/15 Edition

Troy’s career has spanned over 20 years and he is one of Australia’s most loved and respected singer/ songwriters in country music.

His role with Australian Hearing will see him support our ongoing efforts in the community, including raising awareness of hearing health amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

We look forward to spreading the importance of hearing health with Troy in a community near you soon.

Troy shows his support for Watson He may be new to the Australian Hearing team, but Troy Cassar-Daley has wasted no time in getting to know some of the people we work with.

One of those people is 12-year-old Watson Gebadi, who got the surprise of his life when Troy recently dropped by his school to sing to him and to thank him in person on behalf of Australian Hearing.

During Hearing Awareness Week earlier this year, Watson arranged for a special presentation on hearing care by Australian Hearing Port Macquarie at his school assembly. He said it was a way to ‘give back’ to Australian Hearing and thank them for the support they have shown him and his family for the past eight years.

Seeing Watson’s hard work, Australian Hearing arranged for a surprise visit from Troy at the assembly. Watson’s mother Sonya, said she and her family were completely moved by the gesture: “I have always been proud of my Watson in everything he has done. He has faced challenges and has been brave over the years with his hearing loss. Today, I was overwhelmed by him, Troy Cassar-Daley and the support from Australian Hearing.”

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Precision hearing for Jack For former teacher and senior education administrator Jack Baseley, adjusting where he sat in meetings and paying close attention to a speaker, were common practices he put up with at the end of his career. It wasn’t until retirement however, that he decided to finally take action and do something about his hearing.

That was over six years ago, with Jack now heavily involved in volunteer work including teaching bridge through the University of the Third Age and leading tours for the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. But it was working in some of these noisy environments where he was still experiencing difficulties hearing voices clearly, even with the assistance of hearing aids.

His audiologist at Australian Hearing Dee Why heard his concerns and suggested he try out the latest hearing aid technology – Binax. And for Jack, the new aids have already made an impact.

“What I noticed with the new aids, is that I’m hearing sounds with much greater clarity,” he said.

“They are also much more effective in cutting out background noise. I’m finding it far less disturbing and not causing me to miss out on things as much. It’s silenced the noise around me very effectively. When leading a tour for example, I’ve found it a lot easier if I’m taking question, I’m hearing people with far greater precision.”

What’s new: Binax Hearing aids controlled through your smartphone

Hearing aids that allow people with a hearing loss to hear better in noisy environments than those with no hearing loss* – that’s what hearing instrument manufacturer Siemens is claiming with the launch of its Binax range of hearing aids.

In order to experience more precise hearing, Binax technology allows you to adjust the settings on your hearing aid so you can focus more directly, or ‘beam in’ on what you want to hear.

Siemens has also designed this function to be used with your smartphone. By downloading the touchControl app on iTunes or GooglePlay, you can conveniently control your hearing aids through your phone.

Available now at Australian Hearing, ask your local centre for more information.

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AH Magazine Summer 2014/15 Edition

*University of Northern Colorado, 2014; Oldenburg Hörzentrum

All about hearing aids Did you know Bill Clinton wore hearing aids throughout his presidency of the United States? The most powerful man on the planet at the time, regularly addressed the world’s press, unbeknownst to them that he was wearing discreet hearing devices.

If your impression of a hearing aid is something that’s big and clumsy, think again! Today’s devices are sleek and small. And don’t forget, losing your hearing doesn’t always lead to a hearing aid. Here, we tackle some of the common misconceptions relating to hearing devices.

At Australian Hearing, we’re commonly asked what the best hearing aid is. This is difficult to answer as every hearing loss is unique and everyone’s lifestyle and situation is different.

As there are many different models and types of hearing aids, you can think of them as being like cars.

You can start with the base model, which will reliably do the job you want it to, or you can upgrade to a higher level model with additional features to suit your needs and lifestyle. Our clinicians work with you to make sure you take your time to decide what features work best for you.

You can find out more about our range of hearing aid technology levels on this page.

LEVEL

7

This level of technology is ideal if you want the best there is for your hearing. These aids are fully automatic and adapt to whatever place you find yourself in. That means that even if you’re in a large group or a noisy area such as meetings or large scale events, you won’t need to adjust your hearing aids. They allow you to focus on the voices you want to hear, while reducing noise from other directions, (even if the sound is behind you).

LEVEL

5

If you like to spend time with family or friends but have trouble hearing in larger groups, restaurants, meetings or outdoors, the 5 series can help. They make listening in noisy places easier and are also great for listening to music or watching TV.

LEVEL

3

The 3 series is best suited to moderate background noise such as during group conversations, small family gatherings, dinner at a restaurant or when the TV is on.

LEVEL

2

These aids work well in noise, are smaller and come with a remote control.

LEVEL

Common hearing aid features

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Directional microphones reduce the distraction of background noise, so that you only hear sounds that are coming from in front of you.

Remote controls for those who have trouble managing the controls found on hearing aids.

Telecoils, a special circuit in your hearing aid that makes it easier to hear on the telephone by removing the other sounds from your environment.

Multiple programs, that can be set for specific listening situations, such as noisy environments, on the phone or watching the TV.

These aids work best if you spend most of your time in and around the home, and need help with hearing where there is little or no background noise, such as watching TV or participating in small group conversations.

ENTRY LEVEL

These aids are fully subsidised and can help if you have a quieter lifestyle and just need help to hear when talking one-on-one.

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Consider wireless communication devices Do you find it hard to hear in noisy situations—in busy restaurants, over the phone, in the classroom, in meetings, in the car?

A wireless communication device helps you better understand speech by cutting out distracting background noise. It works in conjunction with your hearing aids (or with a headset) to deliver the sounds you want to hear directly to your ears.

Wireless communication devices provide improved hearing in a range of situations where it isn’t possible to get close to the person you want to hear.

Some places where it can help include: • • • • • • • •

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meeting rooms places of worship exercise classes family gatherings parties shopping centres train and bus stations in the car (engine or road noise can make it hard to hear a GPS voice command or others in the car) listening to a tour guide.

Roger that!

A wireless microphone in the shape of a pen can help hearing impaired people understand speech better than those with normal hearing at certain noise levels, a study has shown.

And the good news it’s also available from Australian Hearing.

Called ‘Roger’ after the term used in radio communications to say a message has been received, it wirelessly transmits a speaker’s voice to a tiny receiver that clips onto the aid.

The pen - which can be placed flat on a table, used like a microphone or hung around a speaker’s neck - makes speech more intelligible over distance and when there is background noise, such as in a busy restaurant, in a meeting, or in a car.

Roger’s discreet pen shape and its ability to switch between amplifying sounds from all directions, or just one, make it stand out from other wireless communication devices. Ask your local team at Australian Hearing for more details.

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AH Magazine Summer 2014/15 Edition

Remote control hearing It’s not only wireless communication devices that remove the cords and make life easier; we also have a range of remote controls that connect wirelessly with your hearing aids.

Read more about our latest remote, the EasyTek, below.

EasyTek The EasyTek remote control lets you hear your favourite Bluetooth audio devices, such as your mobile phone or TV, directly through your hearing aid.

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Choosing a phone that’s right for you Australian Hearing has a range of telephones that makes answering calls and conversations easy. But how do you know which one is best for you? Here’s some common features explained:

Telecoil or T-coil compatible Connects your hearing aids to your phone so you can follow conversations clearly.

Volume control: earpiece

More than phones Along with our range of specialty phones, Australian Hearing also stocks other devices to help you hear better in everyday scenarios around the home. These include extra loud alarm clocks, portable flashing doorbells, wireless TV headsets (that deliver the sound directly to your ears) and safety tools such as smoke alarms for hearing impaired people.

Allows the sound to be adjusted to suit you, making calls louder and easier to understand.

Specialised smoke alarm Bellman Smoke Alarm Pack

Volume control: ringer An adjustable ringer volume means you can turn it up to a level that suits you.

Extra loud alarm clock

Flashing ring alert

Bellman Pro Alarm Clock

A flashing light signals on your headset to let you know when the phone is ringing.

Large buttons Easy-to-see buttons makes dialling loved ones

Doorbell alerting system

simple.

Oricom AM20 Doorbell & Phone Alerting System

Easy calling Let’s you store phone numbers you dial regularly for easy calling. Some phones also include an

Wireless TV headset

in-built answering machines and hands-free

Sennheiser RS 180 Headphones

speakerphone.

Telecoil compatible

Volume control earpiece

Volume control - ringer

Amplified big button phone Oricom Care 80

Up to 24dB

Up to 90dB

Up to 21 dB

Up to 80dB

Corded and cordless phone pack

Oricom PRO910-1

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AH Magazine Summer 2014/15 Edition

Easy calling

Stores up to 10 contacts including six photo memory buttons

Hands-free speakerphone Stores up to 50 contacts

Extra loud cordless handset Oricom PRO610-1

Large buttons

Stores up to 20 contacts

Digital cordless telephone set Oricom ECO85-2

Flashing ring alert

One touch volume boost button

Up to 90dB

Hands-free speakerphone Stores up to 50 contacts

One touch volume boost button

Up to 90dB

Digital answering machine Hands-free speakerphone

The Australian Hearing bus pulls into town

Diane thanks the Hearing Bus for restoring her hearing Diane Johnston, first noticed her hearing wasn’t what it used to be, 15 years ago. But, like many, Diane was in denial of her condition.

Australian Hearing’s fleet of buses, is truly unique.

With seven new buses now on the road, they give free hearing checks, hearing device cleaning services and raise hearing health awareness in the community, stopping by thousands of locations across the nation.

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Since the first bus was launched in 2009, over 35,000 people have had a free hearing check on board the mobile service.

With the expansion of the fleet, no destination is too far-flung or off beat for the blue and white automobiles.

After discovering that the Hearing Bus was coming to Merrylands, NSW, Diane decided to take the plunge and get her hearing checked, taking her friend along as moral support. Diane explained, “I didn’t realise the extent of my hearing loss until I saw the report from Australian Hearing. If it wasn’t for the Hearing Bus, I wouldn’t have done anything about it as I was hesitant to go to a healthcare facility. The bus was non- threatening, easy and made the process simpler,” said Diane.

The bus was non- threatening, easy and made the process simple.

Taking a sneak peak inside, you will find an Australian Hearing ‘home away from home’, including two hearing check booths and the latest audiometers and audiological apparatus. As well as having a hearing check, visitors to the bus can find information on a range of hearing issues and view a display of easy to use hearing devices for around the home.

Visit www.hearing.com.au to find out if the Hearing Bus is coming to your town soon!

Diane Joh

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131 797

hearing.com.au

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Australian Hearing in the community My Kitchen Rules 2013 winners Dan and Steph recently helped the team at Australian Hearing Hervey Bay celebrate Hearing Awareness Week.

Steph helping raise awareness of hearing health.

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Hervey Bay team.

If you feel you’re missing out because your hearing isn’t what it was, now’s the chance to do something about it.

Australian pensioners and veterans are entitled to a FREE hearing health check

1800 826 600

FREE $50 Valued At

HEARING CHECK

Get back in the conversation.

Call now to book an appointment with Australian Hearing.

Use this handy cut-out coupon to note your appointment details.

Address: Date: Time:

MPR4146 29102014

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