2015 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

Rotarians and Hearing Loss – Why

should we care?

Adj.Prof Elaine Saunders, PHF and Hearing RAG

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COMMUNICATION

Code / Channel

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Did you hear me?

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INTERFERENCE IN SOCIAL LIFE

Social isolation, psychological

withdrawal, loneliness

Decreased

capacity working

Social Problem

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360 MILLION PEOPLE LIVE WITH DISABLING HEARING LOSS

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(WHO, 1: 2013)

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DISABLING HEARING LOSS ACROSS THE WORLD

East Asia22%

Latin America and Caribbean

9%

Asia Pacific10%

South Asia27%

Middle East and North Africa

3%

Sub- Saharan Africa

9%

Central/ East Europe and Central Asia

9%

High-income11%

(WHO, 9: 2012)

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WHY DON’T PEOPLE GET HELP?

• They know at some level that they have a hearing impairment but

do not admit it or think is it bad enough to ask for help.

• People know they have hearing impairment, but do not think that

anything can be done about it.

• Hearing aids and cochlear implants can be costly to purchase if

Government Assistance is not available.

• There may be a lack of transport services in the local area or

difficulties in arranging transport to medical appointments.

• Some people avoid seeking help because they see it as ‘failing’.

• Too poor and no services

(Guidelines for Local Government, Australia, undated: 12)

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CAUSES

Hearing

Loss

Chronic ear infections.

Collection of fluid in the ear

(otitis media).

Use of particular drugs, such as some

antibiotic and antimalarial medicines.

Injury to the head or ear.

Excessive noise

Infectious diseases such as meningitis, measles

and mumps.

Ageing, in particular due to degeneration of sensory cells.

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Low level

of

schooling

Higher

unemploy

ment rate.

Early

retirement

Vocational

rehabilitation

services.

The high costs

of treatment

(hearing aids

and cochlear

implants).

SO

CIO

-EC

ON

OM

IC

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ACTIONS WORLDWIDE

ACTIONS

Awareness for

prevention of hearing

loss

Va

cc

ina

tio

n

pro

gra

ms

Ch

ildre

n

pre

ve

ntio

n a

nd

ca

re p

rog

ram

sVa

cc

ina

tio

n

pro

gra

ms

Noise protection

programs

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elaine.saunders@blameysaunders.com.au

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http://www.wwhearing.org/news/

http://www.deafkidzinternational.org

http://himalayanhealthandhearing.org

Lilliane Fonds

CBM International

WHO

Solar Ear

IHHAPP