Australian Hearing has a long and important relationship with veterans, dating back 70 years. Australian Hearing was established by the government in 1947 to provide services to veterans who experienced hearing damage during World War II, and also to assist children whose hearing was affected as a result of the Rubella epidemic of the late 1940s.
Veterans’ Heath Week runs across the country between October 21 and 29 – a time when veterans, war widows, widowers, current and ex-Australian Defence Force members and their families are encouraged to improve and maintain the health and wellbeing of themselves and their friends.
For many Australian veterans and their families, the effects of war are still taking their toll in the form of hearing loss.
Hearing loss is the second most common medical condition reported by Australian war veterans and war widows, with 55 per cent reporting hearing loss as a current medical condition.
It’s a general understanding that war can impact the health and wellbeing of those serving in the armed forces. However, not only do these issues affect both young and old veterans, for many, injury can be invisible to outsiders. For some veterans, hearing is a casualty of war – veterans often return with hearing loss, tinnitus or even deafness.
“One in six Australians is experiencing some form of hearing loss, and it’s a rising statistic,” Australian Hearing audiologist Janette Thorburn said.
“It’s easy to think it’s an issue relegated to the ageing population, but actually the causes of hearing loss vary.”
“Checking and maintaining hearing health is really important for veterans, who may otherwise remain silent about hearing loss due to other factors, such as physical injuries or depression.”
Australian Hearing offers free hearing checks and subsidised hearing care for veterans (many of whom experience hearing loss as a result of action or foreign deployment) and recognises and applauds the contribution of Veterans Health Week to raising national awareness.
This month Australian Hearing is also proud to announce its support of the 2018 Invictus Games, to be held in Sydney in October next year.
The Invictus Games were founded in 2014 by Prince Harry, and are an international adaptive sports event for wounded, injured or ill active duty and veteran service personnel.
To find out more about veterans’ eligibility and Australian Hearing’s subsidised hearing services for veterans contact your nearest Australian Hearing centre on 131 797.
