Your name
Address
Phone
Date
Dear (Local Federal Minister)
Re – Current Inquiry into Hearing Health and Wellbeing.
I write to seek your assistance as a local resident. Like many (4 million) Australians I have
a hearing/balance condition, which makes my life difficult. I would like to get out more,
and enjoy activities in my local community.
Parliament is currently holding an Inquiry into hearing health and wellbeing – and I am
concerned that my voice as a consumer is not being heard.
Last time there was a Parliament inquiry into Hearing Health in 2010 there was clear
acknowledgement of the need to address the issues raised however no real changes were
forthcoming. Consumers are still not invited to be directly part of shaping future
Programs and these continue to be shaped largely by hearing aid providers.
I write to ask that you please encourage the Minister and your colleagues on the
Parliamentary Committee to listen to the peak consumer groups such as SHHH Australia Whirled Foundation and Better Hearing Australia.
There is a lot of potential in the Commonwealth Hearing Services Program – but also a lot
of wastage. The current program is not focussed on my everyday hearing in social
situations such as my (regular activity e.g. sports, movies etc.). The Commonwealth
Program is simply focused on the distribution of hearing aids and I suspect makes a lot of
money for some contractors without any accountability. Consumers need service providers
who are accountable for hearing health outcomes, not just selling hearing aids.
The ACCC released a report on World Hearing Day 5th March which highlighted what
people like me already know. That is, hearing aids are expensive and are often not used.
High amounts of wastage mean that taxpayer money is not being used as best as it could
(30% of hearing aids are abandoned representing $100MIL being wasted every year).
Did you know that audiologists work on commissions and have sales quotas? There is no
independent consumer advice shaping policy to assist people like me.
The fact is that most hearing loss is acquired and with a majority of people losing some hearing in their 50’s (less than 1% of hearing loss occurs in childhood) which progresses as they age. We need help and support, and independent advice to help manage hearing and /or balance conditions. We also need more from the Office of Hearing Services Program.
An outline of the priorities in the position paper developed and endorsed by the three of
Australia’s main hearing consumer bodies, SHHH Australia Inc, Better Hearing
Australia (BHA) and Whirled Foundation is included below for your information:
1. Consumers need a client centred evidenced based advice without commercial
interests that would enable more Australians to make an informed choice about
living with a hearing condition.
2.Consumers need a hearing program that just does not focus on hearing devices – they need investment of skills for rehabilitation. Simply giving people hearing aids without
support leads to abandoned hearing aids sitting in drawers.
3. Enhancement of social inclusion of people with a hearing loss is needed by creating supportive environments and community education about how we can all be better
communicators. This would help ensure that one in six Australians who have hearing loss are more included.
Unsupported hearing loss and balance disorders are linked with isolation, depression, falls
and cognitive decline. Without the help of consumer organisations such as SHHH Australia Inc rehabilitative support is not readily available for people with hearing loss who are trying to adjust back into society.
Please advocate to your party for the needs of consumers like me. We want to be part of
the community, and need rehabilitation support to assist and adapt to our hearing loss. We
need support and an independent voice to assist us.
Yours Sincerely
Your Name
SHHH Australia Friend.