Hearing Loss Facts
Hearing loss is the largest disability, affecting 1 in 6 people
That's approximately 10 million people in the uk. source: Action on hearing
>Hearing loss is a disability that is rarely noticed
Many hearing aid users do not appear disabled. Unlike wheelchair users ( less than 8% of disabled people) source: Action on hearing, their disability is not obvious. As a consequence they are overlooked. It would be totally unacceptable if this was to happen to a wheelchair user or other physically disabled person, yet it happens all the time to the 1 in 6 of the uk population with hearing loss.
More than 50% of induction loop systems in the UK don't work.
Research carried out by Hearing concern found that less than 50 % of hearing loops in the uk work. They are not specified or set up correctly, not powerful enough to deliver a good enough signal, produce poor quality sound, microphones are not plugged in and in the wrong place, staff not trained or in some cases even aware of their existance. Sadly many are simply not switched on with no signage for users. Research from Action on hearing in Scotland, found that of 500 businesses, shops and services they approached, over 80% did not have an induction loop or it was not working.
source: Survey Hearing Concern. Action on hearing, Scotland, survey 2011
A digital hearing aid is not a panacea for hearing loss
In many environments even the best digital hearing aid is not enough for the hard of hearing to understand what is being said.
The hard of hearing find it very difficult to separate the background noise from the wanted signal. Digital filtering techniques and directional' steerable microphone technology can help, but fundamentally, the noise and wanted signal will contain the same frequencies and may also have the apparent same position of origin.
Hard of Hearing people drop out of society rather than face the embarrassment of not understanding.
People with hearing loss are part of society and yet by making it difficult for them to communicate, they feel excluded. Not understanding, asking people to repeat themselves, being shouted at or spoken to in a 'you're a bit stupid' tone, means that ultimately many opt out of society because it is too difficult, stressful and embarrasing to try and take part. Aside from being made to feel unwelcome, they stop spending money on goods and services, and that's bad for business.
Hard of hearing people struggle to separate the background noise from the wanted speech.
People with normal hering can tune out the sounds that they don't want to hear and focus on those that they do. An example would be tuning into a voice you are listening to in a coffee shop while filtering out the background music. The hard of hearing cannot do this. All the sounds merge to create 'unintelligible' sound. Noise that cannot be understood. A high power and correctly installed induction loop system solves this problem.
More volume is not the answer, it is the intelligibility of the sound that matters.
The ability to hear and understand does not increase as the volume does. Muffled, blurred and distorted sound from a radio does not become high quality, clear and enjoyable when it is turned up. The unpleasant and unintelligible noise is simply louder. Volume is irrelevant if the sound is not intelligible. And the temptation to shout at someone with hearing loss just makes things worse. Your voice is likely to distort, losing intelligibility and you draw attention to them and cause embarrasment.
People with hearing loss do not want to advertise their disability
Every time someone with hearing loss uses a public service or facility, they do not want to declare and openly advertise their disablity and need for assistance. They may feel uncomfortable and embarrassed - even without reason. Any assistive listening system should be considerate of this.
Induction loops are the preferred assistive listening technology of the hard of hearing
At the first international conference on Loops and T-coils held in Switzerland, Sept 2009, 98% of the delegates voted in favour for a motion in support of T-coils and induction loops.
A good induction loop system means that people with hearing loss don't have to seek assistance or publicise their disability. A simple switch to the 't' position on their hearing aid is all that is needed. No other assistive listening system can match this or the low cost of ownership.
Induction loops offer the lowest cost of ownership for the facility
Once installed, induction loops require very little maintenance. All other assistive listening systems require the ongoing management of receivers. These need to be charged, cleaned, repaired, and replaced for the lifetime of the system.
Hearing loss is a growing disability
Demographics are changing. Western populations are ageing. 6.3 million of the uk hard of hearing are 65 and older. It is predicted that by 2031 the number of people with hearing loss will be 14.5 million. ( an increase of 4.5 million from 2012 ) source; Action on hearing
The bombardment of sound is contributing to hearing loss in younger people. Research from Germany and the USA has shown a significant increase in noise induced hearing loss ( NIHL) This is caused by loud music in clubs and concerts, piped music becoming more prevalent and noisy, the use of mp3 players and headphones. It is predicted that the next generation of 40 year olds will have same hearing loss as today's 60 year olds.
source: Official journal of the American Academy of pediatrics.
The next generation of 40 year olds will have the same hearing loss as today's 60 year olds.
The bombardment of sound is contributing to hearing loss in younger people. Research from Germany and the USA has shown a significant increase in noise induced hearing loss ( NIHL) This is caused by loud music in clubs and concerts, piped music becoming more prevalent and noisy, and the use of mp3 players and headphones. As a consequence it is predicted that the next generation of 40 year olds will have same hearing loss as today's 60 year olds.
The number with hearing loss will continue to rise. It is predicted that by 2031 the hearing impaired will total 14.5 million. ( an increase of 4.5 million from 2012 ) source; Action on hearing
source: Official journal of the American Academy of pediatrics.
Hearing loss affects everyone- men and women, young and old, black and white.
It is not just the elderly and infirm that suffer from hearing loss. 3.7 million people in the uk with hearing loss are aged between 16 and 64. More than 45,000 of them are children. source: Action on Hearing. Hearing loss knows no physical, economic, social or geographical boundaries.
Famous people with hearing loss include: Former US President Bll Clinton, Action hero- Bruce Willis, First and only deaf Miss America - Heather Whitestone and body builder Lou Ferringo-star of 1970's tv show - 'The Incredible Hulk'. And not forgetting, the world's most famous - Mozart.
