By Oscar Clarke

Occasionally the government does some good things, very occasionally. But when they do something good, I like to know about it and I like people to know about it. That’s why when the government invests in education, especially when it targets my generation, I am getting a little older after all, I feel it should be talked about.

The government has invested money in creating research programs called CRC’s which are tasked with developing programs centred on expanding our knowledge around critical lifestyle factors.

In Australia, one in six people has some degree of hearing loss, which is expected to rise to one in four by 2050.

I’ve been following the development of the Hearing CRC which is called Hearnet, they’re responsible for developing awareness around issues related to hearing loss and also the development of new technology with hearing aids.

We have an older demographic in the Hunter region, we attract it, it’s beautiful and relaxing here. But amongst all the fun, for people like us it’s more important than ever to engage our health in a proactive way to ensure we can continue having fun for many years to come.

It can be quite hard to get good information on healthcare in our area as we’re a little out of the way, however the Hearing CRC has been a great resource for me in learning about hearing problems, but mostly in determining early warning signs and prevention.

Also thanks to the National Broadband Network, we’re able to tune in to this kind of information really quickly out here. Sure the new internet had its problems initially in terms of roll out, but it’s probably going to end up being a good thing when we can get our hands on all this data in a much faster way.

I’m going to include a link to some of their information below, because whether it’s for yourself or for your own research for a family member, it’s important to have a look into, even  if it’s just a cursory glance, so you can understand more adequately the needs of your loved ones and your own personal needs when it comes to hearing health.

So just click on hearing aids for more information on how to help yourself or a loved one.

Need to see an audiologist locally in the Hunter Valley? Here’s some where you can get one-on-one support:

HEARINGLife
Ph (02) 4929 1989. Raworth Cottage Medical Practice, Raworth Street, Singleton NSW 2330, Australia.
HEARINGLife is one of the world’s leading networks of hearing care professionals, making a huge difference to the lives of people with hearing difficulties. For over 70 years, they’ve  provided hearing care services to Australians. They stand by their commitment to the  highest levels of professionalism, ethics, honesty and integrity.

Connect Hearing
Ph (02) 4014 1701 Shop 2, Lake Arcade 2/ 22 Lake St, Warners Bay NSW 2282, Australia
Qualified and experienced hearing professionals who involve clients throughout the consultation process and take time to explain testing and outcomes. They listen hard to understand the situations you find it difficult to hear in or where you’re exposed to noise and wish to protect your hearing – and then identify and recommend a solution to complement your lifestyle and budget.

Select Hearing
Ph (02) 4959 8635 Corner Pemell & Brighton Avenue (above Woolworths) 2/ 7 Pemell St, Toronto NSW 2283, Australia
A local provider of quality hearing care services located in their HQ at Toronto with regular clinics at the Morisset GP Super Clinic, Kurri Kurri Professional Suites, Cooranbong, Raymond Terrace and Fern Bay. Their clinicians have many years of experience providing services in the Newcastle, Central Coast and South Lakes areas.