One in six Australians suffers from hearing loss. This number is expected to rise to one in four by 2050 because of an ageing population and an increasing number of people being exposed to dangerously loud noise. Half of Australians with hearing loss are younger than 65 and only one in five Australians who could benefit from a hearing aid use one.
We’ve compiled a list of the best devices to gift to your hearing-impaired friend or loved one:
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TV Headphones or TV Ears
It’s amazing the difference watching TV using wireless headphones can make – it cuts out background noise and ensured that dialog is clearly delivered straight to your ears. These are a game changer for those with poor hearing or partial hearing loss. It also means no more arguments over how high the volume is.
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Hearables
Hearing-enhancing earbuds are a cross between smart wireless earbuds and traditional hearing aids. Amplification features are being added to wireless earbuds to provide hearing assistance in difficult environments like restaurants. Active noise cancelling, feedback cancellation and directional microphones are other traditional hearing aid technologies being made available. The cost is significantly less than hearing aids and they also look like ordinary wireless earbuds.
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Alarm Clocks
Many of us sleep through our alarms but this can be more challenging when you are hearing impaired. Philips sunrise simulator wake-up light is clinically proven to help establish healthy sleep and wake-up routines. With a gradual glow building across 30 minutes to full light, it offers a gentle way to wake up. If it takes a little more than a sunrise to wake you the Sonic Bomb extra loud alarm clock with bed shaker will do the job.
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Enjoying Arts & Culture
Getting out and enjoying art and culture is a wonderful gift to share with friends and loved ones. Audio described theatre, ballet, and opera as well as captioning of movies is available in various locations across Southeast Queensland. For details on which venues provide these services head to this Queensland Government site.
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Wifi Digital Doorbell
With so many people opting for online shopping and deliveries not missing someone at the door can ensure your parcels are delivered the first time. Installing a wireless high-volume doorbell with a strobe light alleviates this problem. Lots of different options are available online at a very affordable price.
If you or your loved one is suffering from hearing loss, head to Hearing Australia and find out about getting a hearing assessment done. Their website allows you to pop in your postcode and find the closest provider to where you live. There is also an online hearing assessment which takes about 5 minutes to complete with immediate results provided.
The team at Real Community Services provides support services to those living with disabilities and are here to provide guidance and understanding. “Our goal is Your Independence, Your Way”.
