1. 2015 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
Rotarians and Hearing Loss – Why
should we care?
Adj.Prof Elaine Saunders, PHF and Hearing RAG

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COMMUNICATION
Code / Channel

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Did you hear me?

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INTERFERENCE IN SOCIAL LIFE
Social isolation, psychological
withdrawal, loneliness
Decreased
capacity working
Social Problem

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360 MILLION PEOPLE LIVE WITH DISABLING HEARING LOSS
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(WHO, 1: 2013)

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DISABLING HEARING LOSS ACROSS THE WORLD
East Asia
22%
Latin America and
Caribbean
9%
Asia Pacific
10%
South Asia
27%
Middle East and
North Africa
3%
Sub- Saharan
Africa
9%
Central/ East Europe and
Central Asia
9%
High-income
11%
(WHO, 9: 2012)

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WHY DON’T PEOPLE GET HELP?
• They know at some level that they have a hearing impairment but
do not admit it or think is it bad enough to ask for help.
• People know they have hearing impairment, but do not think that
anything can be done about it.
• Hearing aids and cochlear implants can be costly to purchase if
Government Assistance is not available.
• There may be a lack of transport services in the local area or
difficulties in arranging transport to medical appointments.
• Some people avoid seeking help because they see it as ‘failing’.
• Too poor and no services
(Guidelines for Local Government, Australia, undated: 12)

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CAUSES
Hearing
Loss
Chronic ear infections.
Collection of fluid in the ear
(otitis media).
Use of particular drugs, such as some
antibiotic and antimalarial medicines.
Injury to the head or ear.
Excessive noise
Infectious diseases such as meningitis, measles
and mumps.
Ageing, in particular due to degeneration of
sensory cells.

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Low level
of
schooling
Higher
unemploy
ment rate.
Early
retirement
Vocational
rehabilitation
services.
The high costs
of treatment
(hearing aids
and cochlear
implants).
SOCIO-ECONOMIC

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ACTIONS WORLDWIDE
ACTIONS
Awareness for
prevention of hearing
loss
Vaccination
programs
Children
preventionand
careprograms
Vaccination
programs
Noise protection
programs

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elaine.saunders@blameysaunders.com.au

12. #ricon15
http://www.wwhearing.org/news/
http://www.deafkidzinternational.org
http://himalayanhealthandhearing.org
Lilliane Fonds
CBM International
WHO
Solar Ear
IHHAPP