The University’s Auditory Implant Service (AIS) is helping to highlight the impact of hearing loss and the importance of receiving early diagnosis.
The AIS is joining forces with MED-EL, a hearing implant manufacturer, to offer free hearing screening in Southampton’s Guildhall Square on Thursday 15 September as part of a national roadshow, called Life on Mute. Staff and students are encouraged to come along for a free hearing screening and consultation with an audiologist between 10:30 – 16:30.
Dr Carl Verschuur, Director of the Auditory Implant Service, said:
“On average it takes ten years for people to address their hearing loss so this campaign is about addressing your hearing issues early by visiting your GP or a specialist and maintaining regular check-ups. We wanted to get involved because the thought of losing your hearing can obviously be worrying but there’s a lot that people can do about it. We would encourage anyone who thinks they, or their family, are experiencing any form of hearing loss to come and visit us in Guildhall Square to speak to one of our team.”
New research, commissioned by MED-EL, has shown that hearing ‘I love you’ from a partner or loved one is the moment Sotonians would miss the most if they were to lose their hearing. Over a quarter of people identified this as their most cherished moment, closely followed by hearing their children’s first words, by one in five.
It is estimated that there are more than 11 million people currently living with hearing loss in the UK – one in six. According to hearing charity, Action on Hearing Loss, by 2035 this is expected to rise to one in five of the population.
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