1. The impact of hearing loss on people’s lives …. and what we can do about it Harvey Dillon

2. Children General community – ~ Indigenous children – – Otitis Media – Central auditory processing disorder – English as a second language Conductive hearing loss Central auditory processing disorder

3. Indigenous children Difficulty in classroom Poor education Poor employment prospects Poor living conditions Ear infections Health Education State Fed More Support for Students with Disabilities Initiative

4. Effects of hearing loss Leisure noise Hearing damage Workplace noise Environmental factors Genetic pre- dispositions Age

5. Good Noise damaged

6. 3 days post-exposureControl 6 Kujawa & Liberman, 2009 Loss of post-synaptic terminals matches loss or pre-synaptic ribbons Primary Neural Degeneration after TTS: Mouse

7. Effects of hearing loss Leisure noise Hearing damage Workplace noise Difficulty hearing in noise & reverb Environmental factors Genetic pre- dispositions Age

8. Effect of hearing loss on speech in noise Deterioration

9. Effect of mild loss on speech in noise

10. Effects of hearing loss Leisure noise Hearing damage Difficulty hearing in noise & reverb Workplace noise Environmental factors Genetic pre- dispositions Age Depression, decreased independence, quality of life ……. Social withdrawal

11. Untreated hearing loss has been statistically associated with: Depression Social isolation, psychological withdrawal, loneliness Decreased self-sufficiency Decreased cognitive functioning Decreased psychosocial well-being Decreased access to health services Higher mortality rate

12. Treatment with hearing aids improves: Depression, anxiety, paranoia Social interaction Emotional functioning Cognitive functioning Learning ability Alertness Psycho-social well-being

13. Effects of hearing loss Leisure noise Hearing damage Difficulty hearing in noise & reverb Workplace noise Environmental factors Genetic pre- dispositions Depression, decreased independence, quality of life ……. Age $6.7 bn loss Cessation of work; Under- achievement at work Social withdrawal

14. Economic impact Untreated hearing loss leads to $11.75 bn p.a. in lost economic activity – Access Economics (2006) – $6.7 bn from productivity loss (lower work-force participation and effectiveness) Australians with hearing loss per year of age 3.1m – 14% 3.8m – 15% 4.8m – 17% ≥101

15. Minimising the effects of hearing loss Leisure noise Hearing damage Difficulty hearing in noise & reverb Workplace noise Environmental factors Genetic pre- dispositions $6.7 bn loss Depression, decreased independence, quality of life ……. Age Cessation of work; Under- achievement at work Social withdrawal Research Research + Public health campaigns Focussed hearing rehabilitation program

16. Thanks for your attention