3 March 2022
World Hearing Day is Thursday 3 March, with a specific focus on what it feels like to be hearing impaired. This year’s theme for World Hearing Day is “To Hear for Life: Listen with Care.”
In 2021 the World Health Organisation (WHO) launched the World Report on Hearing that highlighted the increasing number of people living with and at risk of hearing loss. It found that hearing loss in on the rise, with over 1.5 people worldwide affected by hearing loss. Early detection and intervention programs offer the best outcomes.
MLHD is proud to be able to offer a range of audiometry screening services to identify children who may be hearing impaired to allow for early intervention, including the Statewide Infant Screening for Hearing (SWISH) program, whereby all newborn babies born in the MLHD are offered a non-invasive hearing screen. The screening is done very soon after birth so that families and babies can receive early treatment if required.
Audiometry screening is also available at selected Community Health sites including Deniliquin, Wagga Wagga, Young, Cootamundra, West Wyalong & Tumut. GP Referral for Audiometry services is required and received through the Community Care Intake Service (CCIS).
MLHD Aboriginal Health Services run the Otitis Media (OM) Screening Program where Aboriginal Health Staff attend schools and preschools to perform Otitis Media screening and education. The screening includes otoscopy, tympanometry and audiogram.
MLHD Director of Clinical Governance, Jill Reyment is using World Hearing Day as a platform to further educate staff about their interactions with co-workers and consumers who may present with deafness.
“We are fortunate to have community nurse Anna–Maree Bloomfield working with us. Anna-Maree is deaf and she will be delivering a webinar to staff about communication and sharing her lived experience,” said Ms Reyment.
“Anna-Maree has worked within a variety of roles for NSW Health for over the past 20 years and has to overcome many communication barriers and obstacles around communicating effectively within the workforce.”
“The past two years have posed a significant challenge for Anna-Maree, as she relies on lip-reading to communicate, and mask wearing mandates associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic meant we had to rethink ways to facilitate her ability to communicate with staff and patients.
“World Hearing Day is an important day for us to participate in, and allow Anna-Maree to help educate others with her lived experience.”
“We thank Anna-Maree for sharing her story with us and her ongoing advocacy for those who are hearing impaired.”
MEDIA NOTE:
YouTube Video of Anna-Maree Speaking about her Lived Experience as a Deaf Nurse
Additional Links:
WHO Report:
https://www.who.int/teams/noncommunicable-diseases/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation/highlighting-priorities-for-ear-and-hearing-care
MLHD Otitis Media:
https://www.mlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/our-services/aboriginal-health-services/otitis-media-(om)-screening
Community Care Intake Service (CCIS)
https://www.mlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/our-services/community-care-intake-service