One in Six 19 August 2015

7/23/2019 One in Six 19 August 2015

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19August2015

We acknowledge the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, and theircontinuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to themand their cultures, and to elders both past and present. We acknowledge thechallenge that faces Indigenous leaders and families to overcome the unacceptablyhigh levels of ear health issues among first Australians.

Hearing Awareness WeekVolunteers are organising and participating in events in all

parts of the nation because they are passionate about

spreading the message that hearing is precious and fragile

From the Office of Hearing ServicesIncreases in the number of Australians with hearing loss,

advances in technology, and changing methods of service

delivery will impact the provision of hearing services into the

future.

Review of Disability Standards for

Accessible Public TransportA government review assessed how accessible public

transport systems are for people with disability and makes a

number of recommendations to improve efficiency and

effectiveness.

Nasal balloonA simple procedure can help reduce the impact of hearing

loss in children and potentially avoid unnecessary ear-tube

surgery and antibiotics.

Magnetic pulses to the brain deliver relief

for tinnitus patientsResearchers have found that magnetic stimulation

significantly improved tinnitus symptoms.


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Hearing is precious and fragile

Sunday 23 Saturday 29 August 2015


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From the Deafness Forum chairman

This month during Hearing Awareness Week, volunteers are organising and participating in

events in all parts of the nation because they are passionate about spreading the message

that hearing is precious and fragile.

I congratulate everyone for playing their part in making a better life for millions of our

citizens. I thank the Australian Governments Office of Hearing Services for its ongoing

interest and financial support.

The federal parliament is in session this week in Canberra. It has provided an opportunity

for me to meet with national leaders and make our case on issues of concern. On areas of

risk in a potential privatisation of Australian Hearing and the planned transfer of government

hearing services for vulnerable groups to the NDIS, I spoke to Senators Rachel Siewert and

Jan McLucas; and with the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health Nick Champion.

I spoke with the Age and Disability Discrimination Commissioner The Hon Susan Ryan AO

about our recommendations for improvements to the Employment Access Fund.

I met with the board of First Voice and attended its 'Power of Speech' event at Parliament

House. First Voice is an alliance of organisations that was established to lead and

advocate for world-class early intervention services for children. I also attended a

presentation to parliamentarians hosted by the Hearing Care Industry Association.

Throughout the month and during Hearing Awareness Week we are asking our electedleaders to make hearing health a National Health Priority in Australia.

Best wishes,

David Brady

David is photographed with Senator Jan McLucas and Nick Champion MP


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Community Partners in Hearing Awareness Week

Albury Community Health Centre

Armidale Community Health Centre

Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission

Australian Hearing

Ballina Community Health

Bangalow Community Health Centre

Bega Cheese

Bell Bay Aluminium

Bentleigh Bayside Community Health

Better Hearing Australia Central Coast

BlueScopeSteel

Broughton House Day Centre

BUPA North Rocks Aged Care Facility

Burnie Brae Day Respite Services

Caboolture Hospital

Campbelltown Quota Club

Catherine Sullivan Centre

Catholic Education Office

Caulfield Hospital

Chevron Ear Health Program

Child, Youth and Community Health Service Townsville

Chum Creek Primary School

Consolidated Minerals Woodie Operations

Cora Barclay Centre

Cromer Public SchoolCygnet Community Health Centre

De La Salle College Hearing Support

Deafness Foundation

Department of Health Aged and Community Care

Flinders University Speech Pathology and Audiology Association

Great Southern Aboriginal Health Service

Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation

Guide Dogs Assoc of SA & NT


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Hearing Link Tasmania

Maryborough Community Information Centre

Mater Health Services

Medibank Perth

Mount View Public School

Mudgeeraba Creek State SchoolMurwillumbah Community Health Centre

Murwillumbah Public School

Museum Victoria

Nepean/Blue Mountains Community Health Centre

Nickel West - Kwinana Nickel Refinery

Office of Hearing Services

Orange Quota Club

Parramatta Community Health Centre

Quota clubsRio Tinto Coal & Allied

Rio Tinto Iron Ore

Rosanna Golf Links Primary School

Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital

Royal Darwin Hospital

Royal Randwick Racecourse

Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital

SHHH Australia

South East Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation

St Bernards Primary Upper Mt Gravatt

St Margaret's Rehabilitation Hospital

St Mary's Primary School

Sunshine Coast Private Hospital

Tamworth Community Health Service

Tasmania Cochlear Implant Clinic, Royal Hobart Hospital

Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman

Thales Australia - Land & Air Systems / Armaments & AmmunitionThe Children's Hospital at Westmead

The Junction Neighbourhood Centre

The Royal Childrens Hospital - Murdoch Childrens Research Institute

Tomaree Neighbourhood Centre

Victorian Aboriginal Health Service

WA Institute for Deaf Education

Wirra Wirra Vineyards

Woree State High School

Young Health Service


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Hearing Awareness Week!!!

I so, so wish I had come across it earlier! Excessive noise from one event has potentially

ruined the rest my life. I absolutely had no idea of the danger. Even your publications

doesn't get close to what has happened to me and what can happen.

This is what I thought pre May 9th 2015. "Loud noise will result in possible ear damage

which makes sounds harder to hear due to reduced sound sensitivity." I went to an

indoor rock concert as was up the front. I seen this band 3 times in the last 3 years but

nothing for the prior 12 years. Previous years I was middle of the crowd but this time I was

up the front.

Both of my ears were ringing after the concert. High pitched ringing in both ears by biased

to the left. Start of my hearing decline although unknown at the time. The noise (which I

later found out is called tinnitus - never had heard of that before) changed all the time. Ihad and still do have ringing, crickets, roaring, pulsing whines etc in my left and right ear. I

was always playing with my ears trying for some temporary relief. Nothing worked. Though

my euchastian tubes might be not opening. I had a hearing test sensitivity to tones test

which came back 'normal' for a 40 year old. My ears were full of pressure and sore and still

are partially 3 months later. The pressure in my ears was recorded as being in the normal

range. I had this audiology test repeated elsewhere with the same result. The ENT told me

to get used to the pain and noise. Now for a reason I don't understand nor does the

scientific world my right ear has started up a new tone which is driving me mad just as I was

mentally getting a little better.

At times I have cracking of the ears from swallowing or moving my head, headaches at the

sides of my head, electrical tingling burning feelings in a few places around the head and at

from what I presume is the location of the inner ear, physically warm ear canal which in

turn feeds my nausea, anxiety, stress, depression, struggle to concentrate, social talks are

difficult and tiring and my interest is gone from everything in life. On top of this hyperacusis

started after the first month. Cutlery chinks are painful the same as washing the dishes

(which I wore earmuffs for a while until I read it was a bad thing to do) and sometimes when

my kids spoke my hearing did the same thing. That dull sharp pain and slightly distortedhearing. I ended up having to instruct my children to behave differently around me which

breaks my heart. I found noise exposure to normal 'going out' places like the shopping

centre or small gathering of people talking ramped up my tinnitus for the next two days. I

stand away from everyone else at my two son's football and soccer games. I don't socialise

anymore. Of the friends I have told some have cut me off and others I have avoided but

most can't understand what I am going through. I had no idea this could happen and there

is nothing that can be done medically to help my ears that I have been advised of by the GP

doctors or ENT doc. My world is at a low volume now (TV, radio etc) but so I can get to

sleep I often need cicada sounds to mask the noise so I can get to sleep.


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I have contacted various government agencies and although I thought I was protected in a

license premise it doesn't cover the sound or its level. I am gob smacked in this day and

age there is absolutely no laws or warnings in place. I put my faith into attending a paid

concert at a licensed venue I was under their protection hence the darkness of the

place and the alcohol availability. There wasn't a loud sound level disclosure on the concert

ticket nor at the venue itself. Nothing to warn you it was loud enough to put everyone in

possible danger of damage. No ears plugs were recommended, seen or handed out. No

warning signs with the max or average dB reading or tell you your ears should only be

exposed for 15 minutes etc. No recommendations to say the quieter area was at the back

of the room. I wasn't aware of the speaker layout in the dark and I didn't know that fact of

the layout at the particular venue until now. I am not a meat head and I would consider

myself having average IQ and education level. I would be called a no risk taker by people

that know me. I would never bungee jump, jump out of a plane, hang glide, motorbike ride,

try illegal drugs and yet this was a real serious risk I was not even aware of. I can't believe I

am protected in a shopping mall slipping on wet tiles but nothing for damaging my hearing

permanently.

The emotion of me listening to my favourite band in person overcome my feeling of 'this is

too loud' and the alcohol I consumed may have dulled my response. But I don't see that as

my fault but I am so dark and angry at myself now as I am the one that has always wore

earmuffs using the lawnmower. Most people would have been excited to be there and

Australian law should be there to either control the sound levels, have adequate warnings

on tickets and signs at the venue plus an announcement over the speakers to announce

the act will be loud at x amount of dBa, stay away from the speakers which are here here

here and here, get earplugs from the staff, leave it if you don't want to risk your hearing.

Those simple and cheap things to do would avoid a lifetime of now misery for me.

I want no-one else to go through what I have and possibly for ever. I don't want to even

type "likely" as this is 24/7 torture. If there is anyway I can help get the word out let me

know. Who in the government would listen? I think most people in my position would just

disappear off the radar and therefore the record. If I was bitten by a shark on the other

hand........ records are kept, some people pity you and you are likely to make a full or at

least recovery. Hearing doesn't recover and I have got the most cruellest version of noise

induced damage there is from just the one event. How many other poor people are

affected across the country in one year?

Crazy to think this is Australia in 2015...... I have avoided or covered up the sun from the

public publicity, never smoked, ate right and exercised, wore seatbelts in the car, aware

of asbestos etc. From the private sector there is money in hearing aids and no money in

preventing hearing damage. This therefore needs the government.

David Stone, aged 40 from SA


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Office of Hearing Services

The Department of Healths Office of Hearing Services (the Office) administers the

Australian Governments Hearing Services Program (the program), which aims to reduce

the incidence and consequences of avoidable hearing loss in Australia, and provide access

to high quality hearing services and devices for eligible people.

The Office is once again proud to sponsor Hearing Awareness Week. The Office will host a

stand at the ACT Deafness Resource Centres hearing Expo at the Hellenic Club, Woden,

ACT on Wednesday 26 August during Hearing Awareness Week. Visitors will be able to

access information on the Hearing Services Program and on Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander ear health.

The Hearing Services Program consists of three components:

1) The Voucher Program, which provides fully and partially subsidised hearing services,

including hearing aids if necessary, to eligible clients. Clients are predominantlypensioners, and services are provided from a national network of approximately 260

contracted service providers, including Australian Hearing Services (the Government

provider), and from nearly 2,800 sites.

2) Community Service Obligations (CSO), which provides specialised hearing services to

children and young adults under 26 years, adults with complex needs and some Aboriginal

and Torres Strait Islander Australians. This component of the program is delivered by

Australian Hearing Services.

3) The Office also supports research into hearing health and hearing loss prevention.

Current research funding is provided to over 30 projects, primarily through the National

Health and Medical Research Council and the National Acoustic Laboratories.

Other Office activities

The Office also investigates and resolves complaints relating to the program, undertakes

audit and compliance activities, and provides hearing related policy advice to Government

Health Ministers.

The Office website www.hearingservices.gov.auprovides easier and faster access to the

program and to program information. Clients can check their eligibility, apply for the

program, search for a service provider, and print a medical certificate directly through the

website. The website also contains extensive information on hearing matters, including on

the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

NDIS and the program

It is anticipated that many program clients will transfer to the NDIS by 2019-20, when the

scheme rolls out nationally. Eligibility for the NDIS is assessed by National Disability

Insurance Agency Planners, taking into consideration the persons age, level of permanent

hearing loss, and the impact that this has on their ability to communicate or interact socially


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without support, including assistive technology. Currently, NDIS participants who require

hearing services are referred to the program as Voucher or CSO clients.

The future

Increases in the number of Australians with hearing loss, advances in technology, and

changing methods of service delivery will impact the provision of hearing services into the

future. The Government remains committed to supporting vulnerable Australians who are

affected by hearing loss.

FAQs on the NDIS interface and transitionhttp://hearingservices.gov.au/wps/portal/hso/site/about/national%20disability%20insurance%20sche

me/ohs-and-ndis/!ut/p/a1/tZHLboMwEEV_hS6ytDwQHu4S5VVIA6qatsAmMsYEt8Qmwamav6-

RsumiabLo7GZ0debOXFzgDBeSfoot1UJJ2g594W-WT55vR-

AsyWs6hzBMXh7juetACvgNF7hgUne6wXnTK4spqbnUI-

iOZSvYCBq14yOgpTqaoTyDrUr0tBSt0CdLyP54oJJxq2cNH8Sq6RGVFZJGNfA7JiqcVz6rg6AMUA

Ceg9yKEURsu0TAgfMKCK891xjOjWH4pUK46p4LEvDOggsrcuMh2DhkGj7cu3aUzqIZhJPFOl6QyF

lMPfx841GXgWu4GRj_9QbzRvG-

3xehCXcI9Evj7F_SNYucw2qy2hr_VDdIyFrh7BoQzn6Aut2OjE_oo04SREtyGrfbu28ZT-

Qt/dl5/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/

The Australian Government released the final report and Government response on

the Review of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport.

The Review and the Governments response can be found on the Department of

Infrastructure and Regional Developments website:

https://infrastructure.gov.au/transport/disabilities/review/2012.aspx

The Review assessed how accessible public transport systems are for people with disability

and makes a number of recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of

the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 for all modes of transport,

including aviation.


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A simple procedure using a nasal balloon can help reduce the impact of hearing loss in

children and potentially avoid unnecessary ear-tube surgery and antibiotics, according to anew study.

The study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, looked at children who

have a history of otitis media with effusion, commonly known as "glue ear."

Otitis media with effusion is an inflammatory disease affecting the middle ear. It is often

associated with a viral infection. Children who develop otitis media, see a thick build-up of

fluid in the middle ear, which makes hearing difficult.

There are few symptoms when it first starts, and parents typically only seek medical help

when their child begins to develop hearing problems. This is concerning to many parents,

as it may interfere with language acquisition, behaviour and education.

Treating otitis media with effusion is tricky, with about a third of cases showing recurrence,

the study said. Treatment options include ventilation tube surgery, antibiotics, steroids and

antihistamines. In many cases, the problem will naturally resolve itself with time. But for

some extreme cases surgery is the only effective treatment.

The study also noted that antibiotics are largely ineffective and "resistance to them poses amajor threat to public health."

The studys lead author, Dr. Ian Williamson, said auto-inflation is an ideal treatment for

standard cases as it is non-surgical and relatively inexpensive.

"We think it's well worth trying it, because there simply aren't any effective treatments other

than surgery," he told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview from the U.K.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/low-cost-nasal-balloon-procedure-can-help-treat-children-s-

hearing-loss-study-1.2489452


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Magnetic pulses to the brain deliver relief

for t innitus patients

Researchers have found that magnetic stimulation significantly improved tinnitus

symptoms.

In the largest U.S. clinical trial of its kind funded by the Veterans Affairs (VA) Rehabilitation

Research and Development Service, researchers at the VA Portland Medical Center and

Oregon Health & Science University found that transcranial magnetic stimulation

significantly improved tinnitus symptoms for more than half of study participants.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 15 percent of

Americans experience some degree of tinnitus. Currently, there are no proven treatments

available. So, patients with the condition often develop coping strategies to manage their

reaction to tinnitus.

Military veterans are at greater risk of developing the condition. Tinnitus is the most

prevalent service connected disability in the VA health system. Study participants were a

mix of veterans and non-veterans.

Researchers used a system that generates a cone-shaped magnetic field that penetrates

the scalp and skull to interact with brain tissue. The higher the stimulation intensity, the

deeper the magnetic field can penetrate and affect neural activity. Currently, the Food and

Drug Administration has approved transcranial magnetic stimulation only for treatment of

depression.

A significant number of participants who had tinnitus for more than 20 years were pleased

to receive some relief from the treatment. A larger clinical trial will be conducted to refine

protocols for the eventual clinical use of the approach for tinnitus.


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Coming soon your go toresource for communication technology

For people who are Deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired, communicating with the

broader community can be frustrating and difficult and can lead many to withdraw and

become socially isolated. It can also limit options to work and study.

With advances in technology, the ability to communicate more easily held promise. But the

information on what would suit people in different situations was difficult to find, absent,

complicated or in an inaccessible language or format. People wanted the power to do their

own searching and find trustworthy information on technologies (both high and low-tech)

that they could integrate into their day. It was also important to have the tech support they

needed to get started once a choice was made.

There are millions of people in Australia right now who find communication a challenge.

There are hundreds of technologies available that can help. There are thousands of peers

who are trailblazing in the use of these technologies with experiences, product reviews andtips to share. Powered by Conexu. Made by the community. Here is Techfinder.org.au

http://www.aamhl.org/joomla15/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=53


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This week is BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS WEEK

Having just finished university, 25 year-old Rebecca Sciroli had her sights set on becoming

an arts therapist. Until her stepfather brutally bashed her with a hammer, resulting in

multiple skull fractures and a severe brain injury.

"I just remember the blows from the hammer raining down on my head, and screaming

'why, why, why are you doing this to me?' she recalls. "All he said was 'it's the only way'".

Years on from the attack, Rebecca still lives in the constant pain of spasticity caused by

paralysis on her right side. And due to the brain injury's effects on her thinking, planning

and organisation, "I'm constantly challenged by normal, everyday situations - just going

anywhere, getting to places on time."

"Every year in Australia, around 150 women are hospitalised with a brain injury due to an

assault by their partner," says Nick Rushworth Executive Officer of the peak disabilityadvocacy organisation, Brain Injury Australia.

"Given 1 in every 6 women report having been subjected to family violence since the age of

15, hospitalisations are bound to be the tip of an iceberg."

International evidence indicates over 90 percent of women using family violence refuges

have sustained head injuries, with nearly 1 in 10 saying they had been hit in the head over

20 times in the past year.

Based at St. Vincent's Hospital on the border of Sydney's Kings Cross, neurosurgeon Dr.

Richard Parkinson knows first-hand the toll violence takes on the brain. And for the last 8

years, he's been treating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders from remote areas in an

outpatient clinic he established at Royal Darwin Hospital.

"The rates of brain injury due to assault among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women

are around 70 times that of other women," he says. "In some communities, this kind of

violence is just rife, it's rampant."

Watch and read the report on ABC Television.

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2015/s4292323.htm


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Annual General Meeting 2015

The Deafness Forum of Australia Annual General Meeting will be held in Sydney on 28

November.

Members may move a Resolution for consideration at the AGM.

The member proposing the resolution will be a financial member of Deafness Forum at the

time of the AGM.

Send your Resolution to the company secretary by close of business on 30 September.

Email: [email protected]

Post: Deafness Forum of Australia, Open Systems House, 218 Northbourne Ave., Braddon

ACT 2612

What is a resolution?

A formal expression of opinion or intention agreed on by a formal meeting, typically after

taking a vote.

Nominations will be called soon for positions on the board of directors that will become

vacant at the AGM. For further information, contact the company secretary.

Know someone who might l ike to receive One in Six?Send an email to [email protected]

Deafness Forum encourages organisations to be deafness friendly. In planning meetings and events, choose venues that

have reliable hearing loops, and add real time captions and interpreters to meet the communication access needs of the 4

million Australians we represent.

Items in Deafness Forum communications may incorporate or summarise views, standards or recommendations of thirdparties or comprise material contributed by third parties. Such third party material is assembled in good faith, but does notnecessarily reflect the considered views of Deafness Forum, or indicate commitment to a particular course of action.Deafness Forum makes no representation or warranty about the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of anythird party information.

Documents

One in Six 19 August 2015