Self-inflicted ageism the biggest barrier to getting help against hearing loss
5 March 2025
TV icon and Hearing Australia ambassador Lynne McGranger is urging Australians to challenge the ageism stigma and be proactive about their hearing health, with a free 15-minute Hearing Australia check for adults throughout March.
One in six Australians live with hearing loss, a figure set to rise to a staggering 7.8 million by 20601. Recently released research from Hearing Australia has revealed that while more than half of Australians know hearing loss can occur with ageing, many don’t get help when they should due to a range of misconceptions – including self-inflicted ageism, and the affordability of hearing aids2.
Only 16 per cent of survey respondents think people seek help at the right time, and yet we know that acting early on hearing loss can help enormously. In fact, according to the same research, 86 per cent of respondents recognise that hearing aids would have a significant positive impact on their lives if they had hearing problems2.
The theme of this year’s World Hearing Day on 3 March is “Changing mindsets: Empower yourself to make ear and hearing care a reality for all!”. Only one in four Australians over 25 have had a hearing check at a hearing clinic in the last year, compared to 3 in 4 having a blood test and dental check-up2.
We know that hearing well is critical to ageing well, maintaining relationships with loved ones, and being active in the community, which is why Hearing Australia is calling on Australians to place their hearing health at the top of the priority list. Once again, we have partnered with Home & Away star, Lynne McGranger to highlight the importance of looking after your hearing health and show how easy it is to get tested and find solutions.
“I’ll admit that I was somewhat in denial of my own hearing health until my daughter pointed out that I had the TV sound up louder than normal and struggled to hear people in noisy spaces. My mother had significant hearing loss later in life so I know first-hand the devastating effects it can have on the person”, says Lynne McGranger.
“As we know, aging is a part of life, but we choose how we want to do it. I’m encouraging Australians to join me in making hearing health a priority, no matter your age. It’s as easy as a Hearing Australia free 15-minute hearing check any time during the month of March. It’s my secret to aging well and staying connected to my family and the community around me” concludes McGranger.
Hearing Australia is offering free 15-minute hearing checks for adults and, with over 500 community events taking place nationwide during March and over 180 hearing centres, you can get a check near you.
Our research showed over half of Australians viewed sudden hearing loss as being the biggest catalyst to act, followed closely by not being able to hear all sounds clearly (50%) and family members telling them they have a problem with hearing (43%)2.
Kim Terrell, Hearing Australia’s Managing Director can back this up from his own experience: “Hearing loss can be devastating and it’s not something you just ‘have to live with’ as you get older. I know from my own personal experience that getting help and using hearing aids makes life much easier at home, in the workplace and in social settings.
“Having to ask people to repeat themselves, your family complaining the TV volume is too loud or ringing in your ears (tinnitus), are some of the warning signs of hearing loss. They indicate it’s time to get a quick check of your hearing. And there are many simple and affordable options so if you have any signs of hearing impairment, I urge you to act.”
1 https://www.health.gov.au/topics/ear-health/about
2 Antenna, an independent consumer research agency on behalf of Hearing Australia, conducted an online AntennaPoll survey of n=1,012 Australians. The survey was conducted between September 5 and 8, 2024. The survey data collection was national, and respondents were sourced using an accredited online research access panel. Data was weighted for representation against the 2021 ABS Census.
