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“en ou ave un reated earing lo your oor earing mean a ou o en will onl ear ar o en ence” 

Can you make out what was said above?  
 
Imagine trying to navigate your daily life with this kind of hearing impairment. This garbled sentence is an example of what significant hearing loss might sound like, making it incredibly difficult to understand conversations and engage with the world around you.  

Approximately 30% of adults aged between 51 and 60 have some degree of hearing loss. This percentage increases to 59% for those aged 61 to 70 and an astonishing 74% for individuals over 71.¹ The risk is even greater for people living with diabetes, with research strongly and consistently suggesting that people living with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing hearing loss compared to the general population.² 

Hearing loss can manifest in various degrees, from mild to profound. To understand what living with hearing loss is like, consider these examples: 

• This is what someone with severe hearing loss might experience, missing large parts of conversations and struggling to understand even basic communication.: “en ou ave un reated earing lo your oor earing mean a ou o en will onl ear ar o en ence.”  

• Even with mild hearing loss, crucial pieces of conversations are missed, leading to frequent misunderstandings and the need for repetition.: “When you ave untreated earing loss your oor earing mean that you o ten will only ear art of entence.”  

• For someone with normal hearing, conversations are clear and complete, allowing for effortless communication: “When you have untreated hearing loss your poor hearing means that you often will only hear part of sentences.”  

These examples illustrate the varying degrees of difficulty in communication that could be faced by those with hearing loss. For those individuals, everyday interactions can become challenging and may lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation.³  

What can you do?  

If you are living with diabetes, it’s time to get your hearing checked. Early detection and intervention could reduce the degree of negative impacts of hearing loss and improve your quality of life. 

Call 1800 773 304 or click here to book a FREE hearing check. As hearing experts, we know that hearing means something different for everyone. Being able to hear means being able to keep connected, not just for your family but for friends as well. 

About Audika 

Audika, a global leader in hearing healthcare with over 100 years of expertise, offers high-quality, comprehensive hearing care across more than 300 clinics in Australia, addressing hearing loss from very mild to severe. Our services include free hearing checks*, subsidised hearing services and devices for eligible pensioners and veterans through the Australian Government Hearing Services Program (HSP)⁴, wax removal services at selected clinics, and a streamlined referral pathway for implantable devices when needed.  

Please visit www.audika.com.au/diabetes for more information. 

References 

1 Access Economics, 2006, Listen Hear! The economic impact and cost of hearing loss in Australia, Report for the Cooperative Research Centre for Cochlear Implant and Hearing Aid Innovation and the Victorian Deaf Society

2 Mitchell P, Gopinath B, McMahon C. M, Rochtchina E, Wang J.J, Boyages S.C and Leeder S.R, 2009, Relationship of Type 2 diabetes to the prevalence, incidence and progression of age-related hearing loss. Diabet Med, vol. 26, no. 05, pp.483–488.

3 Shukla, A., Harper, M., Pedersen, E., Goman, A., Suen, J. J., Price, C., Applebaum, J., Hoyer, M., Lin, F. R., & Reed, N. S. (2020). Hearing Loss, Loneliness, and Social Isolation: A Systematic review. Otolaryngology, 162(5), 622–633. https://doi.org/10.1177/0194599820910377

4 Conditions apply under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program.

*Free for adults aged 26 and over