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Holidaying with hearing loss: How to travel confidently without missing out

Facing the fun chaos at Aqua Park with my kids was a real dilemma—should I wear my cochlear implant aqua kit and risk losing it in the water, or just go without and miss out on the sounds? Traveling with hearing loss comes with challenges, but it shouldn’t stop you from enjoying experiences. Just stay…

Are you fire ready?

Amid predictions of a hot Australian summer, ensuring fire readiness, especially through smoke alarms, is crucial for all homeowners. For individuals with hearing loss, traditional smoke alarms may not suffice. Specialized systems and funding options exist, enhancing safety through alerting devices like strobe lights and bed shakers, ensuring timely warnings against fire hazards.

Finding Joy in the sounds of Christmas

Rediscover the magic of the holidays through the sounds that make the season special. From laughter to Christmas music (even the Mariah Carey kind), here’s how hearing loss has taught me to find gratitude in every moment.

Hearing loss news from Healthy Hearing

Hearing News from The Hearing Review

Hearing loss news from ScienceDaily

  • Why colorectal cancer breaks the immune system’s rules
    Colorectal cancer has long baffled scientists because, unlike most tumors, patients often do better when their cancers are packed with immune-suppressing regulatory T cells. New research finally explains why. Scientists discovered that these T cells aren’t all the same: one subtype actually helps keep tumors in check, while another shields cancer from immune attack. The […]
  • Scientists find hidden pathways pancreatic cancer uses to spread
    Researchers have discovered how pancreatic cancer reprograms its surroundings to spread quickly and stealthily. By using a protein called periostin, the tumor remodels nearby tissue and invades nerves, which helps cancer cells travel and form metastases. This process also creates a tough, fibrous barrier that makes treatments less effective. Targeting periostin could help stop this […]
  • A Trojan horse cancer therapy shows stunning results
    Scientists at Mount Sinai have unveiled a bold new way to fight metastatic cancer by turning the tumor’s own defenses against it. Instead of attacking cancer cells head-on, the experimental immunotherapy targets macrophages—immune cells that tumors hijack to shield themselves from attack. By eliminating or reprogramming these “bodyguards,” the treatment cracks open the tumor’s protective […]
  • This new antibody may stop one of the deadliest breast cancers
    Researchers have identified a promising new weapon against triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. An experimental antibody targets a protein that fuels tumor growth and shuts down immune defenses, effectively turning the immune system back on. In early tests, the treatment slowed tumor growth, reduced lung metastases, and destroyed […]
  • Why multiple sclerosis slowly steals balance and movement
    Many people with multiple sclerosis struggle with balance and coordination, and this study uncovers a hidden reason why. Researchers found that inflammation in the brain disrupts the energy supply of vital movement-controlling neurons. As their mitochondria fail, these cells weaken and eventually die, worsening motor problems over time. Protecting brain energy systems could open the […]

Hearing loss facts

Hearing loss is a global and national health crisis. It is an often misunderstood disability that has some very inaccurate stigmas attached to it. For the majority affected by hearing loss, the main difficulty comes from a lack of clarity of speech, especially when there is any background noise.

Hearing Loss does not only affect the elderly

  • According to the World Health Organization, over 360 million people worldwide have disabling hearing loss.
  • One in six Australians is affected by hearing loss. With an ageing population, this is expected to increase to one in four by 2050. 
  • Of the one in six affected, most  believe their own hearing is fine. Around two in five say their hearing is “very good” or “almost perfect”, while one in four say their hearing is below average.
  • Only 20% of the Australians who could benefit from a hearing aid actually use one.
  • Nearly 40% of the hearing loss experienced by individuals was caused by Noise-induced Hearing Loss; this is preventable and repeated exposure to loud noise.
  • In 2010, the National Acoustic Laboratories published the Binge Listening Report which revealed young Australians have a greater risk of acquiring a hearing loss through their leisure activities, (listening to music through headphones, regularly going to nightclubs and live music concerts)
  • Nearly half of Australians is affected by hearing loss were working age (16-64 years)
  • It roughly takes seven to 10 years, on average, before someone with hearing loss seeks treatment for it.

The effects of untreated hearing loss

Studies have linked untreated hearing loss effects to:

  • Irritability, negativism and anger
  • Fatigue, tension, stress and depression
  • Avoidance or withdrawal from social situations
  • Social rejection and loneliness
  • Reduced alertness and increased risk to personal safety
  • Impaired memory and ability to learn new tasks
  • Reduced job performance and earning power
  • Diminished psychological and overall health

Words describing deafness and hearing loss

There are no rights and wrongs about the words used to describe a person’s hearing loss. However, generally accepted definitions are as follows:

  • Deafened – people who were born with hearing and have lost most or all of their hearing later in life.
  • Hard of hearing – people who have lost some but not all hearing.
  • deaf (lower case ‘d’) – people who have hearing loss; they may be born deaf or become deaf. They mix well in the hearing world and may communicate orally and may also be users of sign language.
  • Deaf (upper case ‘D’) refers to people who are members of the Deaf community and who communicate almost exclusively with sign language.
  • Hearing impaired – anyone with any level of hearing loss.
  • Acquired hearing loss – people who were born with hearing but have lost some or all of their hearing.
  • Congenital hearing loss – born with hearing loss which may become progressively worse

There a number of noteworthy past and present people in music, movies, and media who suffer from hearing loss

Hello,

I’m Daniel

Welcome to Talking Hearing Loss—your community and resource hub for navigating the world of hearing loss. Whether you’re personally experiencing some degree of hearing loss and need reassurance that you’re not alone in your silence, or you’re a family member or friend looking to better understand what hearing loss means for someone you care about, you’ve come to the right place. Here, I share stories, insights, and support to help everyone affected by hearing loss feel connected and informed.

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