Free hearing checks in Umina

The Australian Hearing bus will stop at Umina to offer free hearing checks and raise hearing health awareness.

The bus will be parked outside Woolworths in West St, Umina, on Thursday, April 7, and Friday, April 8, from 8:30am to 4pm each day.

Now with an 11-strong fleet of blue and white buses, the mobile hearing service has provided over 40,000 free hearing checks in communities across Australia since the first bus was launched in 2009.

Australian Hearing Erina manager Mr Matthew Reid said that, because age-related hearing loss developed gradually over time, it was common for people be unaware their hearing was diminishing.

Hearing loss is a prevalent issue in the community, with around 60 per cent of Australians over 60 suffering from some form of hearing loss.

"A hearing check is a quick and easy way to measure the sounds you can and can't hear. "Our team will also be on hand to guide you through what next steps you may have to take," said Mr Reid.

As well as having a hearing check, visitors to the bus can find information on a range of common hearing issues and view a display of easy-to-use hearing devices for around the home.

This includes headsets for watching the TV and alert systems for doorbells.

"Not everyone who is experiencing problems hearing needs a hearing aid.

"Sometimes it's just hearing the TV at normal volumes, hearing your doorbell, or hearing your friends on the phone that's the problem."

No appointment is necessary.

Australian Hearing will provide hearing checks to any interested adults who visit the bus on the day.

Media release, 18 Mar 2016

Rae De Rooy, Australian Hearing