New Zealanders suffer from hearing loss – but most don’t even know it
Bay Audiology develops Bay AudioCHEK Pro® to help all New Zealanders detect whether they suffer from a hearing loss.
Latest studies show that one in ten New Zealanders suffers from hearing loss. Furthermore, they wait an average of seven years before doing anything about it. Bay Audiology has recently developed a practical new tool called the Bay AudioCHEK Pro® to make hearing detection accessible for all New Zealanders with a simple visit to their GP.
Hearing loss is a prevalent chronic condition among adults of all ages and it is well recognised that hearing loss gets worse as we age. More than 30% of individuals over 65 suffer from some type of hearing loss, 14% of those between 45 and 64 also have hearing loss and more than half of all hearing impaired persons are under the age of 65 years. But hearing loss is also on the increase in younger people. One reason for this trend is the use of MP3 players, but more specifically, the duration and volume they’re listening to them.
“Bay Audiology is committed to helping GPs throughout the country detect and treat hearing loss in patients of any age. We believe that hearing loss is an important issue in New Zealand and we are taking steps to help detect these problems in the early stages by providing them with the Bay AudioCHEK Pro®,” says Scott Wright, Audiologist and Director of Bay Audiology.
The Bay AudioCHEK Pro® is a simple, 40-second screening device that can give you an objective measure in detecting hearing problems even in the early stages. Early intervention allows sufferers to be thoroughly checked and assessed for hearing aids, preventing needless problems in the future, and can ultimately provide a better quality of life.
This new device is an updated version of the Bay Hearing Screener®and has been upgraded according to feedback from a survey of 345 New Zealand General Practitioners.
The new Bay AudioCHEK Pro® features:
Bay Audiology hasn’t limited its technological development to just the Bay AudioCHEK Pro®! Bay Audiology technicians, with the help of university trained audiologists, have recently designed an innovative touch-screen hearing check technology.
Customers can self-test their hearing by putting on a pair of special headphones and following a ‘virtual audiologist’ through a series of questions associated with sounds and tones. This is a genuine breakthrough in hearing loss diagnosis, and a first for hearing clinics in New Zealand. The assessment is free and you don’t need to make an appointment. It is also very quick: it takes you just five minutes. The results are printed to give you an indication of your hearing abilities. Should the test indicate hearing loss, you need to make an appointment to see one of our audiologists for a comprehensive test.
The self hearing check device is available in selected Bay Audiology clinics only. Contact us to find your nearest one.