THE Australian Hearing Bus will stop in Mount Gambier to offer free hearing checks and raise hearing health awareness this week.
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 launching in 2009.
Australian Hearing Mount Gambier manager Ann Bongiorno said because age-related hearing loss develops gradually over time, it is common for people to be unaware their hearing is diminishing.
Hearing loss is a prevalent issue in the community, with around 60pc 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 cannot hear,” Ms Bongiorno said.
“Our team will be on hand to guide you through what next steps you may have to take in regards to your hearing.”
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, including headsets for watching the television and alert systems for doorbells.
“Not everyone who is experiencing problems hearing needs a hearing aid,” Ms Bongiorno said.
“Sometimes it is just hearing the television at normal volumes, hearing your doorbell or hearing your friends on the phone that’s the problem.”
Hearing bus locations:
Millicent – Woolworths carpark
Tues Feb 20 – 10am – 3pm
Kingston – Foodland
Wed Feb 21 – 10.30am – 3.30pm
Mount Gambier – Coles carpark
Thurs Feb 22 – 9am – 3.30pm
