At Better Hearing Australia (National), we’re aware that current research indicates hearing loss and inability to hear and communicate effectively – the impact of hearing loss – can have a serious and significant effect on individuals and their communities.
People with hearing loss may have difficulty participating in employment, education and social activities.
Getting the right audiological and clinical help is part of our mission, so discover more about Better Hearing Australia.
Help for you
Your nearest Better Hearing Australia State branch or office can help you with independent, free and low-cost services.
You can also make a difference to the impact of hearing loss by supporting us.
The social and economic impact of hearing loss
While can be highly significant at a personal level by many Australians, hearing loss also has a financial cost for Australia.
Recent data shows hearing loss to the economy was almost $12 billion or 1.4 percent of GDP. The facts are:
- productivity loss accounts for $6.7 billion
- nearly half people with hearing loss are of working age
- around 160,000 people were not employed due to hearing loss in 2005
- 34 percent of people with partial hearing loss and 32 percent of people with total hearing loss are not in the labour force (compared with 21 percent of people with no hearing loss)
Furthermore, research has found that people with hearing loss on average earn less money and average weekly incomes vary based on an individual’s capacity to hear.
Read more
- Better Hearing Australia (VIC) website
- Access Economics, 2006, Listen Hear – The economic impact and cost of hearing loss in Australia.
- Anthony Hogan, 2001, Hearing Rehabilitation for Deafened Adults – A psychosocial approach, Whurr Publishers.
- The 2012 Libby Harricks Memorial Oration, Deafness Forum Limited.
- The Senate Community Affairs References Committee, 2010, Hear Us: Inquiry into Hearing Health in Australia, Commonwealth of Australia