SERVICES

Sue Brown, Senior Administrator, BHA Brisbane

Although services cater for persons with all degrees of hearing loss, the major part of membership is made up of people who have acquired a partial, severe or complete impairment of hearing. That is, a person , having had normal hearing and speech, becomes partially or completely deaf. Better Hearing Australia Brisbane Inc. is the only agency in Brisbane catering for the needs of people adventiously hearing impaired, their families and friends.

One in six of the Australian population have a significant hearing loss. This becomes one in three in the older age bracket. The younger age group is under threat of noise induced hearing loss and ongoing efforts to bring this danger to public attention are part of Better Hearing’s commitment to environmental protection.

Preservation of hearing, and public awareness of the dangers of noise induced hearing loss, are major concerns as there is no known way of regaining the loss of hearing caused by continuous loud noise.

Information about Assistive listening systems which enhance the quality of life for people with hearing impairment can be obtained.

Better Hearing Australia endeavors to keep abreast with the latest developments in technology and aids to hearing as well as medical advances in treatment of post -lingual hearing disabilities.

Rehabilitation services today require a multi-faceted approach according to need. Some or all of the following skills may assist a hearing impaired person cope with the day to day difficulties of the disability:

• Understanding your hearing loss and its effects on yourself, your family and friends
• Lipreading (Speechreading)
• Awareness of hearing tactics
• Self awareness
• Awareness of non-verbal communication
• Group dynamics
• Auditory training
• Speech conservation

Other Services

Hearing Help Card

The Better Hearing Australia Hearing Help Card is now carried by many thousands of Australians and can be presented in situations that require immediate identification of a hearing problem.

These are available upon request from our Centre at a small cost.

Hospital Information Packs

Hospital Information Pack and associated signage can be provided by Better Hearing Australia at minimal cost to readily identify patients who have a hearing loss and explain their communication needs.

This Better Hearing Australia Hospital Pack has reduced stress, frustration, and often dangerous misunderstanding that can be experienced by hearing impaired hospital patients and has provided valuable assistance to busy hospital or nursing home staff.