Sunday is World Hearing Day. Many people wait too long to act with hearing issues that could be improved. MindEar’s audiologists and tinnitus researchers are available for media interviews Saturday and Sunday morning to encourage people to do something about their hearing issues. Details below
Changing mindsets: Let’s make ear and hearing care a reality for all!
World Hearing Day, held on 3 March each year, raises awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss, and promotes ear and hearing care across the world.
- The World Health Organization estimates that up to 1.5 billion people around the world have measurable hearing loss, and this number is increasing, due to growth in life expectancy and noise exposure.
- Tinnitus is often the early sign of a damaged hearing organ: 66% of tinnitus sufferers have some sort of hearing difficulties.
- The prevalence of tinnitus for people who have slight hearing difficulty is 39% while it increases 58% for moderate hearing difficulties.
- Globally, occupational and non-occupational noise exposure may contribute significantly if people are not aware of the dangers to hearing from exposure to loud sounds. A recent study by an Australian team shows that the prevalence of tinnitus is higher for people who have been exposed to occupational noise.
- The effects of hearing loss and tinnitus extend beyond communication challenges, significantly influencing overall well-being. This is because they impact social interactions and emotional health, underscoring the profound connection between our auditory experiences and quality of life.
MindEar support the WHO-recognised campaign for World Hearing Day and have expert audiologists and tinnitus researchers available for media for general attributed or non-attributed background on hearing health and tinnitus. Please reach out directly using the details below (noting time zones).
MindEar also has a broad range of background documents, videos and explainers on tinnitus on their website, including a YouTube channel.
For any further detail or support getting in touch with one of the experts, please contact Tom who will facilitate:
Dr Tom Carruthers | Media Director | +61 404 404 026 | tom@scienceinpublic.com.au
Experts available for background or quotes
Dr Fabrice Bardy (Nantes, France)
Audiologist, neuroscientist and co-founder of MindEar – Fluent in English and French
Dr Bardy is a hearing neuroscientist, clinical audiologist and entrepreneur. His research interests are centred on developing methods to complete hearing assessments and hearing rehabilitation. He has worked at the National Acoustic Laboratories in Sydney for ten years, and as a clinical audiologist for five years (in France, Switzerland and Denmark). He completed a PhD at Macquarie University in Australia and is currently a honorary fellow at the University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Dr Matthieu Recugnat (Sydney, Australia)
Engineer, hearing researcher and co-founder of MindEar – Fluent in English and French
Dr Recugnat is a researcher and entrepreneur in hearing, tinnitus and cochlear implants. Previously having worked at Oticon Medical as a scientific research engineer, he completed his PhD working at University College London and later at Macquarie University, Australia where he is now an honorary research fellow.
Prof Laure Jacquemin (Antwerp, Belgium)
Postdoctoral researcher and clinical audiologist – Fluent in English and Dutch
Prof Jacquemin is an audiologist with expertise in tinnitus, hyperacusis and misophonia. Her research is focused on improving quality of life via investigating new techniques to objectify the patients’ perception and improving current treatments. She has a PhD from the University of Antwerp where she is currently professor.
Michael Piskosz (New Jersey, USA)
Audiologist and tinnitus specialist – Fluent in English
Michael is an audiologist and tinnitus expert who did his undergraduate studies at Syracuse University, and his Masters of Science in Audiology at the University of Washington. He has worked in the hearing healthcare field for over twenty-five years collaborating in the development of tinnitus treatment options with major hearing manufacturers. He is a thought leader in audiology and tinnitus support.
Further background on hearing health
Digital therapeutics (like MindEar and Oto) offer enhanced hearing care accessibility, through evidence-based solutions via mobile devices.
Regrettably, stigma continues to be a significant obstacle for those seeking treatment for hearing loss. Individuals often delay treatment for 4-6 years post-diagnosis due to fears of being labelled as old. However, contemporary hearing aids offer solutions not just in appearance but also in functionality.
Hearing aids with tinnitus sound support also have the potential to reduce tinnitus severity for new and experienced hearing aid users.
Another way we can help change mindsets is by helping to prevent hearing loss before it occurs by using hearing protection when exposed to loud noise.
Check your hearing regularly. You can access a free hearing screening inside the MindEar App or with some audiologists, which can help people understand their hearing sensitivity is healthy compared to their age.
If you suspect a family member is experiencing hearing difficulties, a simple yet effective approach is to spend time outdoors together, enjoying the ambiance of either the city or nature. Pay special attention to the rich tapestry of sounds around you, from the chirping of birds and the laughter of children to the rustling of leaves and the gentle breeze. It’s easy to overlook these everyday symphonies. If your loved one seems to have trouble hearing these sounds, it might be time to suggest a visit to a hearing care specialist. For those facing the challenge of tinnitus, guiding them to discuss their condition with their GP is a helpful first step.
Additionally, introducing them to resources like the MindEar app can offer them access to effective treatment options, significantly alleviating the impact of tinnitus on their daily lives.
Hearing Loss and Tinnitus – background statistics
Statistics from the United States of America
- Tinnitus is linked to hearing loss with over one third of those with low-mid frequency hearing impairment experiencing tinnitus.
- Data from J Shargorodsyk et al. (2010) Prevalence and Characteristics of Tinnitus among US Adults
| % of US population | Any tinnitus (%) | Frequent tinnitus (%) | |
| General population | 21.2 | 3.6 | |
| Low-mid frequency hearing impairment | 18.2 | 37.3 | 16.2 |
| High frequency hearing impairment | 46.7 | 30.2 | 10.9 |
Statistics from Europe
- Almost a quarter of the European population has some form of hearing difficulty
- Tinnitus is strongly linked to hearing loss, with 66% of tinnitus sufferers experiencing at least some hearing difficulty.
- Four in ten of those with some slight difficulty hearing experience some tinnitus, where five in ten with severe hearing difficulty experience ‘bothersome tinnitus’.
- Tinnitus prevalence significantly increased with increasing age and worsening of hearing status.
- Data from R. Biswas et al. (2022) Tinnitus prevalence in Europe: a multi-country cross-sectional population study
| % of population | Any tinnitus (%) | Bothersome tinnitus (%) | Severe tinnitus (%) | |
| Total population | 14.7 | 6.0 | 1.2 | |
| No hearing difficulty | 77.3 | 6.5 | 1.7 | 0.3 |
| Slight difficulty | 12 | 39.0 | 11.7 | 2.0 |
| Moderate difficulty | 6.3 | 58.7 | 38.6 | 7.3 |
| Severe difficulty | 1.6 | 67.3 | 50.5 | 16.9 |
| Cannot hear at all | 0.1 | 55.2 | 49.0 | 43.3 |
Statistics from Australia
- One quarter of Australians experience any tinnitus, and half a million experience it constantly.
- Tinnitus is more common among men and increases with age. It is more prevalent for those employed as automotive workers, drivers, farmers, and in other trades.
- Data from K Lewkowski et al. (2022) The prevalence of tinnitus in the Australian working population