Latrobe Valley residents are being encouraged to get their hearing checked and learn about early hearing loss prevention at an information session run by Boolarra Friends of the Red Cross.
Boolarra Friends of the Red Cross treasurer Glenys Morgan said a guest speaker from Morwell Australian Hearing would talk about various hearing aids and conduct hearing checks.
Ms Morgan urged people of all ages to come along and said hearing loss can affect anyone at any age.
“If it can be picked up early instead of later in life, there could be permanent damage that could be fixed. You can nip it in the bud,” she said.
Ms Morgan said hearing loss could affect young people who listened to very loud music or those who livee and worked in loud and noisy environments.
She said older people in particular should get regular check-ups to stop potential damage from getting worse.
“Some of the early signs of hearing loss include getting sounds like D or T mixed-up or having to turn up the volume on the TV, or asking people to speak up. These are early triggers,” she said.
“It could also be talking loudly in order to hear yourself speak or standing in close personal proximity to another person to hear them speak. It can get much worse with a total loss of hearing.”
The session will also include afternoon tea and bottomless cups of coffee as well as door prizes. All money will go to the Red Cross to help provide aid in local and international crises.
The Boolarra Friends of the Red Cross hearing session will be held at the Boolarra multi-purpose room, on the corner of Church and Irving roads, on Monday, June 4 at 2pm. Entry is $10.
