A New Era in Hearing Technology
John Bell, a cattle farmer from Goulburn, spent years exposed to high decibel levels from machinery and tools. However, it was during a routine office job that he first noticed something was wrong with his hearing. “Numbers like 15 and 50 sound very similar when you’re losing your hearing,” he explains. “In a budgetary meeting, 15 or 50,000 can obviously lead to a red face somewhere along the line.”
Over time, Bell found himself increasing the TV volume, missing cues in exercise classes, and avoiding social situations. Theatres and live comedy shows, which he once enjoyed, became uncomfortable due to his inability to catch punchlines.
Now, Bell uses Audika’s Oticon Zeal in-ear hearing aids, which are launching in Australia on Thursday. These devices are discreet, use AI to adapt to different listening environments, and filter out unwanted noise. They are also rechargeable, eliminating the need for frequent battery replacements.
Other brands such as Starkey, Amplifon, and Widex also offer in-ear, discreet hearing aids in Australia. For Bell, who is preparing to walk the Kokoda trail in April, the new technology allows him to stay connected with his group during the hike. “The older hearing aids I had would get damaged by sweat and water,” he says.
The Rising Prevalence of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is becoming increasingly common worldwide. Approximately 430 million people live with disabling hearing loss, a number expected to rise to 700 million by 2050. In Australia, one in six people lives with hearing loss, a figure projected to increase to one in four by 2050, largely due to an aging population.
Despite its prevalence, only one in five people who could benefit from a hearing aid actually uses one. Even fewer eligible adults receive cochlear implants. Professor Bamini Gopinath, Cochlear Chair in Hearing and Health at Macquarie University, highlights that the slow uptake of hearing tests and technology is multifaceted. Stigma and lack of awareness play significant roles.
“Many people don’t realize that midlife hearing loss is one of the top modifiable risk factors for dementia,” she says. Unaddressed hearing loss is also linked to social isolation, mental fatigue, reduced workplace productivity, and early retirement.
Cost is another major barrier, with most hearing aids costing thousands before subsidies. The Australian government offers subsidized services and devices to eligible Australians, including those under 26 and over 67. However, many in the middle age range—particularly Indigenous Australians—are excluded.
In September, Gopinath contributed to the development of the first Australia New Zealand Adult Cochlear Implant Living Guidelines. These guidelines aim to improve identification and referral for cochlear implant evaluations, starting screening at age 50.
Stigma and Technological Advancements
Why does hearing loss carry such a stigma? Gopinath admits it’s a complex question. “We’re trying to understand why people think it’s cool to wear glasses but not hearing aids.” She suggests cultural perceptions may associate hearing loss with aging or lower intelligence.
Nicky Chong-White, principal engineer at the National Acoustic Laboratories, notes significant technological advancements in the past five to ten years. Devices have become more accessible, smarter, and personalized. “The look has totally changed. If you think of people wearing hearing aids 20 years ago, they were these ugly beige things. Now, they’re pretty stylish.”
Devices like Audika’s Oticon Zeal use advanced signal processing to detect speech in noisy environments. Apple recently announced that AirPods Pro earbuds can be used for hearing tests and as aids, offering a low-cost alternative for those who don’t need support all day.
Chong-White sees this as a potential stepping stone for users, allowing them to conduct tests at home without cost. “You don’t have to let anyone know you’re doing it. And if you’ve got AirPods already, there’s no cost involved.”
Not Just an Older Person’s Condition
While hearing loss is more common in older adults, it can affect young people too. Mackenzie Arnold, the Matildas goalkeeper, has spoken about her hearing loss. Aleks Czerwinski, a 40-year-old Melbourne-based wedding celebrant and DJ, unexpectedly lost most of her hearing in one ear after an infection.
“I didn’t realize I’d lost my hearing until I put a pair of headphones on the tram and couldn’t hear the music in one side,” she recalls. Adjusting to her condition has been challenging, especially in noisy environments like exercise classes. She often avoids using her hearing aids during workouts, fearing they might fall out.
Czerwinski finds it difficult to explain her needs to instructors, feeling perceived as difficult. “Because I don’t have my aids in, and I’m youngish, I feel like it’s seen as a strange request.”
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