According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 5% of the world’s population – or 546 million people – has disabling hearing loss. By 2050, it is estimated that percentage will double to 10% of the world's population.
In an effort to spread awareness on preventing hearing loss and deafness and to promote hearing health care for all, March 3 is designated as World Hearing Day.
On World Hearing Day on March 3, the WHO will launch the latest World Report on Hearing, urging for a global call for action to address hearing loss and ear diseases.
“Hearing loss affects 10 percent of all Canadians, but only one in six wear hearing aids”, says Yat Li, Head of Marketing & Communications at Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility.
According to , an estimated 4.6 million adults in Canada have at least mild hearing loss.
People across B.C. are invited to join on this day to recognize the rising prevalence of hearing loss and to focus on prevention of deafness and hearing loss.
Wavefront Centre has three hearing clinics in the Lower Mainland. The centre provides hearing assessments, sales of new hearing aids of all major brands, better communication with hearing loss classes, and tinnitus treatment services.
Income earned from these services goes toward supporting their social service programs, including the providing refurbished, pre-owned hearing aid on a permanent loan.
Hearing Test. Photo: Wavefront Centre.
Acting upon the universal need to be connected through communication, Wavefront Centre is dedicated to creating inclusive and accessible communities in which Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Hearing individuals in B.C. can interact freely without barriers.
The centre aims to do so by providing support to clinics through accessible communication programs and services, such as connecting them with professional interpreters, providing captioning services, offering translation services into ASL, and more.
Wavefront's three Hearing Clinics in Metro Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»— located in Mount Pleasant, Fairview, and Port Coquitlam — are the only non-profit hearing aid clinics in all of B.C.
Hearing care is important at all stages of life, and a hearing test is just as important as your annual physical and vision exams. Hearing loss (and related ear diseases) can be addressed when it is screened and identified in a timely manner, and appropriate hearing care can be sought through having your hearing checked regularly.
A full hearing test with a registered audiologist involves a detailed 1.5 hour assessment of your hearing ability, speech understanding ability, and communication needs. The test is conducted through a thorough health history questionnaire, visual ear exam, and hearing test.
By taking a hearing test, you can set the baseline for your hearing health for years to come.
at Wavefront Centre today.
