Hearing loss is ageless – so is music: MED-EL launches awareness campaign on hearing loss

 

October 01, 2022 – (Innsbruck, Austria): To celebrate today’s International Music Day and International Day of Older Persons, MED-EL launches the ‘Your Life. Your Soundtrack’ campaign, which aims to raise awareness of hearing health and serves as a powerful reminder that just as music is ageless, so is hearing loss. 
A global survey conducted by MED-EL found that although music plays a key role in people’s lives and would be deeply missed if they lost their hearing, only 28 % would be able to recognize if their hearing deteriorated.  

The survey, which consists of 12,000 respondents from around the world, highlighted that although 1 in 3 people know someone who lives with hearing loss, awareness is still low. People are largely unaware about how to protect their hearing, how to spot the signs of hearing loss, or the hearing solutions available such as cochlear implants.  

 

MED-EL, a leading company that develops hearing implant solutions, aims to create a positive impact by empowering people to speak up about hearing loss and reconnect to the music that they love.

More than half of people surveyed said that music was a key part of their lives. This wasn’t a surprise to MED-EL musicologist Johanna Boyer, who said "Music is important to so many of us. It’s everywhere. Not only does it emotionally connect us to special memories of family and friends, cultures, or events, but it also contributes to our quality of life. For people with hearing loss it can feel like their connection to music is lost forever, but that’s simply not the case."

Elizabeth, a cochlear implant (CI) user from UK that worked as a violinist and violin teacher, would agree. "My CI has transformed my life and given me great happiness. It has enabled me to come out of a silent world and to communicate again, especially through playing the piano. Being able to play once more is my greatest joy and consolation." she says. That’s why she also decided to become a Hearpeers Mentor, supporting other people with hearing loss.

The survey also revealed that although 54 % of people said that they listen to music every day, a staggering 6 in 10 people are unaware that listening to loud music can lead to permanent damage to their hearing. This finding amplifies the importance of raising awareness of hearing health.

These discussions are even more crucial in today’s world, as people are constantly exposed to sounds and music. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns us that hearing loss is on the rise, with 2.5 billion people at risk of hearing loss by 2050*.  Despite this hearing loss can go untreated for quite some time. On average adults can wait up to 10 years before seeking medical help for hearing loss.  

"It’s important to start conversations around hearing loss so that people can recognize the signs and act immediately. Hearing loss can affect us at any age and it’s not something to be embarrassed about. Learning more about how to protect our hearing and taking action early is the first step. Our lives are filled with emotional connections to people and places through music and hearing – through our campaign we’re emphasizing this," says Patrick D’Haese, Corporate Director of Awareness and Public Affairs, MED-EL. 

It is important for everyone to be reassured and to know that there are steps to take if you’re at risk or affected by hearing loss. As part of this campaign, MED-EL are offering a free online hearing test and the opportunity to connect directly with a global network of volunteers who live with hearing loss, or to a hearing expert. If you are worried about your hearing, don’t hesitate to take a hearing test today at https://go.medel.com/your-soundtrack.

 

MED-EL Medical Electronics, a leader in implantable hearing solutions, is driven by a mission to overcome hearing loss as a barrier to communication. The Austrian-based, privately owned business was co-founded by industry pioneers Ingeborg and Erwin Hochmair, whose ground-breaking research led to the development of the world’s first micro-electronic multi-channel cochlear implant (CI), which was successfully implanted in 1977 and was the basis for what is known as the modern CI today. This laid the foundation for the successful growth of the company in 1990, when they hired their first employees. To date, MED-EL has grown to more than 2,300 employees from around 80 nations and 30 locations worldwide.

The company offers the widest range of implantable and non-implantable solutions to treat all types of hearing loss, enabling people in 134 countries enjoy the gift of hearing with the help of a MED-EL device. MED-EL’s hearing solutions include cochlear and middle ear implant systems, a combined Electric Acoustic Stimulation hearing implant system, auditory brainstem implants as well as surgical and non-surgical bone conduction devices. www.medel.com

 

Doz. DI Dr DDr med. h.c. Ingeborg Hochmair

 

PR & Corporate Communications

MED-EL Medical Electronics

Fürstenweg 77a

6020 Innsbruck

Austria

 

T: +43 5 7788-1029

E: [email protected]