About the Scheme
Siemens Hearing Instruments established that hearing loss is a concern to employees through work place hearing checks and screening offered in 2006. Employees were keen to test their hearing and any employees who did not pass the hearing screening test were referred for full audiological testing. In response to this, the scheme is now available to all Siemens employees* family & friends.
About Siemens Hearing Instruments
Siemens has a long history of providing hearing instruments – for over 130 years it has designed, manufactured and sold hearing instruments. Today every fifth hearing instrument sold around the world is a Siemens product, making it the world's market leader in the manufacturing of hearing instruments. Siemens is one of the main providers of digital hearing aids to the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK Government's modernisation programmes and has patient management software systems installed in hospital audiology departments across the UK.
Did you know that one in seven people suffer from a hearing loss? That's 8,945,000 people in the UK, which means you are likely to know someone that has a hearing problem. More than 549 employees were screened during the road show launch of the scheme in March 2009 and results showed that 13% (one in seven tested) were found to have a significant hearing loss.
Hearing Health
The RNID states that it can take 15 years for people who suspect they have a hearing loss to finally seek help.
Jackie Ballard, CEO for the charity, which works in close partnership with Siemens Hearing Instruments, advocates this: “Hearing loss is not just an issue for older people – it’s a problem which affects many under 55s. By and large, noise-induced hearing loss can be prevented and by simply looking after your hearing you can help prolong it well into older age.”
Trevor Andrews, Managing Director of Siemens Hearing Instruments UK, concurs by saying: “In that time a person’s quality of life is greatly reduced. Our message is simple, don’t wait years, change your life today and take a hearing check.”
2009-Nov-09 | Author