Contact – Rena Richmond on 02 9412 6917
Media release
11 November 2009
Australian Hearing acknowledges its Veteran clients
The noise of war still rings in the ears of many of our Veterans, with hearing loss
widely affecting those exposed to loud noise during battle.
While most Australians have no personal experience of war, fifty thousand still serve
Australia in the armed forces.
This Remembrance Day, Australian Hearing held a special morning tea with some of
its Veteran clients to acknowledge their contribution to Australia’s war service.
Australian Hearing’s Managing Director, Steven Grundy, is well aware of the noise
problems associated with warfare after spending 21 years in the Navy.
“We are more aware now of the long-term damage that noise causes and our troops
are encouraged to wear hearing protection,” Mr Grundy said.
“However, our older Veterans didn’t protect their ears and as a consequence, hearing
loss is the second most common medical condition reported by Australian war
Veterans¹. Most Veterans are entitled to free and subsidised hearing services and
Australian Hearing is able to offer great solutions and the latest hearing devices to
enable our Veterans to communicate effectively,” he said.
Veterans are an important part of Australian Hearing’s history. The federal
government agency was initially set up in 1947 to assist Veterans with noise related
ear damage. Each year, Australian Hearing tests and assists thousands of Veterans.
Special guest Captain Stephen O’Brien, of the Royal Australian Navy, joined
Australian Hearing today to speak about his experiences in war. Captain O’Brien said
that The Australian Defence Force currently has several thousand personnel
deployed on combat operations and peace keeping missions throughout the world.
“It is an unfortunate fact that a number of them have been, and will continue to be,
killed and injured in the service of their country. Australian Hearing provides a very
real contribution in the overall ongoing health support plan for our veterans long after
they have left the Service. This willing support provides significant reassurance to
serving members and is certainly something that each member of the Australian
Hearing family should be justifiably proud of,” Captain O’Brien said.
or to take a free hearing check from the comfort of your home, call Australian
Hearing’s five-minute telephone hearing service on 1800 826 500 and follow the
prompts. #Ends#
1
Australian Government, Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Your Lives, Your needs 2003, Findings from the 2003
Survey of Entitled Veterans, War Widows and their Carers commissioned by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
NEWS 
