Farmers listen up

Farmers are encouraged to get their hearing checked for free before they leave it too late.

Hearing loss is a common in farming , with constant exposure to loud machinery and guns.

Avril Hamlin from Hear the World tested over 80 people before 2pm on Wednesday and said about 60% of them showed signs of hearing loss. She stressed the importance of farmers getting their hearing checked as soon as possible.

“The longer you have a hearing loss and don’t treat it, the brain adapts to that hearing loss.”

Although noise-induced hearing loss cannot be corrected medically, it can be restored through hearing aids.

The brain then has to adapt back to hearing again, Mrs Hamlin said.

“It’s a big health issue with farmers,” she said.

The free hearing checks are in the pavilion, and if significant hearing loss is noticed clients will be referred to their GP.

The change in ACC funding means patients might now have to top up the money they get from ACC for hearing aids. ACC contributions will depend largely on whether hearing loss is injury-related, but they will still send replacement batteries.