New Zealand Audiological Society Monday 13 December 2010
New Zealand Outscores Rest Of The World With Hearing Loss Care
New Zealand is the place to live for people with hearing loss, with new research showing we outscore other countries in
the benefits hearing aids deliver and the service provided by audiologists.
A new Ministry of Health survey reveals New Zealand outperforms the USA, Australia, Germany and the Netherlands when
measuring the perceived benefits of hearing aids, satisfaction with the hearing aid and the impact on a person¹s quality
of life.
³This survey shows the real tangible benefits of hearing aids and hearing care in people¹s lives,² says Peter Stubbing,
President of the New Zealand Audiological Society. ³It reveals that our hearing care and technology is contributing to a
better quality of life in New Zealand.
³The Government needs to take notice of this research because its new decisions to cut funding for hearing aids really
put these results and people¹s quality of life at risk.
³The survey results are something Kiwis should be proud of, as another example of where we punch above our weight for a
small nation,² says Mr Stubbing.
The Ministry of Health survey shows average satisfaction levels with: • hearing aids is between 83% and 91% • audiology
providers is between 90% and 95%.
Average Score Out of Five for 2 Funding Schemes (International Outcome Inventory-Hearing Aid Questions - IOI-HA)
Country Score out of 5 New Zealand Australia USA Netherlands Germany Benefits of hearing aids 4.1 - 4.3 3.8 3.8 3.2 3.9
Satisfaction with hearing aids 4.3 - 4.5 4.1 4.1 3.7 4.2 Quality of life 4.0 - 4.2 3.8 3.8 3.3 3.8 Use of the hearing
aids 4.2 - 4.3 4.1 4.1 4.4 4.2
³As the professional organisation representing the country¹s audiologists this information sends a powerful message to
people with hearing impairment who haven¹t yet had a check up, to do it now,² says Mr Stubbing.
The survey of 857 people measures the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing aids and the report compares data from
the countries that have this information publicly available.
To view the survey results go to www.audiology.org.nz
The New Zealand Audiological Society is the professional organisation representing qualified Audiologists and audiology
in New Zealand.
ENDS