This week is Hearing Awareness Week.
Kicking off yesterday and concluding on Saturday, Hearing Awareness Week aims to raise awareness of not only the importance of hearing but its fragility.
The official Hearing Awareness Week website provides a history infographic on various hearing devices dating back to the 1800s. The primitive ear trumpet was the most popular hearing device until the early 20th century, the Akoulallion was the first electric hearing aid and was produced in the late 19th century, which were succeeded by Vactuphones (vacuum tube hearing aids) in the 1920s, wearable hearing aids in the 1930s, transistors in the 1940s and 50s, microprocessors in the 1970s, with digital devices being currently used. The infographic also details what is in store for future devices and the possibility of a hearing loss cure.
The website also provides a noise simulator allowing users to discover how certain types of music, devices and environments can affect hearing and how long people can be exposed to the specific music, devices and environments for without ear protection. The website also provides free downloadable fact sheets on various hearing related issues.
Events are being held across the country this week, including silent sport in Canberra where participants will wear earplugs for the duration of play to simulate the experience of being deaf and/or hearing impaired, as well as various hearing awareness expos in NSW and WA.
More information on Hearing Awareness Week can be found here.
Image via Pixabay.