Miss-Delectable
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http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=2433652005
THE world's largest telephone deafness check was launched yesterday to help the four million people in the UK who are losing their hearing but doing nothing about it.
The Countess of Wessex unveiled the RNID scheme, which is aimed at those who are too embarrassed to discuss deafness problems with others.
By ringing 0845 600 5555, callers can undergo a specially developed hearing test which takes less than five minutes.
The RNID, the charity representing nine million deaf and hard-of-hearing in Britain, believes that about four million people in the UK are suffering from varying forms of deafness but have not been fitted with a hearing aid.
A MORI poll found that 70 per cent of those with hearing loss who had not consulted a specialist said they did not think the problem was bad enough.
Dr John Low, the chief executive of the RNID, said more than half of those aged 60 and over have some hearing loss. "It can have a profound impact on our lives, leaving many of us feeling isolated and out of touch with family, friends and colleagues," he said.
Callers are asked to listen to recordings of numbers played against a background noise. The caller uses the telephone keypad to select the digits they have heard. They will then be told whether their hearing is within normal range, below normal or well below normal. If well below normal, callers are encouraged to contact their GP and ask for an audiology test.
THE world's largest telephone deafness check was launched yesterday to help the four million people in the UK who are losing their hearing but doing nothing about it.
The Countess of Wessex unveiled the RNID scheme, which is aimed at those who are too embarrassed to discuss deafness problems with others.
By ringing 0845 600 5555, callers can undergo a specially developed hearing test which takes less than five minutes.
The RNID, the charity representing nine million deaf and hard-of-hearing in Britain, believes that about four million people in the UK are suffering from varying forms of deafness but have not been fitted with a hearing aid.
A MORI poll found that 70 per cent of those with hearing loss who had not consulted a specialist said they did not think the problem was bad enough.
Dr John Low, the chief executive of the RNID, said more than half of those aged 60 and over have some hearing loss. "It can have a profound impact on our lives, leaving many of us feeling isolated and out of touch with family, friends and colleagues," he said.
Callers are asked to listen to recordings of numbers played against a background noise. The caller uses the telephone keypad to select the digits they have heard. They will then be told whether their hearing is within normal range, below normal or well below normal. If well below normal, callers are encouraged to contact their GP and ask for an audiology test.