Campaign highlights the importance of prevention and early intervention of hearing loss and raises awareness about hearing loss as a marker for other serious health conditions.
. — The Florida Academy of Audiology (FLAA), the Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) and WS Audiology (WSA) are pleased to launch Listen Up Florida, a statewide public awareness campaign to encourage Floridians to protect and prioritize their hearing health, and to raise awareness about the risks associated with untreated hearing loss.
An estimated 800,000 Floridians are living with hearing loss, yet most people are unaware of the importance of evaluation or treatment.
Listen Up Florida is designed to promote prevention and early intervention of hearing loss to support good health and quality of life.
“Hearing loss is not just about missing sounds, it is about maintaining mobility, brain health, safety, and overall well-being,” said Dr. Laura Bradley Pratesi, Au.D., CH-TM, CCC-A, Vice President of Communications for the Florida Academy of Audiology. “Too many Floridians delay care because they are unaware of the importance of early intervention. Yet people with even a mild hearing loss are three times more likely to experience a fall, and falls remain one of the leading causes of injury and hospitalization across the State.”
Noise-related hearing loss is completely preventable. There are three simple actions that people can take to protect their hearing:
1. Avoid dangerously loud noise when you can
2. Use earplugs or other hearing protection when you cannot avoid dangerous sounds
3. Get your hearing checked regularly and whenever concerns arise
“Hearing health is a significant and often overlooked public health issue,” said Jill Davis, Au.D., President of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology. “At the same time, we are living in an increasingly noisy world.”
Florida audiologists note that using power tools, listening to loud music, attending sporting events, hunting, farming, and manufacturing are just a few examples of when and where people encounter dangerous noise levels while they work and play throughout the State. It is increasingly important, therefore, for Floridians to take steps to actively protect their ears from dangerously loud sounds and get regular hearing checks to make sure that their auditory system stays healthy.
Led by audiology leaders and healthcare advocates throughout Florida, Listen Up Florida aims to educate the public about the importance of optimizing their hearing over a lifetime.