HEALTH
POOR SLEEP TAKES ITS TOLL
THE Sleep Health Foundation estimates that poor sleep costs Australia $14.4 billion each year, with a further $36.6 billion related to loss of wellbeing.
A new report, Rise and try to shine: the social and economic costs of sleep disorders, found that around 1 in 10 Australians have a sleep disorder that can have a serious effect on their health, wellbeing, safety and productivity. The costs were distributed across three major sleep disorders – obstructive sleep apnoea, insomnia and restless legs syndrome. The report calls for action to address the significant costs of poor sleep by implementing the 11 recommendations of the federal Parliamentary Inquiry into Sleep Health Awareness.
GREAT
Hear and be heard What? Huh? Pardon? If these are common phrases you hear at home, then listen up, writes MICHELLE LAWSON.
T
o better understand the feelings experienced by those with hearing loss, researchers asked a group of those affected what it felt like to be heard and when it mattered most. They found that one in every two said that to be heard was to be acknowledged. If it has become a running joke that your partner didn’t hear you when you asked to take the bins out, then it’s likely you are living with someone with hearing loss. For those suffering from untreated hearing loss, everyday scenarios such as watching TV, or simply having a conversation over dinner, are a challenge. However, to be heard is not only about the mechanics of sound, speech and hearing; it is also about having your opinion, feelings or position valued and understood. Results from the Connect and Be Heard Report found that eight out of 10 Australians acknowledged that the place where they most wanted to be heard was at home, yet our own castles seem to be a space where many feel the most overlooked. Four in ten said they were struggling to be heard at home. While people often hide the tell-tale signs by turning up the volume or asking a person to repeat themselves, the toll of living with someone with hearing loss is felt by all. It’s important to understand the effect that hearing loss can have for both the affected and those around them. Hearing loss is not just the absence of sound in your life, it is being out of reach from the people who matter most to you. A person experiencing untreated hearing loss can quickly find themselves on the outside of life; “invisible” while standing right in front of the people they love most.
The most important first step is to bring up the conversation gently. The Gottman Institute has penned the term “soft start up” which includes using words like “I feel” when addressing issues or conflicts. A conversation could sound like, “I feel I’m shouting at you because you can’t hear me.” Taking this approach can get the conversation off on the right foot so they can see that changes have been noticed. Encourage them to take action. Despite many Australians experiencing hearing loss, it can take multiple prompts and reminders from family members for people to book a hearing appointment. Hearing can often be easily addressed. An initial hearing check is free and takes just 15 minutes. There are different types of hearing tests available, depending on each individual’s hearing loss situation. For many, hearing loss will be manageable, and technology even allows some to use almost invisible solutions. For those who need hearing support, the clinician will recommend a 60-minute comprehensive hearing test and a consultation to review solutions to best support your hearing, lifestyle and budget. Finally, make broader health discussions and health goals a part of your everyday relationship. Set a yearly reminder on your calendar, just like you would a routine dental check-up. There has never been a more important time to have these conversations. If there is one regret, it’s usually that people wish they had addressed their hearing loss concerns sooner. Michelle Lawson is managing director of Connect Hearing. Visit connecthearing.com.au
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1300 884 880 28 YOUR TIME MAGAZINE / June 2021
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