Listen Up Kentucky: New Statewide Initiative Urges Residents to Take Action to Protect their Hearing Health
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.
Frankfort, Ky. — The Kentucky Academy of Audiology (KAA), the Academy of Doctors of Audiology (ADA) and WS Audiology are pleased to launch Listen Up Kentucky, a statewide public awareness campaign to encourage Kentuckians to protect and prioritize their hearing health, and to raise awareness about the risks associated with untreated hearing loss.
More than 700,000 adults are living with hearing loss across the Commonwealth of Kentucky, yet most people are unaware of the importance of evaluation or treatment.
- Download the data from the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing on the incidence of hearing loss by county.
Listen Up Kentucky is designed to promote prevention and early intervention of hearing loss to support good health and quality of life.
- Access the Listen Up Kentucky Public Service Announcements using the link or the QR code below.
“Hearing loss is not just about missing sounds, it is about maintaining mobility, brain health, safety, and overall well-being,” said Tiffany Brewer, Au.D., President of the Kentucky Academy of Audiology (KAA). “Too many Kentuckians 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 Commonwealth.”
Noise-related hearing loss is completely preventable. There are three simple actions that people can take to protect their hearing:
- Avoid dangerously loud noise when you can
- Use earplugs or other hearing protection when you cannot avoid dangerous sounds
- Get your hearing checked regularly and whenever concerns arise
“Hearing health is a significant and often overlooked public health issue in Kentucky,” said Stephanie Czuhajewski, MPH, executive director of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology, a national professional society serving audiologists that is headquartered in in Frankfort, Kentucky. “At the same time, we are living in an increasingly noisy world.”
Kentucky audiologists note that using power tools, listening to loud music, attending sporting events, participating in marching band, hunting, farming, and working in manufacturing facilities are just a few examples of when and where people encounter dangerous noise levels while they work and play throughout the Commonwealth. It is increasingly important, therefore, for Kentuckians 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 Kentucky, Listen Up Kentucky aims to educate the public about the importance of optimizing their hearing over a lifetime.
Please scan the QR code to access consumer resources, developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including information on what sounds are too loud and how to protect your hearing!
For more information about Listen Up Kentucky or to find resources near you, visit the Kentucky Academy of Audiology, the Academy of Doctors of Audiology or contact Stephanie Czuhajewski at sczuhajewski@audiologist.org.
About the Kentucky Academy of Audiology
The Kentucky Academy of Audiology (KAA) is a professional organization dedicated to advancing hearing and balance care across Kentucky through advocacy, education, public awareness, and research. Visit www.kyaudio.org for more information.
About the Academy of Doctors of Audiology
The Academy of Doctors of Audiology is a leading national association, dedicated to fostering evidence-based clinical and business practices in the delivery of hearing and balance healthcare. Visit www.audiologist.org for more information.
About WS Audiology
WS Audiology is a global leader in hearing healthcare. WSA helps millions of people with hearing loss regain the joy of hearing through innovative hearing technologies. WSA believes that hearing unlocks human potential - and that sound isn’t just something you hear - it’s something you feel, share, and live through - something truly wonderful. Visit www.wsa.com for more information.