Better Hearing is a national organisation and the Canberra Group is a very active Group operating in the ACT. We want to thank you for visiting our website, which we are busy developing, and we want you to be aware of us and the help we can give to hearing impaired people anywhere using the internet but particularly the people of the ACT who may be able to join us and benefit from our training programme and other assistance.
We know there are a lot of people in Canberra with a hearing loss, probably close to 60,000. Some of these people will have a mild hearing loss but around 20,000 will need hearing aids to hear properly. Unfortunately we know that many of these people will wait a long time before obtaining hearing aids, some up to 10 years (yes 10 years!). Unfortunately for these people, they will have got used to not hearing many sounds and when they eventually obtain hearing aids their ears will be bombarded with noise that will be hard to handle. Even for those that have reacted fairly quickly there is a lot of adjusting required and the significance of a lot of noises has to be relearned. There will be sounds that can be ignored and others that need to be acted on. This adjustment takes time and perseverence will be required. It can take up to six months to adjust properly to new hearing aids.
We want you to know that we are here to help you make that adjustment. In fact we can help you before you actually get your hearing aids. By attending our 'lipreading classes' (see separate page) you can meet many others who have gone through the same decision making process you are facing and they are all keen to help you become a successful hearing aid user. You are not alone!
We also have lots of information that may be of assistance including pamphlets and posters. We also have a Personal Hospital Kit in case you have to go to hospital which will ensure that you are identified as a patient with special communication needs and it also contains other highly useful information (see separate page).
If you need referral to another support group or to a professional then we can also help as we make every effort to maintain contacts with a range of people who can assist if you have special needs.
We know that people in the workforce have special needs and we can sometimes help with Hearing Awareness Training (see separate page) in the workplace to make management and workmates aware of the special communication and environmental issues that need to be employed to make a person with a hearing loss a productive member of staff.
We have a number of Lipreading Teachers (or Aural Rehabilitation Teachers) who conduct our regular sessions and other forms of training. We need more! If you think you have an empathetic nature and an interest in volunteering to help people with a hearing loss, we would love to hear from you. The training may be completed in about a year and you would receive supervision and assistance while taking the course.
Our Canberra Convenor is Sue Daw and she may be contacted on 02 62514713 or by email canberra@betterhearing.org.au .
Better Hearing Australia is a non-profit, self-help organisation controlled by its members and provides an Australia-wide community support service of rehabilitation and help for Australia's hearing impaired.
The organisation traces its beginnings to 1932, in Victoria, and now Better Hearing Australia has 18 Branches (located in the principal cities, with over 100 venues in city, suburban and country areas). Each of these Branches is incorporated, and controlled by an elected Committee of Management. Better Hearing Australia has a National Council as its controlling body, comprising a Board of Directors of National Council, and accredited national councillors appointed by each Branch.
The objects of Better Hearing Australia are -
- To encourage the preservation of hearing of all people.
- To encourage the use of preventative measures to lower the prevalence of deafness and hearing impairment in the Australian community.
- To improve the communication of hearing impaired people, their families and friends.
To achieve its objectives Better Hearing Australia Inc -
- co-operates with relevant authorities in research and action directed towards the preservation of hearing and the prevention and alleviation of deafness;
- encourages all people to have regular audiometric tests;
- arranges conferences of like minded organisations and co-operate with kindred bodies;
- serves as an Information Centre on all problems of impaired hearing;
- establishes programs for the rehabilitation of hearing impaired people;
- obtains and disseminates information and advice on hearing aids and assisitive devices and systems.
- encourages improved access to educational opportunities for hearing impaired people;
- encourages hearing impaired people to participate in social interaction;
- promotes and assists in the establishment of new Branches and Groups; and
- promotes public awareness of the problems associated with hearing impairment.
Pursuant to these objectives, Better Hearing Australia Branches provide, directly or indirectly, assistance and help, information and training services to many thousands of Australians with hearing impairment and disorders of the ear, and to their partners, family and friends and to those who work with people with hearing disabilities.
Specific details of the support and assistance available are to be found on other pages within this web site .
Please note to use this site you will need a PDF viewer - free download is available please 
Canberra Group