Your Ears and How You Hear: An informative and interactive event
Many older Canadians report difficulty accessing information about hearing health care services in a user-friendly format. Hearing Health Fair 2009 will make available intelligible information on hearing loss and related issues to the public, Wednesday, May 13, 2009 from 9:00am to 4:00pm at Simon Fraser University, Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings St, Vancouver. This event will offer free hearing screenings and presentations throughout the day.
Presented in partnership between the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the BC Network for Aging Research and the UBC School of Audiology and Speech Sciences, clinicians and UBC researchers will offer lectures on hearing loss, hearing aids, and research updates. There will also be an Exhibit Hall featuring hearing health care service providers.
“Approximately 10% of BC’s general population have some degree of hearing loss and that percent rises to 25% of baby boomers and to over 50% of those aged 70 years and older. And yet, 3 out of 5 persons with hearing loss do not wearing hearing aids,” notes Grace Shyng, Head of Audiology at the Western Institute for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
“Through this Hearing Health Fair, we want participants to learn about how we hear, what services and options are available for people with hearing loss, and provide an opportunity for clinicians, researchers and the public to network and share ideas. This is going to be a dynamic and very informative event.”
Rick Waters, a hard of hearing consumer and son of well-known Vancouver radio broadcaster, the late Vic Waters, will be presenting a lively and entertaining keynote address: “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Audiologist.”
The Hearing Health Fair will be fully hearing accessible with sign language interpreters, real-time captioning and assistive devices; and a free community shuttle will pick up patrons from major seniors community centers to the Harbour Centre.
For more information, visit www.widhh.ca or contact Grace Shyng, Registered Audiologist and Chair at 604-736-7391 or info@widhh.com.
