RAYOVAC® launches hearing loss conversation campaign to empower consumers to hear more for longer

March 3, 2020

RAYOVAC® a division of Energizer Holdings, Inc. is helping to raise awareness of hearing loss in the lead-up to World Hearing Day. They are launching a campaign to encourage people to talk more openly about their hearing. It’ll educate people on early signs and ask them to get their hearing tested.

The theme for World Hearing Day (3 March 2020) is ‘Hearing for Life: don’t let hearing loss limit you’. World Hearing Day was established by the World Health Organization. It is the largest global advocacy campaign to raise awareness of ear and hearing care issues. This year’s event will target the public with information to increase awareness of issues surrounding hearing loss motivating them to seek help.

Let’s Talk about Hearing Loss

RAYOVAC®’s campaign, ‘Let’s Talk about Hearing Loss’ aims to encourage people to speak to their loved ones about their experience with hearing loss. Rather than accepting the status quo, it encourages them to get their hearing tested by an audiologist.

The campaign uses a relatable approach, centred around a number of ‘hearing personality types’. These include ‘I’m ignoring it Ivor’, ‘I’m compensating Constance’, ‘It’s not my problem Peter’ and ‘I know I need help Helen’. The campaign asks consumers to identify themselves or their loved ones from the line-up. It also offers practical tips and advice on next steps.

To help people to start the conversation around hearing loss, RAYOVAC® has established an online information hub for people affected by hearing loss. It includes advice on identifying early signs of hearing loss. There is guidance on how to broach the subject with a friend, colleague or loved one too. Plus, it gives tips on where to go for help and what to expect from your first audiology appointment. This is available alongside a toolkit for independent audiologists and hearing professionals, to help them spread the word around World Hearing Day.

Support from Emily Balmer

Supporting RAYOVAC® in the campaign is British audiologist Emily Balmer. Emily is the Director of Audiology and founder of The Hearing Suite in Harrogate. Emily’s interest in hearing loss and passion for helping those affected started during a period she spent as a youth volunteer in a children’s home in Peru. She met an 11-year old girl who was profoundly deaf and had no ability to communicate through language

She said: “After graduating from university with an audiology degree, I moved in the direction of adult rehabilitation. I found that I was equally as passionate about helping people who had experienced great hearing for most of their lives but had lost that. Helping people recover and rediscover the sounds they had earlier in life is extremely rewarding.

“Many people ignore the early signs of hearing loss or accept it as just another part of the ageing process. Many are so used to compensating for poorer hearing that they don’t view it as a problem. Or, they may be concerned about what the outcome of a hearing test might be. I am delighted to be working with RAYOVAC® to help people to talk more openly about their hearing. I’m hoping to banish misconceptions around what wearing a hearing aid is like and help more people take steps to get their hearing tested.”

A global concern

Approximately 15% of the world’s adult population has some degree of hearing loss[1], a quarter of these are over the age of 65. Europe, like many other parts of the world, has an ageing population. This, together with increasing rates of hearing loss caused by environmental noise hazards, including loud music and headphones, means that the number of people experiencing hearing loss in Europe is rising[2]. In the UK, for example, approximately one in six people experience hearing loss. This is predicted to grow to one in five by 2035[3].

Words from RAYOVAC

Paula Brinson-Pyke is the Marketing Director at RAYOVAC®. He said: “Hearing loss affects one in six people and can make you feel isolated and alone. With the right help, it shouldn’t stop you living the life you deserve.

“As a leading global hearing aid battery manufacturer* RAYOVAC® wants to empower our customers to hear more, so they can live their best lives. The first step is recognising there is a problem and taking a hearing test. Then consulting with a hearing specialist like Emily is the next step.”

To download the talk about hearing loss toolkit for your practice, and learn how to get involved in World Hearing Day, visit https://www.rayovac.eu/en/WorldHearingDay/, like RAYOVAC® on Facebook on https://www.facebook.com/HearwithRayovac/ or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/hearwithrayovac.

*Based on internal company estimates of worldwide market share.

ENDS

Media contacts:

Anna Hodgson                                                                              Nicky Dawson
PR Account Director                                                                    Senior PR Account Manager
Tel: 0191 261 4250                                                                      Tel: 0191 261 4250
Mob: 07970 729758                                                                    Mob: 07393212515
annah@gardiner-richardson.com                                          nickyd@gardiner-richardson.com

[1] World Health Organization https://www.who.int/pbd/deafness/news/Millionslivewithhearingloss.pdf

[2] EFHOH https://efhoh.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Hearing-Loss-Statistics-AGM-2015.pdf

[3] Action on Hearing Loss