Latest news with #SteveWilliamson
The Guardian
25-03-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Australians can now use Apple AirPods Pro as hearing aids – but experts warn they're not for everyone
Apple's AirPods Pro 2 can for the first time be used as hearing aids for moderate hearing loss in Australia – but despite benefits, such as reducing social stigma and lowering costs, experts warn they are not suitable for everyone. After approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in December, Apple on Wednesday pushed out an update to AirPods Pro 2 devices in Australia allowing users to test their hearing and use the Bluetooth headphones as hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss. It is only TGA approved for people aged 18 and older. The company said the hearing aid capability of AirPods is similar to over-the-counter hearing aid devices available, but the Pro 2s, at $399, are significantly cheaper than the thousands of dollars people can pay for hearing aids. Steve Williamson, the chief executive of the peak body for the hearing health and deafness sector, Deafness Forum Australia, said his organisation welcomed anything that encourages earlier intervention and makes hearing assistance more accessible. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email 'But we must ensure that consumers are well informed and receive the appropriate professional care when they need it,' Williamson said. The price could 'break down financial barriers and make hearing assistance more accessible to people with mild hearing loss', he said. 'The high cost of traditional hearing devices in Australia is among the leading reasons people do not address their hearing issues in good time. Imagine having a way to address a $300 hearing problem instead of feeling forced to find $3,000.' It would also be a less-stigmatised entry point for people with mild hearing loss, Williamson said, but people should understand that the devices may not be suitable for everyone. 'While we see the potential benefits, we also stress the importance of professional guidance,' he said. 'These devices are not a substitute for a comprehensive hearing assessment by an audiologist.' Dr Nicky Chong-White, the National Acoustic Laboratories principal engineer, said it was an 'exciting advancement' that would lead to more people being aware of their hearing loss. 'We can see that definitely there's advantages for people with, and I would phrase it as 'mild to moderate hearing loss that don't want hearing aids'. They're not ready to get hearing aids, but they do need hearing help,' she said. Chong-White said the AirPods would suit situations like trying to hear in a restaurant or while watching TV rather than all-day wear for hearing aids, and without the stigma of wearing hearing aids given people wear AirPods out in public all the time. She said the overseas experience – where the hearing aid feature is already available – has been that while audiologists were initially concerned about the impact it would have on their industry, it had led to more people testing their hearing and getting professional support. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'It is raising that awareness of hearing and then people might try them and go, 'Oh, this isn't strong enough for me, or I need all these fancy features that you can only get in the high-end hearing aids', and it's getting them into the clinic and having that conversation.' Chong-White said just one in five people who could benefit from hearing aids actually wear them. 'If we can just tap into a portion of those to get them hearing help, that's … a benefit for society,' she said. 'I think if anyone can shift the needle on making hearing aids popular, it's probably Apple. If it fails, then good luck to others who try.' Apple's hearing test and hearing aid features were subject to clinical studies prior to approval. People can take the hearing test and adjust hearing settings for the AirPods by putting them in and modifying settings on the device it is connected to. The hearing test can also be started through the Health app.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Northern Irish LGBTQ+ organisations to celebrate milestone anniversaries at special event
Three Northern Irish organisations are teaming up to celebrate a collective 100 years of supporting LGBTQ+ people in the North. The Rainbow Project, HERe NI, and Cara-Friend will host a grand gala dinner at the iconic Titanic Building in Belfast on March 8, 2025. The event will kick off with a champagne reception and a four-course meal, followed by interactive entertainment featuring cabaret performances, live game shows and bingo. Adding to the significance of this occasion, it will also host the prestigious Tolerantia Awards, presented by the European Alliance Against Homophobia. Ver esta publicación en Instagram Una publicación compartida de HereNI (@hereni_) The veteran charity will be Cara-Friend. This LGBTQ+ organisation has spent 50 years supporting the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of the LGBTQ+ community in Northern Ireland. Alongside this event, Cara-Friend is also hosting an exhibition throughout February in The Linen Hall called Founding Cara-Friend, which tells the story of the establishment of the charity and features a series of moving portraits of founding volunteers of the organisation. Steve Williamson, Director of Cara-Friend, said, 'Having reached our 50th year of support for LGBTQ+ people in Northern Ireland, we're so proud of the work we've done and continue to do in support of our communities. We hope that our service users, past and present, who have grown up through Cara-Friend's youth service and other services across the sector feel the same pride in being part of our collective story'. Second in line is The Rainbow Project, celebrating its 30th anniversary. Its dedicated staff, seasonal workers and volunteers located all across their offices in Belfast work devotedly for the cause. They offer services which mitigate the impacts of discrimination, and they also provide training, campaigning and policy work. Scott Cuthbertson, CEO of the Rainbow Project, stated, 'We've come a long way since Rainbow was founded as a health and wellbeing organisation for gay and bisexual men: we have grown and shifted into a service provider and campaigning organisation for all LGBTQ+ communities, and we look forward to progressing LGBTQ+ equality for the next 30 years.' Last but not least, HERe NI will complete the total sum of 100 years as it marks 20 years of advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community, especially with lesbians and bisexual women. Cara McCann, Director of HEReNI, said, '20 years ago, Northern Ireland's first organisation for lesbian and bisexual women was founded in response to a lack of support and space for those women to connect and build community'. Currently, a remarkable aspect of their work is engaging with LGBTQ+ women on the issues that matter to them, and then raising these issues at government level. If you are interested in attending the event to celebrate these magnificent collective 100 years of achievements, dedication and advocacy for the Northern Irish LGBTQ+ community, tickets are available at The Rainbow's Project website. The post Northern Irish LGBTQ+ organisations to celebrate milestone anniversaries at special event appeared first on GCN.
