Over 5% of the world’s population – or 466 million people – has disabling hearing loss (432 million adults and 34 million children). It is estimated that by 2050 over 900 million people – or one in every 10 people – will have disabling hearing loss. Disabling hearing loss refers to hearing loss greater than…
John McIntosh was born with scoliosis – or curvature of the spine – although John’s never let his disability slow him down. But, he admits, as he gets older his disability is having a bigger impact on daily life.
It’s barbecue season and, this summer, national hearing organisation Hearing Therapy, is urging hosts to extend their Kiwi hospitality to guests who have trouble hearing.
Drums were an unlikely choice of instrument for a young John McIntosh. He was born with scoliosis – a severe curvature of the spine. Typical symptoms include limited mobility and heart and lung difficulties – the type of symptoms that make lugging around a drum kit challenging.
Social occasions allow us to take a break and reconnect with family and friends, but they can be stressful for those who experience hearing loss. Wellington hearing therapist, Linda Hatten, has some great tips to make social gatherings more enjoyable.
14 December 2020 – Smoke alerting devices for the hard of hearing save lives when installed and thanks to a partnership between Fire and Emergency New Zealand and Life Unlimited Charitable Trust they can now be quickly installed in Oamaru and potentially fully funded. Fire and Emergency New Zealand fire risk management officer Mark Bredenbeck…
27 May 2020 – With winter upon us and heaters and fires blazing, it’s an appropriate time to share some information about specialised smoke alarms for the hard of hearing. All conventional smoke alarms in NZ emit a high pitched sound which can be difficult for people with age or noise related hearing loss to…
You might be in self-isolation, but you are not alone! In the last few weeks we have seen COVID-19 reach pandemic levels. New Zealand is in lockdown and, apart from essential services, we are all staying at home in our bubbles. During this time, we don’t want people with hearing loss to feel unsupported. You…
The safety and wellbeing of our clients, customers, families, whānau and our staff is now, more than ever, a key priority for us in our communities. We want to let you know what Life Unlimited, Altogether Autism, Mobility Centre and Hearing Therapy, are doing in response to Coronavirus (COVID-19). We recognise that some of our…
8 July 2019 – Robert Mullen of Hamilton is a music teacher with a gift which sets him apart from other musicians. He knows how to bring out the best in students with learning or intellectual disabilities so much so that many of his protegés have arguably become better than their master. He has helped…