Free hearing screening for public at 17 locations till end-Sept

More than 100 elderly from various community centres across Singapore including Rogers Luo, 75, undergo free hearing screening at the Siemens Hearing Awareness Week event held at the National University Health System (NUHS)  -- ST PHOTO: SEAH KW
More than 100 elderly from various community centres across Singapore including Rogers Luo, 75, undergo free hearing screening at the Siemens Hearing Awareness Week event held at the National University Health System (NUHS)  -- ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG 

SINGAPORE - The public can go for free hearing tests at 17 hearing care centres here from Sept 15 to Sept 30.

This initiative is in line with the Siemens Hearing Awareness Week 2014, an event organised by manufacturer Siemens Medical Instrument.

Into its sixth year, the Siemens Hearing Awareness Week 2014 aims to raise awareness about the importance of hearing health. A two-day event was held at the National University Health System Tower Block. Besides the free hearing screenings, there are also booths set up by various partners including the Singapore Association for the Deaf to educate the public about hearing.

Dr Loh Woei Shyang, senior consultant in the department of otolaryngology - head and neck surgery at the National University Hospital said it is important, especially for the elderly, to check their hearing instead of simply dismissing it as a part of "aging".

"Of all the senses, I think hearing rehabilitation probably seems a little bit easier compared to the rest, but the acceptance of such intervention is still not that high in our local population. It's a silent disease, because nobody can see that you have a problem, and they rather choose to ignore it than to face it," Dr Loh added.

Visit www.siemens.com.sg/haw for the list of participating centres for the free hearing screening.

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