We work with our member groups to
Read our Objects, which form part of our Constitution
Read Louise Carroll, our CEO's, letter to John Key dated 22 July 2010 on the issues here Half a Hearing Aid Won’t Work.
Louise also authored an editorial published in the New Zealand Herald on 28 July 2010. Read here
The ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) plans to deny support to people with noise damaged hearing if the person's total hearing loss is less than 6%.
This is despite evidence showing total damage of much less than 6% having a serious impact on the professional and social lives of those affected. Noise damage typically attacks the high tone area of our hearing that is critical for deciphering speech, especially in everyday environments.
The changes will remove professional discetion from assessments, and the new law declares that hearing damage below this threshold is not an injury.
The proposed changes to the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment Bill united the "hearing sector" in its opposition to the proposed threshold, with the National Foundation for the Deaf, the Hearing Association of New Zealand, the New Zealand Audiological Society, the Human Rights Commission and manufacturers and vendors joining other professionals, including university researchers and groups like Age Concern in protesting via submissions to Parliament's Transport and Industrial Relations Committee in November 2009.
An information paper outlining the key issues the hearing sector raised is available here.
In June 2010 the National Foundation for the Deaf also lodged submissions in response to the proposed regulations to operationally implement the law change. Read these here.
You can support our concerns by writing to the Minister of ACC, Dr Nick Smith, or to the National Foundation for the Deaf, who will pass your concerns on to the Minister. Many people have already written to the Minister, opposing the regulations. Read article here
NFD has been developing a Safe Sound Indicator (SSI) which is now at prototype trial stage in 20 early childhood centres throughout the Auckland area.
We are developing a list of people interested in knowing more about the SSI when it becomes available, and ask that you email sara.huszak@nfd.org.nz to express your interest.
We appreciate your interest in our noise induced hearing loss project and thank you for supporting the work of the NFD.
The SSI prototype trial has been discussed in a NZ Doctor news article on 3 May 2010. Read the article here
The SSI has also featured in newspaper articles in the Auckland City Harbour News on 18 June 2010 read here and in the North Shore Times on 8 July 2010 read here (article supplied courtesy of the North Shore Times).
Read Dr Cathy Stephenson's (as seen on TV One's Good Morning programme) article dated 4 May 2010 about noise induced hearing loss caused by DIY activities, and what you can do to prevent it.
University of Auckland researchers have made a breakthrough discovery of a drug which can reverse damage done to hearing by excessive noise, and now need a commercial partner. An investment of at least NZ$1.4 million is needed to take the drug to clinical trials. Read more
Click here for a list of details for other media links and articles.
The NFD has received funding from the Ministry of Health to produce an information pack for deaf and hearing impaired people detailing the services and support options provided by Government organisations in New Zealand. The information will also be translated into English, Te Reo Maori, Tongan, Cook Islands Maori, Samoan and Mandarin languages. The pack should be available for distribution by the end of September 2010. Please let us know if you or your organisation would like to receive one or more of these packs.
Our new desktop widget checks to see if your headphones are too loud! Download our widget on the right and follow the instructions. If the sound glows green, they are at a good level, if the sound glows red they could be doing irreparable damage!
The RNID (the Royal National Institute for Deaf People) in the UK has developed an on-line hearing check. Click here to start the check. It only takes a few minutes and it's free. Do you know anyone who needs to check their hearing? Please forward this link on.
A new innovative iPhone application that allows people to check their hearing anywhere in the world was also launched by the RNID on 30 March 2010. To access the link and to read more, click here
If you would like to help the NFD support people with hearing impairment and spread awareness of deafness prevention by regular deductions from your pay, please click here
Download a copy of this poster here
Hearing protection (ear muffs) for babies and children can be purchased from Baby Banz NZ
Hearing protection (ear muffs) for adults can be purchased from (information only - products not endorsed by NFD):
Hearwell, Ear Buddies, Kiwi Plugs, Kiwi Safety, Mitre10
A hearing dog could enhance your life. Find out more here
The sixth Australasian Newborn Hearing Screening Conference will be held in Fremantle, Western Australia, on 8-9 April 2011. Download the flyer here
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