Over 400,000 New Zealanders are affected by Noise Induced Hearing Loss (“NIHL”). It's affecting their relationships, their quality of life and their jobs, every day. The economic impact of NIHL is over $45 million and growing fast.
At the NFD, we want to reduce this impact, so over the last two years we've developed a strategy that we're now turning into action. We want to create targeted long term changes to protect people where they live, work, shop and play.
We have identified two areas where the NFD can contribute to reducing noise, and therefore NIHL. These are directed at early childhood and youth. The overall aim is to influence the factors that lead to noise induced hearing loss in New Zealand through a combination of consumer awareness and sector/setting change.
The first step was a workshop held on 9 September 2009, which brought together noise and hearing specialists together with leaders in the areas of research and social change, including the noted originator of the Dangerous Decibels programme in the United States, Dr Billy Martin from the Oregon Health and Science University. The results of the workshop will enable us to refine our strategy, target areas for action and create innovative, effective ways of making change. We discussed how we can better protect the ears of pre-schoolers, DIY’ers, concert goers and the “MP3 generation”. Once we have collated the input, we will implement our refined strategy, which we intend to affect policy, improve work and learning conditions, create behavior change and, the ultimate, encourage teenagers to change their listening habits! Read our campaign strategy
NFD has developed a Safe Sound Indicator (SSI) specially for the early childhood sector. The SSI provides a visual feedback tool for both children and educators, enabling children to identify and manage high noise exposure.
The concept for the SSI was conceived by Jamie Fenton of Taranaki, an Inglewood High School student, budding scientist and inventor, and recipient of the Young New Zealander of the Year Award 2011. Read about Jamie's achievements here.
Jamie was also interviewed by Radio New Zealand's Noelle McCarthy on 31 December 2010. Click here to listen to the interview.
The SSI is now available for purchase. Please contact Sara Huszak on 0800 867 446 or email sara.huszak@nfd.org.nz for further details.
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.
Download our fact sheets to help you manage noise in your centre. We value your feedback - let us know if they were helpful!
Read the abstracts of several research articles prepared by Massey University staff concerning the hearing status and exposure to noise of early childhood centre staff and safe noise levels in early childhood centres.
AUT University students have created their own sound injury prevention and rehabilitation campaign, in collaboration with NFD, to make young people aware of safer listening practices. You can read the media release here, visit the team's web site here or connect with them via their Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Listen-Hear-Love-Music/151455708214941.
NFD partnered with Childforum www.childforum.com to present a regional series of workshops from Auckland to Christchurch throughout April-June 2010 on the topic of noise management in early childhood centres. Our aim was to educate and inform, and to provide noise reduction strategies for the attendees to take back to their own centres. View our presentation
In the UK, and in New Zealand, there are recommended standards for the acoustic treatment of classrooms. But in both countries there is no requirement for designers to follow these recommendations. That means that many school children in both countries have unnecessary problems hearing in classrooms. Watch a short clip from the UK on YouTube for more information
The NFD's latest survey reveals that pre-school children are potentially being exposed to excessive noise levels while at play. Read more
|
|
Read all the latest information and updates from NFD Inc. Latest Issue Out now