Loss of hearing impacts on every aspect of our lives. One in five Australians - more than 4 million people - report that they cannot hear properly.

Hearing loss may happen suddenly or gradually and differs from most other disabilities in one important respect - it is invisible. This means that often it is not obvious, and hence it is often not understood. Your ability to hear can significantly impact on how well you can interact with your family, friends, colleagues and the world around you.

It is of great importance to be aware of possible hearing limitations and seek treatment early to deal effectively with any hearing loss. Untreated hearing loss may affect your social life, lower your quality of life and cause mental anguish.

The two major causes of hearing loss are exposure to noises and ageing.