Healthy hearing – essential farming equipment
17 August 2009
HNE Health staff will again be on hand in Gunnedah at AgQuip 2009 (18-20 August), providing free hearing tests and educating farmers on health conditions that are common in farming life.
One condition common to farmers and people working on the land is tinnitus (ringing in the ears) – which is usually as a result of working with heavy machinery without proper ear protection.
Audiometrist Kathy Challinor, who has been attending AgQuip for 25 years, says there are some simple signs people can look out for to indicate hearing loss.
“If you’re having difficulty communicating with people, or your partner is avoiding social events due to embarrassment, then it may be because of hearing loss which means it’s time to get something done about it,” Kathy said.
“AgQuip is the perfect time for farmers to have their hearing tested for free and learn more about preventative measures.”
HNE Health will also provide 10 health awareness stations at AgQuip, where visitors can find information and ask questions about the most common health issues confronting farming communities including smoking, alcohol, emotional well-being, blood pressure, diabetes, bowel cancer risk and skin cancer risk.
The hearing and falls prevention stations are only available to farmers, who must sign a consent form before consultation as AgHealth (Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety) is conducting research and giving advice on common farming health issues.
Health professionals will staff the stations and will be able to give on-the-spot advice. For anyone needing further consultation they will be referred to an appropriate health service for follow-up.
The names and contact details of each visitor who receives some health advices the health stations will be recorded.
In November 2009, those people will be mailed a 10-minute follow-up survey that will ask simple questions such as, whether participants sought a health consultation following AgQuip, if they commenced any recommendations provided by the health professionals at AgQuip and their level of satisfaction with the health screening.
Contact: Emma Gibbs
Phone: 6767 7137 or 0428 114 767