Cochlear is searching the world for the #HappiestSound

February 23, 2017
Media Contact
Renee Oehlerking
Cochlear Americas
303-264-2104
roehlerking@Cochlear.com

 

Centennial, Colo. (Feb. 23, 2017)—Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH), the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, is launching a campaign to find what the world’s happiest sound is to raise awareness about the importance of hearing health care and preventing hearing loss.

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For some people the happiest sound is of a child laughing; for others it is waves breaking on the beach. From February 24 through March 3, Cochlear is asking people across the globe to share their #HappiestSound through video, audio, photograph or even write about it and then post it on social media using the hashtag #HappiestSound.

Sounds will be aggregated on the website www.happiestsound.com, where a free Happiest Sound video will also be made available at the conclusion of the campaign. Once all sounds have been shared, they will be categorized, counted and an official Happiest Sound will be announced by Cochlear on March 2, the eve of World Hearing Day on March 3.

World Hearing Day is an international initiative from the World Health Organization (WHO) that aims to raise awareness and promote hearing health across the world.

"Each day at Cochlear we see the remarkable impact restoring sound has on a person’s life," said Tony Manna, President of Cochlear North America. "In the lead up to World Hearing Day, we are looking forward to spreading the word about the importance of hearing those essential sounds that fill us with happiness each day. My #HappiestSound is hearing waves crashing on the beach."

Hearing loss is a major public health concern, and its impact is set to increase. According to the WHO, there are 360 million people living with disabling hearing loss worldwide, and this figure is projected to reach 1.2 billion by 2050.1,2

"Hearing loss is often not thought of as a debilitating public health issue, and as a result there is often not a lot of awareness," said Manna. "Many people will live with disabling hearing loss for a number of years before finding an appropriate intervention. That’s why the World Hearing Day theme ‘Action for hearing loss: make a sound investment’ is so important to people around the globe who could be helped."

In adulthood hearing loss is associated with greater unemployment, increased risk of poor health, depression and greater risk of acquiring other health conditions including dementia.3 More and more evidence shows cochlear implantation for adults is an effective intervention for a much wider group of candidates than had previously been thought.3

About hearing loss

Hearing loss represents a significant global health burden with over five percent of the world’s population – 360 million people – living with disabling hearing loss (328 million adults and 32 million children).1 Staggeringly, the WHO estimates one-third of people over 65 years of age are affected by disabling hearing loss.1

About Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH)

Cochlear is the global leader in implantable hearing solutions. The company has a global workforce of 3,000 people and invests more than AUS$100 million a year in research and development. Products include cochlear implants, bone conduction and acoustic implants, which are designed to treat a range of moderate to profound types of hearing loss.

Over 450,000 people of all ages, across more than 100 countries, now hear because of Cochlear.

www.cochlear.com/us

 

 

References

  1. Factsheet number 300 [Internet]. World Health Organization; c2016 [cited 6th January 2017]. Available from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs300/en/
  2. 10 Facts on Deafness [Internet]. World Health Organization; c2016 [cited 6th January 2017]. Available from: http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/deafness/facts/en/
  3. Adult Cochlear Implantation: Evidence and experience / The Case for a Review of Provision [Internet]. The Ear Foundation; c2016 [cited 6th January 2017]. Available from: www.earfoundation.org.uk

 

Disclaimer

©2017. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and FaceTime are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.ReSound is a trademark of GN Hearing A/S.©Cochlear Limited 2017. All rights reserved. Cochlear, Hear now. And always, Nucleus and the elliptical logo are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Cochlear Limited.The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.