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Today you'll hear an audiologist, an ornithologist, a theatre critic, myself and another poet talk about hearing aids: two common barriers and various life-enhancing benefits. We focus on the situation in Aotearoa New Zealand. (I'm Rachel McAlpine, a writer, not a scientist or health practitioner, so please do consult professionals and and do your own research.)

If you are almost old you may have mild to moderate hearing loss, like me—that’s normal. Today I have three guests: Wendy Poludore, an audiologist based in Wellington. Also, two people who need hearing aids for very particular reasons: Colin Miskelly, Curator of Vertebrates at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and John Smythe, Editor of Theatreview, which publishes online reviews of professional theatre in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Other interesting comments from readers of my blog, Write Into Life. And with her permission, I'll read a super poem on this topic by the American poet Rosemerry Wahtolla Trommer.

Resources:

• Hearing New Zealand
• Estimating the global costs of hearing loss
• Hearing Aids May Slow Dementia Onset
• A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Hearing Aids, Including the Benefits of Reducing the Symptoms of Dementia
• Poem: When Bruce Told Me He’d Brought You Your Hearing Aids (Rosemerry Wahtolla Trommer)

Blog posts about hearing aids:

• Touchy about hearing loss?
• Joy of hearing aids