Sponsored by Specsavers Audiology
For a sporting legend like Wally Lewis, the roar of a State of Origin crowd isnβt just noise. Itβs a sensory time machine. βYou hear that roar and you can almost smell the Deep Heat and the damp grass,β Wally says, his eyes lighting up as he rewatches a classic try on his tablet. βI donβt just hear the crowd; I hear the individual whistles, the boots hitting the turf, the calls from my teammates.β
In the world of elite sport, sound is as vital as peripheral vision. Itβs the data stream that tells an athlete where the danger is coming from and where the opportunity lies. But as Wally explains, when your hearing begins to lose its βedgeβ, the world doesnβt necessarily go silent β it just goes out of focus. βItβs like looking at a photo thatβs slightly blurry,β he says. βYou know whoβs in the picture, but you miss the look in their eyes.β
The βmuddled noiseβ trap
Many Australians mistakenly believe that hearing loss is a binary β you either hear or you donβt. In reality, it is often a wall of muddled noise. This makes it incredibly taxing to stay in the game during social situations. According to recent YouGov research commissioned by Specsavers, this exhaustion leads to a dangerous trend: social withdrawal.
The survey found that among Australians who struggle to hear in conversations, 61 per cent resort to passive or withdrawal strategies, such as avoiding noisy places (33 per cent) or simply pretending to hear (31 per cent).
Wally recognises this pattern all too well. βThe danger is that you start to βeditβ yourself out of conversations,β he warns. βWhen the effort to filter out background noise becomes exhausting, itβs easier to just go quiet. Itβs not that people lose interest in their families; theyβre just losing the tools to keep up.β
A life well lived
We often treat hearing loss as a sign of decline, but Specsavers and Wally Lewis are championing a different perspective: itβs a sign of a life well lived.
The YouGov data reveals that more than half (52 per cent) of older Australians frequently listened to loud or live music in their younger years. Whether it was the thundering cheers at Lang Park or a rock concert in the β80s, those sounds are the soundtrack to our best memories. However, while we cherish the memories, we often neglect the maintenance. Nearly half of Australians (45 per cent) admit it has been longer than a year since their last hearing check, and one in six Australians over 55 have never had one at all.
βYou donβt wait until you canβt walk to see a physio,β Wally says. βYou get it checked early so you can stay in the game.β
Adds Specsavers senior audiologist Melissa Chandler: βAddressing hearing concerns can ensure everyone can keep living their best life β including going to that loud concert or noisy restaurant!β
Why it matters: Beyond the whistle
Prioritising hearing health is about more than just catching the refereeβs whistle β itβs a critical βperformance metricβ for healthy ageing. Chandler notes that good hearing keeps the brain active, enhances memory and promotes healthy brain ageing.
βHearing health plays a crucial role in our overall wellbeing, social connection and quality of life,β Chandler explains. When hearing loss goes untreated, it doesnβt just affect your ears; it gradually chips away at your confidence and your relationships.
For Wally, the motivation is simple: βIgnoring a decline in your hearing isnβt just stubborn β itβs a choice to miss out on the people you love.β Whether itβs the high-octane atmosphere of a stadium or the βsmall soundsβ like the wind in the trees or a kettle boiling, staying βtuned inβ ensures you never have to edit yourself out of your own life.
Staying βin the gameβ isnβt just for athletes β itβs for anyone who wants to remain connected to the people and passions that define them. Specsaversβ hearing experts are ready to support you throughout your journey to better hearing. Visit specsavers.com.au/hearing to book an appointment.