Matildas star Mackenzie Arnold has revealed she’s finally being treated for hearing loss after years of struggling to listen.
The 30-year-old soccer hero has shared details about her health battle with PerthNow, including that she started treatment last year and is now relieved that she can finally hear properly.
The Australian goalkeeper admitted that until recently she had been lip-reading to keep up with conversations most of the time.
Following encouragement from her brother Sam, who had also experienced hearing problems, Arnold started the process to address her hearing issues in April last year.
She says “stigma” had prevented her from getting the help she needed earlier, adding she can remember even as a youngster she was hard of hearing.
Arnold is speaking out now to encourage others with hearing problems not to put off seeking support.
“I think I always knew I had an issue, but it only really became a concern for me in my later years,” Arnold told PerthNow.
“I was in denial that my hearing was ‘bad enough’ to get it checked because there was a stigma around some of the ways you might address hearing loss.
“Despite my brother having hearing loss since childhood, I convinced myself mine was not bad enough until early last year, and he was my biggest driver in seeking help.”
Arnold says it was during the pandemic that her confidence really started to plummet as she struggled to keep up with conversations.
She was also withdrawing socially.
“I was zoning out from conversations with large groups due to not being able to hear properly or keep up with the conversation,” she says.
“When everyone had to wear masks, this made me feel less confident and more withdrawn at social gatherings.
“I would also ask friends and my team to repeat what they were saying a lot which I no longer have to do.
“I remember not being able to understand what the server was saying through the speaker at a drive-through, despite my partner knowing exactly what they said.
“This was a big wake-up call for me and inspired me to get my hearing checked.”
Spurred on by friends and family to take care of her issues sooner rather than later, Arnold started attending Audika Hearing Clinics and speaking with their clinicians.
She admits she now kicks herself for not seeking treatment earlier. “Since addressing my hearing loss, I have noticed a great change in the quality of my life, and I want to inspire others to feel comfortable to get their hearing checked earlier,” she says.
“Getting my hearing tested was daunting at first … (but) the test wasn’t scary and I got the results to understand what was happening to cause the hearing loss.”
The star can even access hearing support remotely through virtual sessions with her audiologist when she is overseas.
Now an Audika ambassador, Arnold believes speaking with their clinicians opened her eyes to the “incredible support available” for people struggling to hear.
In a recent survey commissioned by Audika Hearing Clinic, many Australians admitted to prioritising sight over hearing.
Most, or 86 per cent of those surveyed, ranked sight as their most important sense, with hearing coming in second.
Almost three quarters, or 73 per cent of respondents, admitted that between hearing and sight, their hearing was the most neglected even though the majority ranked hearing as a crucial sense.
Both stigma and a lack of understanding were found in the survey to impact the way Australians cared for and prioritised their senses.
While about 80 per cent of respondents claimed to have “a little” understanding of hearing loss, more than a quarter, or 27 per cent, also said they neglected their hearing because they didn’t understand and know where to start.
Lauren McNee, an Audika audiologist, says hearing can profoundly impact the way people engage with their community, and it can also affect their sense of belonging.
“While it is often an overlooked health issue, it is one that can greatly impact mental health and emotional wellbeing,” Ms McNee says.
“Whether it’s your own hearing or the hearing of a loved one, it’s important to discuss hearing health, reduce the stigma around hearing loss, and promote hearing checks.”
Arnold says the world of sound has opened up for her since sorting her hearing issues.
“I notice subtle sounds I didn’t even realise I was missing out on before, like keys clanging in my pocket or being able to completely hear and experience the sounds of the ocean,” she says.
“It has definitely improved the quality of my life and made it easier.”
Lions Hearing Clinic national manager of clinical services, Sebastian Ryan, said research shows people wait up to eight years to do something about their hearing.
“Lions Hearing Clinic offers independent, commission-free hearing care backed by over 20 years of Ear Science Institute Australia research,” he told The West Australian.
Did you know?
- All Australians over 26 can visit their closest Audika Hearing Clinic for a free hearing check, or take the five-minute online hearing check via www.audika.com.au.
- Lion’s Hearing Clinics in WA offer commission-free hearing services with fully qualified clinicians and a comprehensive range of hearing devices. Specialist services including hearing implants and balance services are also provided. The not-for-profit research institute Ear Science Institute Australia has more information.
- Perth Hearing and Tinnitus Clinic say it can help you with what financial assistance, rebates and government funding are offered for different circumstances including pensioners and veterans, workers compensation, private health insurance and rebates from Medicare.