PLYMOUTH, MN (May 2, 2012) - In conjunction with Better Speech and Hearing Month, Sonus, a national strategic partner of the American Diabetes Association, has launched a PSA initiative to inform individuals of the link between hearing loss and diabetes. The connection stems from solid research including a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, stating hearing loss is about twice as common in adults with diabetes compared to those who do not have the disease.
The PSA features a young, tattooed woman who appears to be a hipster with hobbies such as playing the guitar and bike riding. At the end of the video, she goes to her office and puts on her doctor's coat. The tagline then concludes with, "sometimes things are not what they seem...the same goes for our health", followed by statistics on the hearing loss-diabetes connection. The goal of the PSA is to inform the large percentage of Americans diagnosed with diabetes, to get checked for hearing loss during yearly check-ups.
"As an organization dedicated to educating consumers about diabetes and raising awareness about the complications of the disease, we are excited that Sonus is helping to spread this important message about hearing loss," said Larry Hausner, CEO, American Diabetes Association.
Added Michele Fusco, Senior Vice President of Medical Operations at Amplifon, the parent company to Sonus: "The reality is that even the medical community is often unaware of the connection between diabetes and hearing loss. In fact, according to BetterHearing.org, less than 15% of physicians ask their patients about hearing problems. Our goal with this PSA is to 'flag' a common, undiagnosed problem so consumers can be proactive, and ask their doctor or audiologist for a routine hearing test."
Click here to see the PSA. The organizations have also created an infographic as part of the initiative.
About Sonus
Sonus (https://www.Sonus.com) is a leading provider of hearing aid solutions, offering a wide variety of brands and styles that range in prices combining the right amount of features and value for each patient. It was founded in 1992 on the principle of high patient focus and loyalty. In 2002 Sonus was acquired by Amplifon USA Inc., the global leader in hearing services, and research.
Based in Italy, the parent company Amplifon S.p.A. operates in 18 countries and paved the way for markets in Australia, New Zealand and India. With an international network of 3,500 locations and over 3,500 service centers. Amplifon has become the largest distributor of hearing aids in the world. Amplifon is actively involved in audiological research and sponsors a number of projects through the CRS Amplifon (Amplifon Centre for Research and Study), a non-profit institution devoted to research, development and education in the audiological and otological fields. For more information about Amplifon, visit the Amplifon web channel on AudiologyOnline.
