Cochlear Launches New York City Hearing Awareness Initiative Aimed at Educating the Public About Solutions Beyond Hearing Aids

CENTENNIAL, Colo., Sept. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH), the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, announced today a regional awareness program designed to inform New York City residents about advanced treatments for hearing loss, a growing issue affecting nearly one in six New York City adults.¹

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"Our goal is to inform New York City residents that there is help and hope beyond hearing aids," said Chris Smith, President of Cochlear Americas. "There are now a variety of treatment options available to better meet the needs of people struggling with varying degrees of hearing loss. For example, our newest hybrid hearing solution can help people get back what they've been missing by amplifying the low-pitched hearing a person has while restoring access to the high-pitched hearing they've lost. On a similar token, our market-leading cochlear implants are a trusted solution with over a 30 year history that can help people with more advanced degrees of hearing loss in all frequencies."

Hearing loss is becoming a large public health issue across the United States. In fact, it is the third-most common physical condition (after arthritis and heart disease).² In New York City specifically, approximately 63,000 people with hearing loss are candidates for cochlear implants, yet fewer than 6 percent have been treated.³ While hearing aids can help some of these people, they may not be enough for many others.

"People should no longer have to worry about straining to hear with their hearing aids in today's day and age," said Allison Pezzullo, M.S. CCC-A, New York City Regional Director, Cochlear Americas. "We now have the unique opportunity to help more people than ever experience the joys of hearing in ways they never thought possible by offering up-to-date, high performing, proven hearing implant solutions."

To help launch the campaign, Cochlear will be airing a series of 15 second videos on jumbotrons in Times Square (on 42^nd Street between 7^th and 8^th Avenues) now through September 30th to raise awareness that there is help when hearing aids aren't enough.

Visit http://www.Cochlear.com/US to learn more about Cochlear's portfolio of hearing implants and how they may be able to help.

About Cochlear

Cochlear is the global leader in implantable hearing solutions. It has a dedicated global team of more than 2,700 people who deliver the gift of sound to those with hearing loss in over 100 countries. Its vision is to connect people, young and old, to a world of sound by offering life enhancing hearing solutions.

The Cochlear promise of "Hear now. And always" embodies the company's commitment to providing its recipients with their best possible hearing performance today and for the rest of their lives. For over 30 years, Cochlear has helped hundreds of thousands of people either hear for the first time or reconnect them to their families, friends, workplaces and communities.

For more information, visit www.Cochlear.com.

References

[ 1 ] New York City Health Department: "NYC Vital Signs." Available at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/survey/survey-2013noise.pdf. Accessed on August 27, 2014.

[ 2 ] Hearing Loss Association of America. "Basic Facts About Hearing Loss." Available at: http://www.hearingloss.org/content/basic-facts-about-hearing-loss. Accessed on August 29, 2014.

[ 3 ] Cochlear Americas [Data on file] 2013 May.

SOURCE Cochlear Americas