Deafness Forum Australia will co-host a free webinar to spotlight that many Australians with hearing loss face higher rates of stress, anxiety and depression as a result.
The webinar will be on 15 October 2025 during Mental Health Month in October.
Research by Deafness Forum Australia, the national independent body representing Australians with hearing loss, shows that communication barriers, delayed access to support, and a lack of culturally appropriate care often leave people isolated and struggling with their mental health.
“As a woman who is profoundly deaf, I know too well that hearing loss and mental health are deeply intertwined and negatively impact every aspect of life,” said Ms Rae Walker, Deafness Forum Australia board chair.
“With 3.6 million Australians affected by hearing loss, our research shows higher rates of anxiety, depression and isolation when people cannot access the right support.
“But there is hope – trauma-informed, culturally appropriate care can transform lives, helping people remain active, confident and included.”
Walker said that’s why Deafness Forum was partnering with Macro Impact Consulting – a Deaf-led social impact business – to host a free webinar and have this essential conversation.
Ms Sigrid Macdonald and Dr Louise Munro, founders of Macro Impact Consulting, said: “It’s not the audiogram results that harm mental health – it’s the systemic stress of continuous communication barriers, which cause isolation, disconnection, and exhaustion.
“These impacts are often an invisible weight on mental health and wellbeing.”
Key findings from Deafness Forum’s research include:
- 53% of people with hearing loss reported stress when accessing health services
- 42% reported anxiety linked to communication challenges
- respondents called for greater training for health professionals, more flexible and personalised support, and services that respect cultural and communication diversity.
The webinar will unpack the often overlooked link between mental health and hearing loss, explore strategies for support, and highlight practical ways to improve access to mental health care for people who are deaf, Deaf, hard of hearing, or who experience hearing loss.
The mental health, deafness, and hearing loss webinar will be from noon to 1pm AEDT on 15 October.
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