By Jo Wallace -
A few missed words can lead to misunderstandings and negative consequences, the courtroom and beyond.
Imagine a busy courtroom where you can’t quite hear the words from your star witness. Or a crucial meeting with a client just minutes before you start an important case, where you are missing every third or fourth word but don’t have the time to have them repeat everything. Are you giving your clients the best level of service? Sound is something many of us take for granted. We often don’t realise how essential the art of listening is until our hearing starts to deteriorate. Hearing impairment can have a substantial impact on a person’s ability to participate in society. It can affect their professional life, social life and self-esteem. Currently one in six Australians is affected by hearing loss, according to the organisation Break the Sound Barrier. It is estimated that by 2050, one in four Australians will be hard of hearing; a result of the ageing population.
