The Science of Healthy Hearing

For this episode of The Science of Healthy Hearing, we are doing something a little bit different. Recently, Lions Hearing Clinic Audiologist Pia Nairn was interviewed for the Purple Pen Podcast about Tinnitus. Pia specialises in helping clients with management and treatment of Tinnitus. In our clinics we see clients every day who are struggling with hearing loss and one common issue is Tinnitus. There is a perception among the community, including the medical community, that “there is no cure for tinnitus”, and while that is true, we know there are treatment options that can greatly reduce its impact in daily life. At Ear Science, we believe that science backed by research and education are key to shifting attitudes and changing mindsets.  

 An important part of an Audiologist’s role is to help the client understand what tinnitus is, what causes it and how to implement strategies to manage it. When a client works with an Audiologist the impact of tinnitus on daily life can be greatly reduced.  

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In this episode, two-time Big Brother winner Reggie Bird discusses her recent diagnosis of Usher Syndrome, a rare but debilitating condition leading to deaf-blindness which to date is incurable. Reggie shares her story and highlights the importance of raising awareness and her support for research into treatments and a cure

We are then joined by Principal Research Fellow Dr Elaine Wong and Surgeon Scientist, Founding Director of Ear Science Institute Australia Professor Marcus Atlas who are part of a world-leading research team developing gene therapy to repair and regenerate hearing. Their ground-breaking research using stem cells has the potential to unlock insights into the genetic causes of hearing loss with the ultimate goal of finding a cure. In their current project, their team is focused on Usher Syndrome and they will share the current status of this vital research.  

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In this episode Dr Rob Eikelboom helps us understand that we should see hearing as part of the whole body, and how it is connected to many aspects of health and illness, and how illness or injury can affect hearing or vice versa.

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In this episode, Audiologist Jordan Bishop guides us through all our questions in a Hearing 101 session. 

Jordan will share with us the signs of hearing loss, strategies to protect our hearing, how we can manage hearing loss, manage ear wax and more to help us maintain healthy hearing.

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In this episode, Dr Tommy Lai, General Practitioner and Director of MedOne Medical Centre will discuss the GPs role in caring for your hearing health. 

We highlight how GPs, Audiologists and ENTs work together to care for your ear and hearing health and help you understand who to go to for help with your hearing.

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In this episode, we mark World Hearing Day 2023, Technical Lead for Ear and Hearing Health at the World Health Organisation Dr Shelly Chadha, highlights the crisis in hearing health that the world is facing and what the WHO in their 2023 campaign “Hearing Care for All, Let’s Make it a Reality” is doing to helping address the crisis. 

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In this episode, Scientist and Chief Operator Office of Research at Ear Science David Sly will share with us the latest research on the phenomenon of Hidden Hearing Loss. 
Every day clients walk into hearing clinics around the world concerned about their hearing, yet hearing tests show that they have ‘normal’ hearing. What is this, and what can you do if you’re experiencing it? 

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February 25th is Cochlear Implant Awareness Day. 

In this Special Episode for audiologists and healthcare professionals,  Senior Implant Audiologist & Cochlear Implant Research Lead Dr Cathy Sucher talks with Jody French who is a Cochlear Implant recipient. 

Cathy and Jody will discuss some early findings from a recent study that has revealed a clearer view of why referral for Cochlear Implants is not as high as it should be, and what audiologists and other clinicians can do to help.   

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Qualified Audiologist Daniel Gerace shares with us how the latest research on the impact of hearing loss is guiding clinical care. He shares how technology such as invisible hearing aids, Bluetooth enabled devices, connectivity to smartphones and TVs is helping people feel empowered to take control of their hearing and experience the world in full sound! 

In this episode, you will learn

1.18 | How is the latest research actually implemented in client care?

2.07 | What advancements can we expect in the future of hearing devices?

4.30 | How you can stream a phone call directly to your hearing aid

11.45 | What are 'hearables'

13.49 | Why you shouldn't just put your hearing aids in a drawer

16.03 | What options are available for people treating hearing loss

VIEW TRANSCRIPT OF EPISODE

Resources mentioned

Maidment, D. W., Ali, Y. H., & Ferguson, M. A. (2019). Applying the COM-B model to assess the usability of smartphone-connected listening devices in adults with hearing loss. Journal of the American Academy of Audiology, 30(05), 417-430.

Livingston, G. et al. (2020). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. The LANCET 396, 413-446.

 Simpson AN, Matthews LJ, Cassarly C, Dubno JR. Time from hearing aid candidacy to hearing aid adoption: a longitudinal cohort study. Ear and Hearing. 40(3):468-476; 2019.

Ferguson, M., Brandreth, M., Brassington, W., Leighton, P., & Wharrad, H. (2016). A randomized controlled trial to evaluate the benefits of a multimedia educational program for first-time hearing aid users. Ear and hearing, 37(2), 123.

D, Gianopoulos I. 2007. Acceptability, benefit and costs of early screening for hearing disability: a study of potential screening tests and models. Health Technol Assess, 11, 1-294.\

Hearing Care Industry Association. Hearing for life: The value of hearing services for vulnerable Australians Deloitte Access Economics, Canberra, Australia. 2020. 

More information on Hearing Devices

Hearing Aids

How can I get my clients to wear their hearing aids? | Bec Bennett

Calling all preowned or unwanted hearing aids

World Hearing Day

Cochlear Implant

Cochlear Implants | When is it time to think about a cochlear implant?

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Senior Implant Audiologist Ronel Chester-Browne will share with us her knowledge & insights into Cochlear Implants. This marvelous Australian invention truly changes lives & now-a-days Cochlear Implants are routinely recommended for when hearing aids are just not enough.

In this episode, you will learn

1.00 | What are cochlear implants? Differences between hearing aid & implant?

2.04 | Who might get a hearing implant?

3.28 | How has technology & candidacy changed over the last 30 years?

5.00 | Are hearing implants just for children?

6.00 | How is technology expanding options eg. remote adjustments/telehealth?

7:35 | Identifying a cochlear implant candidate.

10.13 | Latest research on hearing implants? Why do only 10% of people who need a cochlear implant have one?

13.58 | How to find out if a cochlear implant might be right for you or your loved one.

16.25 | What motivates Ronel in her work as an implant audiologist?

17.38 | Ear Science Clinic Mentor Service, to match candidates with someone who has gone through the journey

20.00 | Key take-aways

Resources mentioned

To view with captions, list of references and other resources

Glossary of terms

14.13 | "Ski Slope" hearing Loss - This is when a person has very good low frequency hearing and it gradually drops towards the high frequencies.  In these cases they have limited or no high frequency hearing.

4.13 | Residual hearing - The hearing that is still present inside the ear, without the use of amplification. This can also refer to the hearing that is still present following a cochlear implant, when no amplification devices are worn.

4.13 | Low frequency hearing loss - A hearing loss in the low tones that provide access to low pitch speech sounds, eg /aa/ / oo/ /mm/, in other words, the deeper tones.

4.45 | Single sided deafness -  This is when a person has normal hearing in the one ear and a severe to profound hearing loss (very limited hearing) in the other ear.

About Ronel Chester-Browne

Ronel has been involved in Cochlear Implantation for the last 28 years. Ronel has been working at the Ear Science Institute, Ear Science Implant Clinic, as Clinical Coordination & Senior Implant Audiologist for the last 11 years.  She became a member of the Pretoria Cochlear Implant Program in South Africa in 1993. Her experience includes complex audiological assessments, implant candidacy assessments, device activation & management, programming & rehabilitation of cochlear implant devices.  

She is very involved in education and training of university students and other professionals in the field of implantable hearing devices and has been involved in several research projects. 

More information

Test your hearing aid (Hearing Aid Check)

Research to improve the reliability of cochlear implants

International Cochlear Implant Day

Is a cochlear implant right for you?

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[email protected]
www.earscience.org.au
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