Dr Dona Jayakody is a world-leading researcher who is pioneering research into the link between hearing loss and cognitive decline. In this episode, we will talk to Dona about how and why Hearing Loss contributes to cognitive decline, and how we can reduce the risk of dementia as we all get older. 

In this episode, you will learn

1.10 | What is cognitive decline? What are 'normal' memory issues versus when does it become a problem?

2.05 | Why and how does untreated hearing loss impact on depression, anxiety, stress, loneliness, isolation and increase the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia? 

3.15 | Why it's really important to seek help early, to normalise getting hearing checked during midlife, like seeing the dentist or optometrist.

4.58 | Does research show Hearing Aids and Cochlear Implants are an effective treatment to stave off dementia? 

5.35 | Ear Science is leading a large randomised controlled trial (HearCog) to see if we can delay or arrest dementia by treating Hearing Loss, recruiting participants now.

6.16 | What is the feedback from trial participants as a result of getting hearing aids?

9.05 | If we have loved ones experiencing dementia – is treating Hearing Loss important? Why is this, how does it help? 

11.50 | What is the impact of untreated hearing loss on mental wellbeing, psychosocial wellbeing, cognitive functions, quality of life in indigenous older adults? What are the barriers to seeking treatment? If we overcome these barriers, what impact are we going to see?

15.00 | Importance of using non-verbal cognitive assessments/screening, to get an accurate indication of cognitive function. 

18.45 | Key take away messages

This podcast provides information of a general nature and does not constitute medical advice. 

VIEW TRANSCRIPT OF EPISODE 

Resources mentioned

To view this episode with captions & view complete list of references

WA Centre for Health and Ageing

About Dona Jayakody

More information on Hearing Loss & Dementia

More information on the HearCog Clinical Trial

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In this episode, Audiologist Dr Bec Bennett will share with us some of her latest research into some of the less understood aspects of Hearing Loss – the social and emotional impacts.

Bec’s research confirms that many people with Hearing Loss experience feelings of loneliness, feeling left out, embarrassment, or worry about hearing or saying the wrong thing. This may also contribute to anxiety or depression.

Bec helps explain that this is a common experience for people with hearing loss, and her research informs an empathetic approach for all of us to better understand and support people with hearing loss.

In this episode, you will learn:

0:50 | Ear Science research participants share their stories of how it feels to experience hearing loss 

3:05 | Bec’s journey from Audiologist to Researcher 

4:20 | Why research the social and emotional impacts of hearing loss?

5:20 | How does Hearing Loss affect people 

6.00 | How does Ear Science connect experiences with clients/patients in the clinic to the research lab? Research in real-time! 

7.47 | What is the research telling us about the social and emotional impacts of hearing loss

9.45 | How to identify if a loved one may be experiencing Hearing Loss

24.30 | The impact of this research on the government Hearing Services Program

27.00 | Key takeaways

29.00 | What can we do to support a friend or family member who is experiencing Hearing Loss? Some practical tips.

Resources mentioned

Hearing loss affects us all in different ways (YouTube Video)

Bennett, R. J., Meyer, C. J., Ryan, B., Barr, C., Laird, E., & Eikelboom, R. H. (2020). Knowledge, beliefs, and practices of Australian audiologists in addressing the mental health needs of adults with hearing loss. American journal of audiology, 29(2), 129-142.

Bennett, R. J., Barr, C., Cortis, A., Eikelboom, R. H., Ferguson, M., Gerace, D., … & Bellekom, S. (2020). Audiological approaches to address the psychosocial needs of adults with hearing loss: perceived benefit and likelihood of use. International Journal of Audiology, 1-8.

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. doi: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000000641

Audiology Australia

More information on the impact of hearing loss:

Impact of Hearing Loss

Hearing and Mental Wellbeing

This podcast provides information of a general nature and does not constitute medical advice.

Contact Us
[email protected]
www.earscience.org.au
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In this episode, Founding Director of Ear Science Institute Australia, Professor Marcus Atlas will unpack the latest research in curing hearing loss & what the future might hold.  

But how long do we wait for a cure?

2.00 | Why is hearing so important?

2.13 | What has Ear Science been doing to help with hearing loss?

3.05 | What is the prevalence of hearing loss, who does it affect & how has this changed over time?

5.35 | What is the connection between hearing loss & dementia? 

6.40 | How has treating hearing loss for a surgeon changed over time?

8.24 | Is age a barrier when it comes to hearing implants?

10.50 | Can we cure hearing loss? 

11.15 | Why did Marcus become a surgeon-scientist?

12.03 | How is Ear Science adapting stem cells to become Organoids to grow an inner ear?

13.30 | How are Organoids helping us understand & develop experiments, medications, treatments & genetics to prevent or cure hearing loss? 

16.20 | How is Ear Science’s research funded?

17.57 | How are Ear Science’s researchers working to treat & prevent middle ear infections? How would this help in particular Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples? 

23.00 | Is there a cure, should I wait?

24.55 | How can the community get involved in finding a cure for hearing loss?

26.10 | Key take-aways

Resources mentioned

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

Professor Graeme Clark

Looi V, Bluett C, Boisvert I. Referral rates of postlingually deafened adult hearing aid users for a cochlear implant candidacy assessment. International Journal of Audiology. 56:919-925; 2017.

National Health & Medical Research Council

Ear Science Ambassador Justin Langer

Ear Science’s Gift of Hearing Appeal

Ear Science Research/ Researchers:

Dr Elaine Wong
Organoid Research
Dr Hani Al Salami
Cleardrum
Professor Marcus Atlas
Dona Jayakody’s HearCog Trial

More information on finding a cure for hearing loss
Signs of hearing loss
Live with Ear Science Panel
Hearing Therapeutics

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[email protected]
www.earscience.org.au
Learn more about our research
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In this episode, Qualified Audiologist & tinnitus specialist Sasha Benatar helps us understand this common condition. 

What it is, what causes it and how can it be treated. 

In this episode, you will learn

1:10 | Overview of tinnitus

2:30 | Is it curable?

3:06 | What causes tinnitus?

5:50 | How do people experience tinnitus?

7.28 | Non-invasive tinnitus, versus those for whom their tinnitus is impacting their quality of life

10.00 | Do you just have to “live with it”?

10.20 | What is the Lions Hearing Clinic approach to Tinnitus management?

15.55 | How can parents help mitigate the risk of their children developing tinnitus?

19.30 | What happens during a tinnitus appointment

27.55 | What does the future hold for tinnitus?

29:05 | Key takeaways from this episode.

Glossary of terms
2:40 | Heterogenic – consisting of parts or things that are very different from each other.

4:30 | Limbic System – the limbic system is the part of the brain involved in our behavioural and emotional responses, especially when it comes to behaviours we need for survival: feeding, reproduction and caring for our young, and fight or flight responses.

6:10 | Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS) – TTS is a change in hearing threshold that recovers to pre-exposure levels (baseline) over time.

11:15 | Habituation –  the process of people or animals becoming used to something so that they no longer find it unpleasant or think it is a threat.

17: 10 | Cilia (Stereocilia) – Cochlear hair cells are the sensory cells of the auditory system. These cells possess stereocilia connected to the tectorial membrane. During auditory stimulation, sound waves in the cochlea cause deflection of the hair cell stereocilia, which creates an electrical signal in the hair cell.

More information on Tinnitus
Do Your Ears Ring? Don’t Let Tinnitus Affect Your Peace

Tinnitus – Take our tinnitus quiz

Hearing and Tinnitus Advice Line

GP Alert | Over 60% of your patients may have tinnitus. How can you help them?

Resources mentioned
HealthDirect. (2021). Tinnitus. Healthdirect.gov.au

Stegeman I, Eikelboom R, Smit A, Bucks R, Baguley D, Stokroos R, Bennett B, Tegg-Quinn S, Hunter M, Atlas M. Tinnitus and its associations with general health, mental health and hearing loss in a population study. In: Tinnitus-An Interdisciplinary Approach Towar

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[email protected]
www.earscience.org.au
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Welcome to the Ear Science Podcast, the science of healthy hearing proudly presented by Ear Science Institute Australia, a not-for-profit medical research institute.

In this podcast, we will bring you into our world, the world of ear and hearing science. Together with our guest speakers, we will discuss the latest ear and hearing research and what it means to you.

Hosted by Dan Van Der Meer, Digital Content Specialist, Podcast Host, and passionate about raising awareness for the impact of hearing loss and Lize Coetzee, Chief Operating Officer at Ear Science Institute Australia.

This podcast provides information of a general nature and does not constitute medical advice.

Contact Us
[email protected]
www.earscience.org.au
Learn more about our research
Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter