The Hearing Knowledge Hub

NHS or Private Hearing aids – what you need to know What’s the difference between NHS hearing aids and private hearing aids? A worrying number of people – around 1 in 5 – who have NHS hearing aids don’t actually wear them. Frequent complaints seem to be that they can’t hear through them, or they’re uncomfortable. This may be because NHS services that are under pressure may not have had the time to properly adjust hearing aids to a person’s specific hearing loss, or to explain them properly, so the person doesn’t know how to get the best from them. Everyone seems to have an opinion about the topic of…

If chemotherapy is the way forward for you, it’s important to know that these powerful chemicals that are capable of killing cancer cells may also put you at risk of hearing loss or tinnitus. When you’re diagnosed with cancer, it’s a natural response to accept whatever treatment option your oncologist suggests. However, it’s important to understand exactly what the side effects may be of your recommended treatment, so you can make an informed decision. For example, therapies like cisplatin, vincristine, doxorubicin, gemcitabine, cyclophosphamide and oxaliplatin all have elevated risks of hearing loss. It may be possible to switch to a different treatment if you’re finding your hearing is being impacted,…

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the first cochlear implant to be used in the UK. It was surgeons at the Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital in London who implanted the first device back in 1989.  Today around 20,000 children and adults in the UK – and over one million worldwide – have a cochlear implant. But, although they’re relatively common nowadays, there are still some misunderstandings around what a cochlear implant does, and how it works. Here are some key points to remember. A cochlear implant works completely differently from a hearing aid. Unlike hearing aids, which amplify sounds so they may be detected by damaged…

MoD recognises hearing loss in veterans Until now many ex-military personnel who have claimed that they have suffered hearing loss due to their time serving in the Armed Forces have had their claims opposed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). However, the MoD now accepts that it has a “duty of care” to veterans and that exposure to noise in the military has been a cause of hearing loss. Military training and service repeatedly exposes personnel to loud noises. Noise from gunfire, bombing, and the roar of armoured vehicles and aircraft can all contribute to hearing damage. Between 2012 and 2020, the MoD paid £72 million in compensation for military…

Another gene therapy trial success! Chinese-US Gene therapy trial restores toddler’s hearing.  Only last month we shared the fantastic news that an Oxfordshire toddler has had her hearing restored as part of a pioneering gene therapy trial. Well, the good news keeps coming in this area as we’ve recently learnt of five children who were born deaf who have had their hearing restored in both ears. Helping the signals get through Doctors at Fudan University in Shanghai treated the children, aged between one and 11, as part of a Chinese-US gene therapy trial. The children had an inherited condition where genetic mutations disrupt the body’s ability to make a protein…

More Brits living with hearing loss than thought! What are the hearing loss statistics for the UK? Researchers at the universities of Manchester and Nottingham say that more than a quarter of the UK’s population may have some form of hearing loss. Their analysis shows that about 18 million people are affected – some six million more than previously thought.  Why the huge difference in the statistics? Previous hearing loss data was gathered using a definition from the 1980s. It left out milder degrees of hearing loss, including problems in only one ear. The team studied the most recent censuses in England, Scotland and Wales and, taking a broader definition,…

An ambulance service is using a video app to improve its care for Deaf users of British Sign Language.   Since May, all North East Ambulance Service vehicles have had an iPad equipped with SignVideo, an app that enables patients and crews to interact with a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter on screen. The app is available for ambulance crews 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year to help assess the patient’s condition and explain the next steps of their treatment. It can also be used in non-emergency situations to provide advice and training. Enhancing accessibility It’s just over two years since the launch of the 999 BSL…