The Hearing Knowledge Hub

  • The Hearing Clinic

    Game changing clinical trials coming soon!

    A cell therapy to improve hearing could transform the lives of millions of people with hearing loss, new research suggests. The therapy will see the first clinical trial of a stem cell treatment for hearing loss, building on research that resulted in 40% improved hearing in preclinical tests. Sheffield-based biotech company Rinri Therapeutics hopes to start clinical trials in the next two years in people with severe-to-profound age-related hearing loss. Rinri’s work was founded on pioneering research into regenerative cell therapy, led by Professor Marcelo Rivolta at the University of Sheffield. Rinri’s cell therapy, Rincell-1, is for patients with auditory neuropathy, a form of hearing loss which occurs when sounds…

  • The Hearing Clinic

    Which earplugs will give the best protection?

    Scientists are working to better understand noise induced hearing loss so we can improve the hearing protection that’s available and even enhance regulations around what companies need to do to protect their workforce.  One of the key challenges is that there are different types of sound, and therefore noise exposure. At work or at play, some people are exposed to continuous, long-duration noises, while others may be subject to loud and fast sounds (called ‘impulsive’ noise). What noise are you at risk from? Levels of continuous noise are easier to test, but different loud and fast sounds can cause different types of hearing damage. What’s more, the impact this type…

  • Articles

    Looking for a hearing aid that offers the ‘real sounds of life’?

    A few months ago Oticon launched a new ‘Real’ hearing aid range designed to recognise all types of sound, and how they should ideally sound. With the Oticon Real range you get to experience sounds as they should be heard. Oticon calls this BrainHearing™ technology as it means your brain can then function at its best as it doesn’t need to fill in the gaps of sound that you might otherwise miss. The Oticon Real range also handles potentially jarring sounds adeptly. Wind, unexpected loud noises – even the noise caused by you touching your hearing aids – is balanced and smoothed. The Real range also offers impressive speech clarity,…

  • Endoscopic wax removal procedure being carried out
    Articles

    The Ultimate Guide to Endoscopic Earwax Removal.

    Endoscopic Ear wax removal Earwax, also known as cerumen, is a necessary and natural substance produced by the ear to protect and lubricate the ear canal. In normal circumstances, earwax migrates out of the ear canal on its own, carrying with it any dust, dirt, or debris that may have collected. However, sometimes earwax can accumulate and cause discomfort or even impair hearing. When this occurs, endoscopic ear wax removal can be a highly effective solution. What is Endoscopic Ear Wax Removal? Endoscopic ear wax removal is a modern and minimally invasive technique used to safely remove excess earwax from the ear canal. It involves the use of a specialised…

  • Articles

    New trial brings hope for hearing loss sufferers.

    For some decades the hunt has been on for an effective medical intervention than can slow or even reverse hearing loss. And since hearing loss has been proven as a key risk factor in the development of dementia that hunt has intensified.  Thanks to researchers at King’s College, London we’re one step closer to that hearing holy grail. That’s because these scientists have successfully restored hearing in deaf mice using a genetic approach. The mice had a non-functioning Spns2 gene – a gene that’s required for normal hearing function. They were given a specialist enzyme at different stages of their lives to activate the gene. The mice’s hearing showed a…

  • The Hearing Clinic

    Be very careful with who cleans your ears!

    You wouldn’t ask your dogwalker for a haircut so why have earwax removal from someone who isn’t a hearing professional? Due to the decommissioning of earwax removal by the NHS in many parts of England you may have noticed a surge in the amount of people – from dieticians to physiotherapists – offering the service in the private sector. A lot of people who don’t work in the hearing sector are seeing this as a chance to cash in, are doing brief training and then offering ear wax removal without sufficient experience or potentially even clinical registration. Please always ensure that you go to an audiologist or hearing aid dispenser…

  • Articles

    Can hearing aids help prevent dementia?

    By 2050, dementia is predicted to affect 150 million people worldwide. And in 2020 the Lancet Commission reported that 12 risk factors – including hearing loss – account for around 40% of worldwide dementia cases. Two research articles released this year by the Lancet Commission have brought the matter into sharper focus and we feel it is important to address this new evidence. Click here to access the article: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667%2823%2900048-8/fulltext Here is the summary: Dementia and hearing loss are common among older adults. New research, based on data sourced from the well-respected biomedical database, UK Biobank, has looked at the link between hearing aid use and the risk of dementia…

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