The Hearing Knowledge Hub
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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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Great hearing goes slimline
If you don’t wear hearing aids because you are worried about how they look, then this may be the product for you. Phonak is one of the leaders in hearing technology, and has produced a number of firsts in the industry, and just a few months ago it launched the new Phonak Slim Lumity. The Slim Lumity takes all the latest hearing aid technology and packs it into a longer, slimmer, stylish casing. This sleek, unique design is designed to be even more comfortable than the standard hearing aid design because it has distinct left and right designs that follow the natural shape of the head. There are four…
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SoundPrint App. Find quieter venues and spaces near you.
How can Soundprint help you! Many of us have experienced it… You’re excited about meeting a friend – or perhaps a new date – in a café or eaterie you haven’t been to before. But you get there only to discover that the music’s on too loud, or the din from other drinkers and diners makes it impossible to hear yourself think, let alone your date or friend across the table from you. Thankfully, a new app called Soundprint, could make that experience a thing of the past. That’s because, with Soundprint, you can search for quieter venues in your local area that are great for conversation (and safe for…
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BSL will soon be a GCSE?
Thanks to a young man called Daniel Jillings, school pupils will soon be able to study a GCSE in British Sign Language (BSL). Daniel has been campaigning for a GCSE for 5 years, since he was aged 12, so Deaf students can get a GCSE in their own language. The GCSE will also enable hearing students to learn around 1,000 BSL signs, to communicate with their Deaf peers, and learn about the history of BSL. The intention is for the GCSE to be available to teach in schools from September 2025, and the public consultation is happening now. There’s more information available here. Do take part in the consultation so that…
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Can music manage chronic pain?
Music can help improve our mood and mindset and it now appears that it can even help to manage chronic pain. A study of a woman who had lived with chronic pain for 20 years revealed that listening to music relieved her pain and reduced the withdrawal effects she experienced after stopping her opioid-based treatment. Opioid-based medication has been the main treatment for chronic pain for a long time but there are questions around its effectiveness as a long-term solution. While its pain relieving properties are undisputed, it can also have significant side effects, including drowsiness and brain fog. The effects of listening to music may involve endogenous opioid and…
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World Music Day!
Today is World Music Day and a fantastic opportunity to celebrate and enjoy the music you love. But if you’re finding you’re having to turn up the volume on your Chopin or Sheeran, then it could be that your hearing isn’t as good as it used to be. At The Hearing Clinic we want you to reconnect to the things in your life that matter the most to you, whether it’s music, hobbies, friends or loved ones. When you come and see us for a hearing assessment we’ll put you at your ease and learn as much as we can about you, including the things you enjoy doing, and the…
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AI learning and hearing aid technology
Can machine learning help with hearing? Humans and animals experience an astonishing variety of sounds every day, and we’re able to communicate and understand one another despite background noise, the pitch of a person’s voice or their accent. But what’s being done to understand the biology of sound recognition so we can find ways to improve it for the many people who struggle with conditions that make it hard for them to recognise speech? Or for the many people who have or will have a hearing impairment? Well, if you’ve read recent stories about artificial intelligence and machine learning and are worried about the negative potential of these technologies, it’s…
