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Loud Music Can Lead to Early Signs of Hearing Damage

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BBC Looks at How Loud Music Can Lead to Early Signs of Hearing Damage

 

BBC Looks at How Loud Music Can Lead to Early Signs of Hearing Damage

Those who frequently attend loud concerts and music events may be more likely to have earlier signs of hearing damage according to an article in BBC Science Focus Magazine.

The article examined a study from researchers at the University of Manchester, which suggests that although the damage observed is not enough to be diagnosed as a full-blown hearing loss, it could potentially have a cumulative effect on hearing later in life. Out of the 123 people tested, researchers found that those exposed to loud music had less functional hair cells.

To prevent this kind of damage, the researchers suggest avoidance of noisy situations, reduction of volume, or the use of hearing protection such as earplugs or earmuffs.

To read the article in its entirety, click here for the BBC Science Focus website.

Source: BBC Science Focus Magazine

Potential Tinnitus Therapy 

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University of Auckland to Study Chatbot Technology for Potential Tinnitus Therapy

 

Honiton hearing near Exeter Devon

Chatbot technology that offers therapy for tinnitus sufferers via a mobile device such as a smartphone will be trialed at the University of Auckland, according to an announcement on the school’s website.

Potential Tinnitus Therapy

Researchers are recruiting participants for the “Tinnibot” study which is aimed at helping those who suffer from a hearing disorder that affects around one in ten New Zealanders and more than 700 million people worldwide.

Tinnitus is usually experienced as a ringing in the ears but sufferers report a range of noises including buzzing, clicking, and even the sound of cicadas. Severity varies: sounds can be continuous or intermittent but the condition is linked to serious mental health effects including depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Currently there is no cure.

But as online technologies and devices such as smartphones change the way health care is delivered, Dr Fabrice Bardy from the University of Auckland’s School of Psychology says it has created new opportunities to treat tinnitus and to study which treatments work best.

Dr Fabrice Bardy

Tinnibot is a chatbot program which uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), proven to be effective in the treatment of tinnitus but usually only available through one-on-one sessions which can be expensive and involve long wait times.

The chatbot’s software interface delivers CBT designed for an individual’s needs directly to their mobile, conducting an automated and interactive text conversation designed to help people regulate their thoughts by focusing on positive thoughts and challenging negative ones.

The interface incorporates a sound therapy library which has proved to be effective tinnitus therapy, particularly for those who have trouble sleeping. It works by using noise at just the right volume to drown out the sounds tinnitus can produce.

Dr Bardy describes Tinnibot to be like having a tinnitus expert in your pocket.

“This chatbot interface is the first one designed specifically for the treatment of tinnitus, a tool that offers direct therapy and support which is convenient and affordable,” he said. “It will help people better understand their condition and to manage symptoms, give them a sense of being in control, and a confidence boost because that’s an important part of successful treatment.”

Participants in the research will be split into two cohorts with one using Tinnibot only and the other using Tinnibot as well as video counseling with a psychologist. The aim is to see which treatment is more effective.

Honiton hearing near Exeter

 

If you have been bothered with tinnitus for over three months and if you are interested in participating in the study, contact Dr Bardy for more information.

Source: University of Auckland

Image: University of Auckland

Starkey Updates Fall Alert Feature in ‘Basic Mode’ for IOS and Android

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Starkey Updates Fall Alert Feature in ‘Basic Mode’ for IOS and Android

 

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New Hearing aids in Devon at the Honiton Hearing centre. Ear wax removal USING Microsuction

 

Starkey announced that its  Thrive Hearing Control app has been updated to enable the Fall Alert feature in the “basic mode” for both iOS and Android versions. This feature was previously only available in “advanced mode.” Using their built-in 3D sensors, Starkey’s Livio Edge AI hearing aids can detect when the wearer falls and send alert messages to selected contacts. This update will “allow hearing healthcare professionals to give even more patients the opportunity to maintain their independence and caregivers peace of mind—which, due to current social distancing practices, is more crucial now than ever before.”

“We find it increasingly important for hearing aid wearers to feel secure in their day-to-day lives,” said Starkey Chief Innovation Officer Dave Fabry, PhD. “Because some Livio Edge AI wearers prefer the easy layout of basic mode, the simplified version of our Thrive Hearing Control app, enabling the Fall Alert feature for them was a vital task for us.”

Unlike other fall-detection devices, which are worn around the neck or on the wrist, Livio Edge AI is reportedly “the world’s first ear-worn, fall-detection device and alert system.” To learn more about Starkey and Livio Edge AI, please click here.

Source: Starkey