Audiology features
When everyday sounds are unbearable: understanding pain and loudness hyperacusis
Everyday sounds can feel unbearably loud or physically painful for people with hyperacusis, a complex disorder that may require tailored, cautious care. Hyperacusis is a disorder in which everyday sounds are experienced as uncomfortable or intolerable. For some people, sounds...
PLUM: using parent observations to identify persistent otitis media
Can parent observations help identify persistent otitis media sooner? PLUM uses everyday listening behaviours to flag children who may need urgent specialist care. Otitis media (OM) remains one of the most persistent health inequities facing Indigenous children globally. While prevalence...
Cochlear implantation and identity in Deaf families
Cochlear implants are one of ENT’s great success stories. But for some families, the decision to implant is far more complex than audiology alone. When we talk about cochlear implantation, we often lead with the science. Candidacy criteria, age at...
The missing link: how migraine neurophysiology amplifies tinnitus
This article discusses an emerging hypothesis linking bothersome tinnitus with migraine-related sensory processing dysfunction. When evaluating patients with tinnitus, a range of contrasting experiences are noted, from mild, non-bothersome symptoms to those associated with significant distress – broadly corresponding to...
Getting the message right on hearing loss and dementia
Are we reaching a consensus on how hearing professionals should talk about hearing loss and dementia? In 2024, the British Society of Audiology (BSA), in collaboration with the British Academy of Audiology (BAA) and the British Society of Hearing Aid...
Hearing conservation in military operations
Navy audiologists protect service members’ hearing, ensuring situational awareness, safety and mission readiness in noisy military operations. Active-duty navy audiologists are naval officers who apply their specialised skill sets and serve as subject matter experts in hearing conservation and communication...
Listening differently: my path into tinnitus and hyperacusis research
From lived experience to PhD research, Nic Wray explores how tinnitus and hyperacusis are understood in primary care, and why listening better could improve support. My working life has taken many turns, but becoming a researcher was never part of...
Dispelling myths about audiologic counselling: part two
In the second of a two-part series, Drs Clark and English explore how addressing emotions, embracing silence and managing expectations enhance person-centred care. As discussed in part one of this article [1], when we provide patient education, we must monitor...
Clinical guidance: using the NAL-NL3 Fitting System in practice
NAL-NL3 modernises hearing aid prescription with modular, evidence-based modules, improving real-world comfort and communication for diverse listening needs. Hearing aid prescription has long relied on a single, audiogram-based formula to guide amplification. While this approach has delivered reliable outcomes for...
How sight shapes sound: cross-modal plasticity and cochlear implantation
Visual cues support auditory recovery after cochlear implantation, with evidence showing cross-modal plasticity enhances speech perception and rehabilitation outcomes. Traditionally, clinical guidance around cochlear implantation has been shaped by a key concern: that reliance on visual communication, particularly speechreading, might...
The connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline: current perspectives
Editorial clarification This article reviews research exploring associations between hearing impairment, cognitive decline and dementia. While evidence shows a dose-dependent relationship, it is important to note that association does not prove causation, and current research does not definitively show if...
Smart cochlear device: how biosensors could revolutionise hearing care
Smart cochlear implants could monitor inner ear health, deliver drugs and adapt in real time, merging biosensing, microfluidics and personalised hearing care. From passive hearing aids to smart implants Hearing technology has advanced dramatically over the last few decades, yet...
