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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Somatosensory tinnitus: an interdisciplinary approach
Somatosensory tinnitus occurs when a head, neck or jaw problem influences what the tinnitus sounds like. Audiologists and physical therapists work together to address this tinnitus subtype. Background Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the ears or head, in...
Comparing AutoREM accuracy to NAL-NL2 targets: real patient data and simulator verification
A new study examines how accurately AutoREMs from four major brands hit NAL-NL2 targets, revealing strengths, limits and clinical implications. Automatic real ear measurements (AutoREMs) have emerged as a promising way to make hearing aid fittings faster and more consistent....
Dispelling myths about audiologic counselling: part one
In the first of a two-part series (see Part 2 here), Drs Clark and English explore common misconceptions in audiologic counselling and highlight the power of empathy and person-centred care. As patients sit before us, they experience any number of...
Does diet have a role in the prevention of tinnitus?
Tinnitus, diet and healthy ageing Despite the high prevalence of tinnitus, its exact aetiology remains unclear. Research has explored the role of various biological pathways in the development of tinnitus including age-related changes in the auditory system, impaired vascular function,...
Closing the circle: where art, science and humanity meet
As the final cover of this Art meets Science series arrives in your hands, I find myself filled with gratitude. Gratitude for the journey, for the people who walked it with me and, above all, for the deeper purpose that...
