Audiology features
Does the overuse of noise-cancelling headphones cause APD?
Have you heard the noise around APD? With a flurry of interest around noise-cancellation and APD, Dale Hewitt offers his take on the evidence and theory. When and why did this question first arise? An article was published by BBC...
Ear wax removal: should anyone and everyone perform it?
Earwax removal is a controversial and much-debated issue in audiology. Risks and public safety call for reforms, sparking discussion on professional standards. Earwax is a natural secretion produced by the ear. It is an amalgamation of desquamous epithelial skin cells,...
Lenire as a clinical tool for treatment of tinnitus
Lenire offers a promising but varied solution for tinnitus relief. Peter Byrom shares insights on its effectiveness, challenges and patient outcomes. I have been involved in tinnitus support for at least 20 years, including a stint on the then British...
Where ART meets Science: The Silence You Can Hear
Some moments have a sound you don’t hear with your ears but feel with your entire being. The artwork DS21008 (200 cm x 120 cm) captures such a moment: a Sunday morning in Maastricht, where the river Maas reflects the...
Ida Institute’s legacy and the future of person-centred care
Professor Kris English reflects on the IDA Institute’s closure, celebrating its legacy of advancing patient-centred care and reshaping audiological counselling worldwide. In September 2008, the Ida Institute’s Director, Lise Lotte Bundesen, and her team held its inaugural ‘Defining Hearing Seminar’...
How to identify and support adults with auditory processing disorder: a focus on low-gain devices and auditory training
Some adults struggle with hearing in noise despite normal audiograms. Tools like the HHIA, low-gain devices and auditory training can help identify and support these cases. In this article, Angela Alexander and Fatima Abbas use a case study to discuss...
Tish Gaffney – AAA President
From a sunny Southend, UK, Gareth Smith takes 10 minutes to dial into the Sunshine State, USA, and catch up with Tish Gaffney for a lightning-speed chat on the movements and motivations of the 35th president of the American Academy...
The ups and downs of overseas research – the inner ear at altitude
Conducting research at extreme altitude presents unique challenges. This study of the inner ear at 5350m navigates setbacks in a quest for scientific discovery. Having completed a diploma in mountain medicine in my foundation years, I decided to undertake a...
Empathic consulting: elevating audiology through connection
A new course in empathic consulting helps audiologists deepen patient trust and engagement, focusing on emotional insight to improve care quality and consultation outcomes. Leightons and The Hearing Care Partnership have developed an innovative course focused on empathic consulting for...
Audiology and ophthalmology: a comparative perspective on diagnostics and patient care
What are the similarities and differences between audiology and ophthalmic practices, and what can we learn from each other? Rosalyn Painter finds out. I’m here with Chris Gordon and Anthony Vukic from Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to find out...
Why hearing above 8 kHz matters more than you think
This review explores the significance of extended high-frequency hearing loss (above 8 kHz) and why it may be worth doing clinically more frequently. There are many conditions that may hide underneath a normal audiogram, and one of the easiest to...
Silent crisis: the exodus of hearing healthcare professionals from the Philippines
The migration of Filipino audiologists and otolaryngologists abroad is worsening the shortage of hearing specialists. Improving local conditions is vital to retaining talent. As ear and hearing healthcare professionals practising in the Philippines, we have seen the struggle in keeping...
