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...
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...
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...
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...
Transforming adult hearing care: ANZ launches regional Living Guidelines for Adult Cochlear Implantation
Australia and New Zealand launch the first regional Living Guidelines for Adult Cochlear Implantation, setting a unified, evidence-informed framework to improve access, consistency and outcomes. The Australia and New Zealand Hearing Health Collaborative (ANZ HHC) has unveiled Living Guidelines for...
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...
Management considerations for limited usable hearing unilaterally in the paediatric population
How can we best support children with limited usable hearing in one ear? This article discusses the latest approaches. Limited usable hearing unilaterally (LUHU) is an emerging term and has been suggested to replace the historical term ‘single-sided deafness (SSD)’....
The first nine months: why early hearing matters more than ever
Why 1-3-6 and 9? They are arguably crucial intervention stages. Here, new science is explored which weaves together the threads of early intervention. Imagine a newborn gazing at their caregiver’s face, hearing their voice and feeling the rhythm of their...
A tribute to Mead C Killion, PhD 1939-2025
The renowned audiologist and inventor Mead Killion passed away comfortably on 3 November 2025 in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, US. Mead was known for inventing products that left us scratching our heads, trying to figure out why we hadn’t thought of them...
