Augmented reality – a quick overview of potential technology

Is that the optic nerve? Where is the carotid? Both questions you would prefer to know the answer to upfront. This article discusses if augmented reality can help us with surgical navigation around the skull base. Although endoscopic skull base...

Communication in the age of universal masking: speech-to-text apps to the rescue

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has touched nearly every aspect of our lives, including how we interact with patients. At this point, it is almost hard to remember a time when we didn’t have to wear masks during clinical encounters. Though...

Virtual chromoendoscopy (VCE)

‘That’s a funny looking lesion on the larynx, it’s probably benign, but I should take a biopsy.’ Liz Ross and Ajith George discuss whether virtual chromoendoscopy will change this thought process. What are the origins and ENT applications? Traditional chromoendoscopy...

SoundPrint: an app for finding quieter restaurants

"Is there any chance the music could be turned down a bit”, I asked our server politely on a rare evening out with my husband. We had spent the previous half-hour shouting at each other, only to have the other...

How loud is too loud? Smart ways to monitor noise exposure through your headphones

As an audiologist, an increasingly common concern patients have is noise exposure from their headphones and how it will impact their hearing over time. It’s a legitimate worry considering the average adult is streaming audio content on their mobile devices...

Present and future in myringoplasty

Tympanic membrane perforations are a common finding in ENT practice. Whilst watchful waiting or formal tympanoplasty are standard options – wouldn’t it be amazing if there was a low cost, safe, in-clinic option to immediately help patients (I hear you...

The rise of a medical ‘mirrorworld’

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are concepts we’ve heard of, but only seen in films such as Terminator, Minority Report and Mission Impossible. In this article, Tom Lovelock describes how AR/VR will impact our lives. A recent article...

The development of the Paediatric Arabic Auditory Speech Test for iPad

Speech in noise testing provides real-life assessments of hearing that conventional pure tones cannot deliver. Rania Alkahtani describes the development of such a test for Arabic speaking children. It also has the additional benefit of being able to be delivered...

Coros: can a smart helmet make listening to audio content safer for cyclists?

The popularity of mobile phones has made listening to content while on the go – whether it be music, audiobooks, podcasts, or voice calls – a seemingly universal practice. Earbuds and other headphone styles adorn the ears of nearly every...

British Tinnitus Association: a site to add to your bookmarks

What is your reaction when a patient reports having tinnitus? With the exception of audiologists and otolaryngologists who have developed expertise in the area of tinnitus, many of us feel ill-equipped to provide our patients with appropriate guidance. Trying to...

What Plug?

For decades, audiologists have encouraged people to wear hearing protection when they attend concerts. Traditionally, the most accessible options have been foam plugs, which have limited appeal due to their poor sound quality. Disposable foam plugs absorb high frequency sounds...

EBM Stats Calc: there’s a stat for that

Quantifying the value of a specific test or intervention for a patient is no easy feat. Even when the value of a given test or intervention has been established, there may be additional case-specific factors to consider that are not...