Author: Mandy Lewis

Hearing Guy Matthew Allsop’s Youtube channel

Harley Street Hearing’s Director Matthew Allsop produces a weekly video on his “Hearing Guy” Youtube channel.

Hearing Guy

Join the 500+ subscribers for your weekly video update now click here.

“Every day I’m asked a wide range of questions about hearing aids and hearing aid technology by my patients in the practice. I figured that if there are people sat in front of me asking these questions, then there must be another thousand sat at home wondering the same thing.”

Hearing aid reviews

The Hearing Guy’s videos range from reviews on new hearing aids coming out or already available in the UK.

Hearing aid myths

Honest opinions on myths and a plethora of other topics from one of the UK’s leading audiologists.

Losing the Sound of Metal – hearing loss Telegraph interview

Drummer learns to live with his hearing loss

In Oscar-nominated film Sound of Metal, Riz Ahmed plays a rocker who loses his hearing. Sadly, the story is a reality for too many musicians.

Unsurprisingly, recent data says musicians are among the most likely people to have a hearing problem. “Research has shown that between 37-58 per cent of classical musicians, and 46-49 per cent of rock or pop musicians have found to have hearing impairments, with the general population coming in at around 13 per cent,” says Paul Checkley, Clinical Director at Harley Street Hearing & Musicians’ Hearing Services.

Noise exposure

“The music industry is somewhat behind when making a comparison to the management of noise exposure in the industrial and construction sectors. The use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) on building sites is enforceable, meaning that without use of the appropriate hearing protection, you could be removed from site. This is not the case in the music industry, despite the levels of noise being comparable at times.”

Although Paul points out that the increase in headphone use blurs the line somewhat between damage done by listening to music on your phone and being bombarded by decibels at a gig, the number of stars who have damaged their hearing while on the job is nevertheless long.

tinnitus

It’s not just tinnitus that can affect a person’s mental health. Paul Checkley also lists hyperacusis (where everyday sounds seem much louder than they should) and diplacusis (where the same sound can be perceived as being different in pitch between the two ears) as potential hearing problems that can cause a person problems beyond their ears. “These symptoms, along with the hearing loss, can affect a person’s confidence, and does often impact their mental health,” he says.

hearing loss

“The presence of a hearing loss alone can also cause people to isolate because they are embarrassed about not hearing well, which then has further effect on their mental health. Managing the hearing loss can help to reverse the isolation, allowing the person to become more confident with their interactions and therefore improve their well-being.”

In the UK, the Musicians Union offer a Musicians’ Hearing Health Scheme, which offers free check-ups and professional earplugs, as well as subsidised treatments like wax removal. And although treatment like the one that worked for Brian Johnson after the fact is good, all audiologists will tell you that protection is the best cure.

hearing aids

“Don’t wait for there to be a problem with your hearing; be proactive,” says Paul Checkley. “Having annual hearing tests will allow your hearing to be monitored and means that it will be much easier to pinpoint any potential changes and manage them quickly and efficiently. There are patients who have significant hearing losses who initially thought they might have to stop playing music, but through careful use of hearing aids with specific settings for their musical endeavours, and the understanding that there are adaptations that might be required, many are able to continue playing and performing music.”

Click here see the full Telegraph interview.

If you have any hearing concerns call 020 7486 1053

Sound Of Metal movie – Kerrang tinnitus interview

Sound of Metal

New movie Sound Of Metal explores the tragic consequences of a musician going deaf. Paul Checkley Clinical Director at Harley Street Hearing speaks to Kerrang! on how tinnitus is affecting the lives of music fans…

Tinnitus

Tinnitus, or as most people know it, a high-pitched ringing you get in your ears, can be intermittent for some people, but for others it’s a chronic condition. It’s also irreversible.

“People say, ‘I came out of a gig and my ears were ringing’ without understanding that isn’t something to just joke about,” says Paul Checkley, Clinical Director at Harley Street Hearing, an audiological practice in London. “It means that potentially your hearing has been damaged irreversibly… There is no cure for tinnitus as such, which is one of the biggest issues that people face: you get this ringing in your ears and are then told that you’re going to have that for the rest of your life.”

“A lot of the damage to people’s hearing appears to be done by leisure activities,” explains Nic Wray of the British Tinnitus Association, who are being approached by more and more people asking for help. “If you go to a building site or a factory, everyone’s got ear protection, but there’s not as much awareness for people going to live events. Venue staff are protected by health and safety legislation, but the musicians aren’t covered onstage because they’re not employees and it’s the same for the audience.”

Because tinnitus has no cure, only treatment, both Paul and Nic recommend wearing earplugs. Harley Street Hearing fits both heavy gig-goers and musicians with custom-moulded, “flat response” plugs, while BTA’s Plug’em initiative contains a guide to the different types of ear protection available.

For those who already suffer from tinnitus and need help managing it, Paul explains that the hearing problem has “a psychological aspect and a physiological aspect”, and that more is known about the former. “What we do know is that there’s a link between the emotional part of our brain the perpetuation of the tinnitus, so the treatments are centred around rehabilitation and therapy,” he explains. “Things like cognitive behavioural therapy have a really good research base. Mindfulness or meditation is beginning to have an equally strong research base and works really well, too.”

“If you’ve got tinnitus, we would normally do a hearing test to allow us to assess it,” says Paul. “We have criteria that say we’ve got to send you to get a medical opinion if it’s particularly troublesome for you. In those cases, your GP is your best place to start.”

See the full Kerrang interview here

Hearing aids delay dementia

Hearing aids and dementia

The onset of dementia in people with a hearing loss could be delayed by up to 5 years if hearing aids are worn.

A recent study was carried out of 2,114 patients over the age of 50 with a hearing impairment. They found a third who wore hearing aids had not developed dementia five years after their mild cognitive impairment, or MCI* diagnosis.

This figure was only a fifth for those who did not wear hearing aids.

The experts said their findings were an ‘important first step’ to encourage those, with a hearing loss at risk of dementia, to wear hearing aids.

Interestingly the use of hearing aids was linked with a two-year slower conversion to dementia which would have substantial economic and societal effects.

Take the first step

If you or a family member would like to come into our COVID secure clinic for a hearing consultation call us now on 020 7486 1053.

* MCI affects 5–20% of people over the age of 65. It manifests as problems with memory and thinking that do not interfere significantly with daily life.Individuals diagnosed with MCI are more likely to go on to develop dementia later in life.

Full findings of the study

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Remotecare hearing appointments

Remotecare

Ask your audiologist about online hearingcare

What is remote hearingcare?

Online Hearingcare lets you remotely access some of our services without the need for travelling to see us. This exciting new technology allows real-time adjustment to some of the parameters in your hearing aids in the comfort of your own home. You also have the opportunity to discuss any concerns that you may have and ask questions.

Online appointments can be helpful for those who have just been fitted with new hearing aids, to make quick adjustments. We can tweak the settings without traveling to in-clinic appointments, useful in a time when travelling is discouraged by the government.

How can I arrange an online appointment with an audiologist?

Arranging an online appointment is easy. Simply call us on 020 7486 1053 or email us below and we will do the rest. All you need is a smartphone. Your audiologist will contact you at the pre-arranged time and talk you through some simple steps to connect. Remember you do need a mobile phone that connect wirelessly to your hearing aids, we will be happy to advise you if you are not sure.

Does remote hearingcare replace face-to-face appointments?

No, the online appointments work alongside your face-to-face appointments and can be used during periods when you are unable or prefer not to travel, such as during the recent national lockdowns.

Tinnitus and Covid research

Research

New research has found that 40% of those displaying symptoms of Covid-19 simultaneously experience a worsening of their tinnitus. Also tinnitus could be a “long Covid symptom”.

Tinnitus affects an estimated one in eight adults in the UK and is associated with reduced emotional wellbeing, depression, and anxiety.

Internal worries such as fear of catching COVID-19, financial concerns, loneliness and trouble sleeping have contributed to making tinnitus more bothersome for 32% of people overall, with external factors such as increased video calls, noisier home environments, home schooling and increased coffee and alcohol consumption also cited by respondents.

Females and the under-50’s found tinnitus significantly more bothersome during the pandemic.

The study noted that as well as increasing the severity of tinnitus symptoms, the COVID-19 pandemic has also made it more difficult for people to access healthcare support for the condition. This could further increase emotional distress and worsen tinnitus symptoms, creating a vicious cycle.

David Stockdale, Chief Executive of the British Tinnitus Association said: “With the second wave of Covid-19 and the resulting national lockdown likely to increase feelings of stress and isolation, it’s vital that we don’t see the same mistakes as before when it comes to community health provision for people with tinnitus”.

“Poor treatment of tinnitus in the early stages often leads to much worse cases and severe tinnitus can have a huge impact on mental health.”

Harley Street Hearing are an essential service so we are open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.

Call 020 7486 1053 to see one of our highly qualified Hearing Therapists.

At your consultation we will help you to understand your tinnitus, discuss coping strategies, test your hearing, and suggest a package of tinnitus therapy created for your individual requirements and lifestyle needs.

For full details of the report click here

Covid link to hearing loss research

To help answer whether Covid really does cause hearing loss The UK’s Manchester Biomedical Centre has received funding from 2 charities, Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID, until recently known as Action on Hearing Loss) and the Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel Trust.

Professor Kevin Munro, Director (research) of the Manchester Centre of Audiology and Deafness (MacCAD), has become the go-to UK expert between COVID and other health conditions.

The basis for the research is the premise that viruses such as measles, mumps, and meningitis are known to damage hearing, so it is possible that this coronavirus can also result in hearing loss. In an earlier 2020 study by the Manchester researchers, adults with COVID-19 were followed up eight weeks after hospital discharge, more than one in ten of them self-reporting a deterioration in their hearing or the presence of tinnitus.

The proposed further research will involve use of a mobile test facility to assess 218 patients who have been discharged from hospital, half with COVID-19.

The Effects Of Coronavirus

The coronavirus has been found to affect the body in myriad ways, from a loss of taste and smell to organ damage. Now doctors have reported fresh evidence that Covid could also affect hearing.

Experts at University College London report the case of a 45-year-old man with asthma who was admitted to intensive care with Covid, ventilated, and given drugs including the antiviral remdesivir and intravenous steroids.

A week after leaving intensive care he developed a ringing sound – tinnitus – and then hearing loss in his left ear.

The team say none of the medications the man was given would be expected to cause damage to his hearing, while he had no problems with his ear canals or ear drums. Further investigation showed no sign of autoimmune problems, while he did not have flu or HIV – conditions previously linked to hearing loss. What’s more, the man had never had hearing problems before.

Subsequent tests revealed the man had sensorineural hearing loss in his left ear – a situation where the inner ear or the nerve responsible for sound is inflamed or damaged. This was treated with steroids with partial success.

Seven million UK tinnitus sufferers

Recent research by British Tinnitus Association of 1,620 people with tinnitus found:

57% experience low mood and sadness
42 per cent say they take part in fewer social activities because of their condition
One in five say they think about it ‘every few minutes’ or ‘every waking moment’ and say it can be as loud as a jet engine, whistling kettle or dentist’s drill.
A third said their tinnitus is trivialised by friends, family and work colleagues.

Tinnitus can be triggered by normal hearing loss caused by ageing or from loud noise, making musicians vulnerable. It can also affect people following car accidents or head injuries.

Roughly one in three people will experience tinnitus at some point in their lives.

Hearing aids can help because experts believe that when people cannot hear properly their brain creates its own internal noise to fill the silence.

The BTA claims that research into tinnitus receives 40 times less funding compared to mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.

“It is a travesty that tinnitus, with its huge mental health impact, receives 40 times less funding than comparable conditions like depression or hearing loss. We need more research to help find a cure, and to find ways of properly diagnosing tinnitus” said David Stockdale of the BTA.

“Our committed research community has made great strides in recent years to bring us to the edge of major progress. We need to seize this opportunity by making the investment needed to grow the field and make the huge leaps forward that are so important to people with tinnitus.”

To sign the BTA’s petition to urge the Government to invest in more research to find a cure click here

If you have concerns about tinnitus come in to see one of our highly qualified Hearing Therapists who can advise you on a package of action to help provide tinnitus relief.

Call 020 7486 1053 or complete the form below

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Phonak Paradise now available to trial

Want to be the first to trial brand new hearing technology?

Harley Street Hearing has the new Phonak Paradise available to trial now. The hearing aid that delivers unrivalled sound quality and empowering smart apps.

As the UK’s leading independent clinic manufacturers come to us first with new products. So if you’d like to come in and trial everything that’s new to enhance your hearing capability call now on 020 7486 1053 or complete below

Watch the video below

Starkey Livio AI Healthables – Medical Technology article

Harley Street Hearing Operations Director Matthew Allsop is interviewed in the latest issue of ‘Medical Technology’ magazine. The article is about Starkey’s latest smart hearing aid Livio AI, known as ‘heathable’, is bridging the gap between healthcare and consumer tech.

Livio acts like headphones, directly streaming phone calls and music into the wearer’s ears, as well as tracking both physical exercise and brain health.

Younger patients are often slower and more reluctant to see a doctor when they start to experience hearing difficulties. There remains an assumption that hearing loss is associated with old age.

Matthew suggests maybe by having these devices “more integrated into people’s worlds” could change this preconception.

Encouraging younger people to tackle their hearing loss earlier on is particularly important since the numbers of young people with hearing loss is only growing. The WHO estimates 1.1 billion people aged between 12 and 35 are at risk of losing their hearing.

To read the full article click here