Category: Read About Us

A Journey into Audiology and Music

Tom Speight Neighbourhood Voices Islington Assembly Halls

Unlocking the Harmony of Sound: A Journey into Audiology and Music

In a bustling corner of London’s Hampstead Garden Suburb, lies the Henrietta Barnett School, a hub of academic excellence and creative exploration. Recently, the school’s Spring edition of the HBS Music magazine featured an interview with Fiona Butterworth, Clinical Lead at Harley Street Hearing and Musicians’ Hearing Services, whose career embodies the intersection of music and healthcare.

HBS music department

A Harmonious Fusion of Passions

The journey into a specialised field often begins with a confluence of passions and interests. For Fiona, it all started with a love for music and a fascination with acoustics. “Initially, I studied Acoustics with Music at the Institute of Sound and Vibration Research“. The allure of blending her bassoon studies with the intricacies of Acoustical Engineering proved irresistible.

However, it was the realisation that her true passion lay in understanding how we interact with sound that steered Fiona towards the path of audiology. This led to the pursuit of a master’s degree in audiology, marking the beginning of a fulfilling career dedicated to the science of hearing.

Navigating the Soundscape: A Day in the Life of an Audiologist

What exactly does a Clinical Lead in London’s leading independent hearing clinic do? As Fiona explains, the role is multifaceted and deeply enriching. Much of her time is spent in clinic settings, empathetically delving into the unique hearing difficulties experienced by her patients. From advising on suitable hearing aids and hearing protection, to providing ongoing support, audiologists play a pivotal role in empowering individuals to navigate the complex auditory landscape with confidence.

However, it’s not just about individual care. Fiona finds immense fulfilment in engaging with organisations and companies, advocating for the importance of good hearing health. Whether delivering presentations to professional London orchestras or speaking at conferences, the mission is clear: to raise awareness and educate on the significance of utilising hearing protection in all musical environments.

Neighbourhood Voices backing Tom Speight at Islington Assembly Halls

Neighbourhood Voices backing Tom Speight at Islington Assembly Halls

A Symphony of Personal Pursuits

Amidst the professional endeavours, Fiona remains deeply connected to her musical roots. Despite the demands of her career, she still enjoys playing the bassoon, particularly relishing the orchestral music they become immersed in. Yet, it’s her involvement with Sing All Together Beckenham, a vibrant community choir, that truly captures the essence of Fiona’s passion for music. Fiona performed at a gig with Neighbourhood Voices, backing Tom Speight during his UK tour stop at Islington Assembly Halls (fifth left of the above image). Within this harmonious collective, she finds camaraderie, inspiration, and the sheer joy of making music together.

Closing Notes

As the interview draws to a close, it’s evident that for this dedicated audiologist, the journey is far from over. With each note played and each patient helped, Fiona continues to bridge the gap between music and healthcare, fostering a world where the symphony of sound is accessible to all.

See Fiona’s interview here.

If you’ve enjoyed this article please see some of our others:

What is Tinnitus?

Hearing Wellness Protecting Your Ears in 2024

Musicians’ Union – Hyperacusis Case Study

The importance of getting hearing aids fitted by a professional

Hearing aid fitting on a patient

For millions of people around the globe suffering from hearing loss, hearing aids are a lifeline. The incredible advancements in technology allow users to access sounds that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to hear and help them regain their confidence.

However, as we’ve mentioned many times before, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to hearing aids. Not only does the device chosen need to be suited to the individual’s hearing needs, but its effectiveness hinges greatly on proper fitting.

Getting a hearing aid fitted by a professional audiologist means that the settings can be tailored to your specific needs and with so many features available these days, these subtle tweaks can make a huge difference.

Hearing aid fitting on a patient (1)

The importance of getting hearing aids fitted by Hearing Care Professionals was highlighted in a recent article by Audiology Worldnews discussing the implementation of AI in hearing aids. The article emphasises how AI can’t be relied on alone, and input from HCPs is crucial to ensuring that hearing aids continue to serve the individual needs of the user with correct fitting and adjustments.

A Harley Street Hearing patient, Mark Wilson, shared his thoughts in the article:

“I have Phonak Paradise, and my son, Lumity. We both use the AI but it’s taken a bit of tweaking by the hearing God that is Matthew Allsop to get it right. Sometimes the Noise Reduction can be a bit too aggressive. You can tweak it but it’s tough. Matthew is very good at subtle tweaks. Things like detecting and adjusting for car, etc.” 

Click here to read the full article.

The importance of professional hearing aid fittings can’t be overstated, so if you’re looking for support on your journey to hearing better again, get in touch with Harley Street Hearing’s team of clinical audiologists.

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Musicians’ Union – Hyperacusis Case Study

hyperacusis

Musicians’ Hearing Services features in a case study published by Musicians’ Union, detailing how we helped composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist, Paul Russell, overcome his struggles with hyperacusis.

Sharing his story, Paul says: “It started with the kids at home. Then I noticed it on trains or at the airport, the Tannoy systems or the beeping noise when the doors open. I do quite a lot of work as a front-of-house sound engineer. When I went to mix a concert, the drummer started playing the kick drum and it pinned me to the back of the wall. It was just completely impossible for me to be around that level of volume.”

Following an appointment with an ENT consultant who advised Paul he had irreversible hearing loss, he got in touch with Musicians’ Hearing Services for a second opinion. With a course of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and sound generators, Paul saw “life-changing” impacts.

Click here to read the full article on Musicians’ Union.

ISM Protecting Musicians’ Hearing Health

ISM Music Journal
ISM Music Journal 2023 cover

Featured in the ISM Summer Music Journal Fiona Butterworth, Senior Clinical Audiologist at Musicians’ Hearing Services, explains how musicians can maintain good hearing health and outlines what the Musicians’ Hearing Health Scheme offers musicians at a fraction of the usual price.

Also included are what employer’s responsibilities are with regards to noise in the workplace.

To read the full article, click here.

If you work in the  music industry and are interested in finding out more click here

The Independent Society of Musicians (ISM) is the UK’s largest representative non-union body for musicians and a nationally recognised subject association for music.

Harley Street Hearing and Musicians’ Hearing Services have been established for over 25 years. We are passionate about the specific hearing needs of musicians and entertainment industry personnel.

Tinnitus & Harley Street Hearing in The Times

Duncan Geddes tinnitus

Duncan Geddes tinnitus

Tinnitus at 23: How I found a way out

Duncan Geddes was at Glastonbury when his hearing became distorted. Years later he’s found a solution.

“Since the age of 12 my biggest passion had been live music, but I could barely listen to music even at home. At times it felt like my world was shrinking, like I’d have to find something else to live for.

Ultimately, my way out came with help from a hearing therapist called Jordon Thompson (Harley Street Hearing) who is trained in audiology and cognitive behavioural therapy. His first observation was quite a surprise: the earplugs I’d been wearing at gigs for years kept out too much sound. The noise-reduction rating of 29dB taught my brain that the music was scary and to be avoided.

The answer to this was pushing putty into my ears and taking a mould for custom, more efficient earplugs, made by ACS. While these provided less sound reduction than the heavy-duty earplugs I’d been wearing to protect my hearing previously, they were still strong enough to prevent the objective hearing loss threatened by concerts and cinemas — and without turning the sound into mud, like cheap foam plugs do.

Over the course of our six sessions, Thompson taught me mindfulness, especially the practice of focusing on bodily sensation to keep your thoughts in the present………”

This is an excerpt, to read the full insightful article in The Times click here.

If tinnitus is affecting your enjoyment of music and you would like a Hearing Therapy consultation, or for custom made hearing protection ear plugs please call us on 020 7486 1053 or complete the form below.

Harley Street Hearing are the home of independent audiology in London. We have been established on Harley Street for 25 years.

Losing the Sound of Metal – hearing loss Telegraph interview

the telegraph
sound of metal telegraph image

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 

Shooting earplugs in The Field magazine

The Field front cover

Harley Street Hearing Clinical Audiologist Fiona Butterworth was interviewed by The Field magazine for their article about shooting earplugs “When warning decibels start ringing”.

Custom-made, in-ear plugs can be an expensive option but the protection they offer is excellent. “Provided the in-ear hearing protection is correctly fitted and sealing the ear appropriately, these can provide a higher level of protection than the over-ear hearing protection,” advises Butterworth.

See the full in-depth article by clicking The Field magazine image below.

For your own custom-made earplugs contact us by calling 020 7486 1053 or complete the form below.

The field front cover

Vogue

Vouge magazine logo
Vogue

Vogue’s Emma Elwick-Bates feature on her personal experience with hearing loss and visiting Harley Street Hearing. Click here to see the full article