Category: Media

Professional Hearing Loss Network – Hear Here

A Groundbreaking Platform for Empowering Professionals with Hearing Challenges

Are you a professional facing the unique challenges of hearing loss? This event is your opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who understand the journey of navigating a career with hearing challenges.

Established in 2016, Hear Here events offer a safe and supportive space for you to share your experiences, triumphs, and tips on thriving in the workplace whilst having a hearing impairment. Exchange invaluable insights with peers who have overcome similar obstacles and gain practical strategies to enhance your personal and professional growth.

This community-driven initiative aims to celebrate the strengths and resilience of individuals with hearing loss, fostering an environment where everyone’s voice is heard. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your career, you’ll find inspiration, encouragement, and a network of peers who are ready to uplift and empower you.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to join the Professionals Hearing Loss Network and be part of an inspiring event that will transform the way you perceive and approach your career journey. Embrace the power of community and discover the limitless possibilities that await you.

The Hear Here event will be held on Thursday 14th September from 6.30-10.30pm at Ernst & Young, 1 More London Place, London, SE1 2AF

To secure your free spot, click here

Jaspreet Bahra, Senior Clinical Audiologist at Harley Street Hearing came up with the concept of “Hear Here” – a professional network tailored for individuals with a hearing loss of all degrees. This platform offers a safe space where individuals can openly share their personal journeys within the professional workplace.

“The idea for ‘Hear Here’ was inspired by a young patient with progressive hearing loss, who felt a sense of isolation and a lack of connection with others who shared her struggles. ‘Hear Here’ provides a welcoming environment for discussions surrounding the unique challenges and accomplishments tied to hearing loss in work settings. Through this platform, we seek to create a more inclusive professional environment, where individuals can come together to share, learn, and collectively strive for a workplace environment that embraces diversity and accessibility.” said Jaspreet Bahra.

Join us at Hear Here and be part of a transformative experience that will inspire and empower you on your professional journey.

About Hear Here

Hear Here is a community-driven initiative established in 2016 to empower professionals with hearing loss. By providing a safe space for open discussions and networking, Hear Here aims to celebrate the strengths and resilience of individuals with hearing challenges, fostering an inclusive and supportive professional environment.

About Harley Street Hearing

We are London’s leading independent hearing clinic. For over 25 years, we have been dedicated to providing our patients with comprehensive audiological and vestibular care. Our team of experienced professionals diagnose and treat a wide range of hearing-related conditions, including balance disorders, tinnitus and hyperacusis, auditory processing disorders, all forms of hearing loss, and excessive wax using microsuction.

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

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

Radio 2 megaphone hearing damage?

Matthew Allsop joins in the topical conversation with Jeremy Vine on potential hearing damage by megaphones, & is sound now being used as a weapon?

Discussion takes place after a mini-cab protester at a demonstration was found not guilty of assault. He had used a mega phone right next to 2 police officers’ ears.

To listen to the conversation click the image below

We’re now at 2 Harley Street!

After many years at 129 Harley Street sadly the lease is up on the building. But, we’ve found nicer premises for our clinics at number 2 Harley Street, London W1G 9PA

We are very excited about the new building as it will give us much more space and will hopefully be more comfortable for you. You will also be much closer to John Lewis for shopping after your visit!

We are Harley Street Hearing – Independent Audiology Services & Quality Hearing Healthcare. Established on Harley Street for over 25 years.

Come to us for all your hearing needs.

BBC Click hearing app technology

Harley Street Hearing’s Operations Director Matthew Allsop contributes to this fascinating episode of BBC’s Click news programme on hearing app technology.

Focusing on the growth and effectiveness of accessibility apps from Google & Ava 24/7, also hearing aid manufacturer Starkey’s live translation being added to their new hearing technology.

To view click the CLICK logo below.

JP Morgan Hearing Loss Education

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