Sound Advice

Following dinner Dereck Wheeldon introduced Rachel Knappet, Specialist Audiologist from Addenbrookes for a talk entitled “Sound Advice”.  Dereck was interested to hear from Rachel as not only is she is tinnitus specialist, but she has worked in Nepal at an Ear Camp, treating people at a remote hospital, some of whom had treatable conditions, but as they received no treatment when young their neural paths were interrupted and they were unable to develop speech.

Rachel explained that as an audiologist she is involved in testing and diagnosing patients, supporting ENT team;  she deals with balance/dizziness issues, provided tinnitus therapy and is involved in research on sudden hearing loss.

Though familiar to many members, patients with gradual hearing loss usually visit the GP, who will refer them to a High Street practice, acting on behalf of nhs – eg SpecSavers – which provides either an audiologist or a hearing aid dispenser (make sure you know who is treating you – the latter is less qualified…………)

Patients with other hearing issues are generally referred to the hospital team, which may include an audiologist, Clinical Scientist or Paediatric audiologist.  Unfortunately, there is a staff crisis in this area – and consequently, waiting times are horribly long.

Rachel explained the basic working of the ear – the outer, middle and inner ear and told us that a cochlea is about half the size of a little fingernail.  It contains fluid and a membrane with hairs that detect the sound waves and the  mechanical sound signal is converted into an electrical nerve signal. Unless…. It goes wrong….which could be: conductive eg wax, glue ear or trauma

Sensory eg presbycusis (age-related hearing loss) genetics or trauma

Neural eg stroke or vestibular schwannoma (ie a tumour)

However ……..hearing pathways are not isolated – the brain can filter out certain sounds.

Tinnitus is perceiving ear activity as noise, despite no external source, sometimes with hearing loss and may be on one side only. Although no cure, there are some helpful actions to be taken: use other sounds (eg soft music)

Relaxation/stress management

Good communication techniques are helpful for anyone with any degree of hearing loss: face the speaker

Get their attention first

Reduce background noise where possible 

Repeat/rephrase

DO NOT SHOUT!

Move to a quieter area if possible

Use soft furnishing (less clatter/echo)

Consider positioning

Any sudden loss should be checked out as a matter of urgency. 

Rachel shared some controversies/challenges faced by audiologists:

Challenges in paediatric practices (too few quality testers)

Ear wax removal (HUGE problem, known to numerous members)

ENT wait times

Psychology support (not available currently)

Education/training

Workforce

Increasing population

But – being a positive practitioner, Rachel ended on a more positive note, with some successful research: OTOF gene therapy – hearing repaired without the need for a cochlea implant. 

Following a range of questions around the matter, Rob Jarrett gave a Vote of Thanks, praising Rachel for a comprehensive, informative and entertaining talk.  Ken Millard added one useful piece of advice: put your hearing aids on your house insurance!