Month: October 2025

For Chris, music has always been more than a hobby – it’s a passion and part of his identity. With a background in hi-fi and a deep love for sound, he spent countless hours enjoying the richness of live performances and recorded music. But gradually, something began to change.

When music started to fade

Over the course of three years, Chris noticed that the sound he loved no longer felt the same. His hi-fi system seemed dull, the clarity of instruments was missing, and live performances lacked the vibrancy he remembered.

“I’ve got a background in music. I love music and hi-fi. I think this is one of the reasons I didn’t do anything about it,” Chris admits. “I felt it would be detrimental to my enjoyment of listening to music.”

The fear of losing the joy of music stopped him from seeking help – but it also meant he was missing out on more than just melodies. Everyday conversations at work and home became harder to follow, leaving him frustrated.

Finding the courage to act

Eventually, Chris realised he could no longer ignore the impact hearing loss was having on both his music and his daily life. After researching online, he discovered Harley Street Hearing through the HearingTracker YouTube channel and was impressed by the professional, approachable advice of audiologist Matthew Allsop.

He booked a consultation, where a thorough hearing test confirmed significant high-frequency hearing loss. Importantly, there was no pressure to make a decision – Chris felt supported and understood throughout.

Hearing music in full colour again

At his follow-up appointment, Chris was fitted with trial hearing aids. What happened next took him by surprise.

Over six weeks – at work, at home, and even on holiday in Italy – the difference was extraordinary. Conversations were clearer, meetings became manageable again, and most importantly, music came back to life.

“Music sounded vibrant and full again,” Chris says. “Whenever I took the hearing aids out, I realised just how much I’d been missing.”

A shared understanding

Chris credits much of his positive experience to his audiologist, Fiona Butterworth, who also has a background in music. She immediately understood his concerns about sound quality and tailored the hearing aids to ensure his enjoyment of music was protected.

“She was very thorough, explained everything very well, and gave me lots of options,” Chris recalls. “Her professionalism and follow-up care gave me complete confidence.”

The right solution

Chris ultimately chose Phonak Audéo Infinio Sphere hearing aids, which are discreet, comfortable, and easily customised through the app. They’ve transformed his daily life – but for him, the biggest success is being able to enjoy music the way he always has.

“Life feels much richer now,” he reflects. “Whether I’m listening to my hi-fi, going to a concert, or just enjoying conversations, I finally feel like I’m back in the moment.”

Chris’ advice to others

For anyone hesitating to seek help because of a love of music, Chris has a clear message:

“Don’t delay because there’s no point. If you suspect you’ve got hearing loss, then you probably have. It’s worth finding out the severity. Don’t be scared about what people are going to think, because it’s really not as bad as it is in your own head.”

Want to know how we can help your hearing? Call us on 020 7486 1053 or complete the form below.

If you’ve ever felt like sounds don’t quite match up between your ears, maybe one note sounds slightly higher in one ear than the other or you notice an odd echo effect, you could be experiencing something called diplacusis, often described as “double hearing.”

It’s not very common, but for those who do experience it, it can be disorientating and sometimes worrying. The good news is that diplacusis is usually linked to an underlying cause, and with the correct treatment and care, the symptoms typically resolve.

What is diplacusis?

Diplacusis is the medical term for “double hearing.” This occurs when the same sound is perceived differently in each ear. For example, a note played on a piano may sound like two separate notes, one slightly sharper or flatter than the other.

Most of the time, our ears work together to deliver a single, unified sound to our brain, in the same way that our eyes do with images. But when diplacusis occurs, that harmony is disrupted, leading to two versions of the same sound. It’s similar to experiencing double vision, but with your hearing.

What does diplacusis sound like?

People with diplacusis usually notice one of two main types:

• Pitch difference (diplacusis dysharmonica): The same sound is heard at different pitches in each ear, for example one ear hears “C” while the other hears something closer to “C sharp”.
• Echo effect (diplacusis echoica): Sounds arrive at slightly different times in each ear, creating an echo-like sensation.

Both can make listening to music, following conversations, or even everyday sounds feel unusual and unsettling.

What causes double hearing?

Diplacusis is often linked to issues affecting one ear more than the other. Common causes include:

• Hearing loss that is uneven between ears, known as asymmetrical hearing loss.
• Sensorineural hearing loss, often related to ageing or long-term noise exposure.
• Ear blockages, such as earwax, infection, or fluid behind the eardrum.
• Ear or head trauma, injuries that affect the inner ear or hearing nerve.
• Medications or conditions, such as Ménière’s disease or ototoxic drugs.

In some cases, musicians notice diplacusis earlier than others because of their heightened sensitivity to pitch and tone.

Can diplacusis be treated?

The treatment depends on the cause. For example:

• If it is related to earwax or infection, removing the blockage often resolves the issue.
• If it is linked to hearing loss, hearing aids may help balance sound between your ears and reduce the sensation of double hearing.
• In more advanced cases of hearing loss, cochlear implants may be recommended.

Other approaches, such as sound therapy or auditory training, may also help the brain adjust to differences between the ears.

When should you see a specialist?

If you notice that sounds don’t quite match between your ears, especially if this happens suddenly, it’s important to book an appointment with an audiologist. At Harley Street Hearing and Musicians’ Hearing Services, our expert team can carry out a full hearing assessment, check for any underlying medical issues, and recommend the most appropriate treatment. We’ll help identify the cause and find the best way forward, so you can return to hearing clearly and comfortably again.

Want to know how we can help your hearing? Call us on 020 7486 1053 or complete the form below.

Written by Harley Street Hearing and Musicians’ Hearing Services Clinical Lead’s Jordon Thompson and Romy Cohen

For musicians, sound is more than just something you hear – it’s something you feel, interpret and express. If you’re a musician experiencing hearing loss, you may be wondering how hearing aids could affect your relationship with music.

At Musicians’ Hearing Services, we’ve spent over 25 years supporting the entertainment industry with high-quality hearing care, from custom-made hearing protection and In-Ear Monitors to diagnostic testing to the latest hearing aid technology.

This guide outlines what to expect from hearing aids as a musician, how they can be fine-tuned for musical listening, and the crucial role your audiologist plays in optimising your experience.

Sound Quality

Your experience with the sound quality of music plays an important role in shaping our hearing aid recommendations.

If you are struggling to hear music clearly due to a hearing loss, then hearing aids can make a significant difference. Whereas, if you’re noticing changes in how you perceive pitch quality, and it doesn’t seem as strong as it used to be, we will ask specialised questions to better understand the nuances of your experience and guide you through the next steps of your journey.

A common concern among musicians is whether hearing aids distort music. The honest answer? Yes, but only if the hearing aid hasn’t been carefully programmed to optimise the sound quality for music.

Hearing aids are designed with speech in mind. Features that enhance speech clarity for conversation, can negatively impact the quality of music. To overcome this, it’s important to create dedicated settings that are tailored to your needs for you to use in musical spaces, without compromising your day-to-day conversation settings.

Tailored Recommendations

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to hearing aids for musicians.

Your audiologist will use the information gathered during your assessment to recommend a hearing aid that aligns with your lifestyle, musical endeavours, and audiological requirements.

Depending on your goals, they may suggest hearing aids with features such as:

• Adjustable feedback management
• A wide range of frequency channels
• App-based remote control to adjust settings in the moment

At Musicians’ Hearing Services, we offer hearing aids from all major UK manufacturers. As an independent practice, we’re not tied to any one brand. This means that we have access to the full range of hearing aids on the market, so you can be confident you’re getting the best solutions for your individual needs.

Curious about specific models? Explore the different hearing aids we work with in our Comparing the Best Hearing Aids of 2025 so far blog.

The Role of Your Audiologist

Even the best hearing aid technology won’t deliver the results you need straight out of the box.

Your audiologist plays a key role in getting the best performance from your hearing aids. At your first appointment, they’ll use various measurements to find the most optimal settings for speech. However, fine-tuning for music can take some more time, especially because listening to music is a personal and subjective experience.

At your follow-up appointment, your audiologist will take into account your initial impressions of how music sounds through the hearing aids. Based on your feedback, they’ll carefully consider adjustments to further improve the quality of music.

While there is much overlap in the terminology of the musical and audiological worlds, describing how something sounds isn’t always easy. So, rest assured our experience holds us in the best position to facilitate the translation of your experience into meaningful hearing aid adjustments.

Working with an audiologist who understands both hearing technology and musical nuance makes a significant difference. Our audiologists have extensive experience from working with musicians over the years and you’ll find that several of them are musicians themselves. They understand firsthand how important it is to preserve the richness and detail of sound.

Our admin team will help match you with the audiologist best suited to your needs and arrange your appointment accordingly.

Want to Learn More?

Matthew Allsop is a Partner at Harley Street Hearing and Musicians’ Hearing Services, as well as the global Video Content Manager at Hearing Tracker, sharing his honest, independent opinion on all new hearing technology. Hearing Tracker is the world’s first truly independent resource for hearing aid consumers. Check out his channel here to learn more.

To see Matthew’s review of the best hearing aid setting for music click below:

Contact Us

Here at Harley Street Hearing and Musicians’ Hearing Services, we have developed a series of steps to get the most out of your hearing aids for music, while still maintaining the best quality for speech. To book an assessment, contact us or call 020 7486 1053.