Author: Mandy Lewis

Kerrang ‘Sound Of Metal’ interview on preventing hearing loss at gigs

Posted on April 15, 2021 by - Blog, Homepage, Media

Tinnitus cannot be cured, but here’s how rock fans can prevent hearing loss

There’s a moment near the beginning of Sound Of Metal, the Oscar-nominated movie about a drummer who goes deaf, where Ruben (played by Riz Ahmed) is being diagnosed after experiencing bouts of sudden and overwhelming hearing loss. ​“Your hearing is deteriorating rapidly,” he is told. ​“You have to understand: your first responsibility is to preserve the hearing you have.”

Paul Checkley – Clinical Director at Harley Street Hearing and Musicians Hearing Services was interviewed for his advice:

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. ​“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.”

Because tinnitus has no cure, only treatment, Paul recommends wearing earplugs. Harley Street Hearing & Musicians’ Hearing Services fit both heavy gig-goers and musicians with custom-moulded, ​“flat response” plugs.

“If you’ve got tinnitus, we would normally do a hearing test to allow us to assess it,” says Paul. 

Call 020 7486 1053 or complete below if you’d like to come in for a Tinnitus consultation with one of our Hearing Therapists. 

Click here to see the full Kerrang interview.

Open as normal

Posted on November 4, 2020 by - Homepage

Open as normal

As the latest government lockdown measures are announced, please be assured that as we are an essential service we will remain open.  

You can now apply again for the Musicians’ Hearing Health Scheme – see details here

We have created a COVID SAFE environment according to PHE guidelines. Clinics will continue to run on Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, at 2 Harley Street, and Wellington Diagnostics and Outpatient Centre in Golders Green. 

Our clinic in Cheadle, Greater Manchester is also open on a Monday and Tuesday.

So, whatever your hearing needs, just give us a call on 020 7486 1053 or email us below.  We will be delighted to see you.

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra seminar

Posted on November 5, 2019 by - Homepage

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra seminar

Our Clinical Audiologist Fiona Butterworth presented to the team of approx 70 musicians at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.  Musicians’ Hearing Services are passionate about educating musicians on the importance of using hearing protection.

If you’d like to have one of our Audiologists come to educate your team see details here

Musicians’ Hearing Health in Classical magazine

Posted on July 20, 2022 by - Homepage, Read About Us

Musicians’ Hearing Health in Classical magazine

Paul Checkley – Clinical Director at Harley Street Hearing and Musicians’ Hearing Services was interviewed on the Musicians’ Hearing Health Scheme and how it came about.

How well do musicians tend to get on with hearing protection? “The problem is that you are putting something in the ear.  A musician who has had a career of open ears can find that quite difficult, and it does take some practice to make these earplugs work for you.  With a trombone player, for example, they can hear the sound they are making with their mouth as well as the sound coming out of the end of their instrument.  Musicians’ earplugs can minimise this effect, but it will never be the same.  To some extent it has to sound a bit different in order to work.”

Paul adds: “There are people who aren’t quite aware that there are earplugs designed specifically for musicians.  Most hearing protection will reduce high frequencies rather than low, but specialist hearing protection will retain the fidelity so it doesn’t sound different, just quieter.  You don’t get the dullness you can get with foam earplugs.”

Click on the article below to see the full interview.

If you’d like to apply for the Musicians’ Hearing Health Scheme click here

Hearing health in the music industry podcast

Posted on August 5, 2019 by - Blog, Homepage

Hearing health in the music industry podcast

Listen to this invaluable interview with drummer Nigel Elliott including hearing advice & tips.  

Nigel Elliott discusses the effects that over 40 years of playing music has had on his hearing, the knowledge he’s picked up along the way and the steps he’s taken to protect it. 

Includes advice on how to look after your hearing health, and also tells how you can access professional moulded ear plugs for a fraction of the price. 

Listen to the Elevate Music podcast here or click the image above

First podcast helping musicians health & wellbeing

Posted on July 16, 2019 by - Blog, Homepage, Listen To Us

First podcast helping musicians health & wellbeing

Listen to the first Elevate Music podcast – an invaluable resource helping musicians to improve their health and wellbeing. (Series 1 – episode 1)

The Elevate Music podcast focuses on a range of different themes across 15 episodes, including mental and vocal health, hearing problems, stage fright, drugs and alcohol, social media and the challenge of touring and many more.

The series launches with an episode featuring host Lucy Heyman talking to Help Musicians’ Head of Health & Welfare – Joe Hastings, and Adam Ficek, a member of Babyshambles.

“When I was thrust into the music industry, it was amazing, I felt adrenalised, but I didn’t have the same business sense I have now,” said Ficek. “On reflection, the biggest transition was after the phone stops ringing. It’s a business, it’s an industry and it’s neither good nor bad.”

He added: “There needs to be more information and awareness, to help musicians be better prepared. A place for musicians to go”.

The project is the brainchild of industry researcher and CEO of Elevate Music, Lucy Heyman, who also presents the podcast.

“Studies have shown that pop musicians feel unsupported in their careers with health and wellbeing issues, so this  podcast is looking at the key topics that research tells us they need most help with,” she said.  “The podcast, along with the other services that Elevate Music provides, is initiating a much-needed crisis-prevention model within the industry to try and stop issues from impacting on musicians’ health in the future.”

Mark Glentworth – composer & performer

Posted on April 9, 2019 by - Homepage, Testimonials

I first noticed my hearing loss as a child but more significantly about 8 years ago.

I was always asking people to repeat themselves when in groups or in busy places and having to turn up the radio or TV.

 I found out about Harley Street Hearing through Help Musicians’ UK.

Wearing hearing aids has made a great difference as I can now hear everything and everyone. I can also turn them down in busy noisy places or when playing music.

My advice for anyone who is experiencing difficulties with their hearing is don’t be embarrassed about wearing hearing aids, they are discrete, and they will make such a difference to your life.

The team at Harley Street Hearing are amazing, very professional, I would highly recommend them.

Mark is a composer and performer and his recent new musical ‘seven and a half years’ is a true story of a man’s journey from success to despair and isolation back to a final rejuvenation, portrayed through the power of Music and Words. 

For details on Seven and a half years the musical click here

To contact Mark Glentworth click here

World’s first hearable with artificial intelligence

Posted on April 3, 2019 by - Blog, Homepage

World’s first hearable with artificial intelligence

LIVIO is the world’s very first hearable with Artificial Intelligence (AI).

This is a hearing aid within a class of its own.

This new technology is completely revolutionary. It features integrated sensors and AI (this means it performs tasks that normally require human intelligence).

It’s proven that hearing health is directly connected to overall health and well-being.  Meaning those who can hear can engage with the world around them and live healthier and better lives.  Early treatment for hearing loss can improve or limit cognitive decline and dementia.

Some of the unique features of LIVIO:-

  • Up to 30% improvement in speech understanding in noisy environments
  • Significant improvements in sharpness and clarity
  • Automatically and instantly adapts to the environment to optimise challenging situations
  • Built-in activity tracker – to support hearing health and fitness
  • Manages balance and spatial awareness
  • Detects if you fall and alerts your chosen contact

Want to be one of the first to trial LIVIO in the UK?

Call us to book the next available trial appointment on 020 7486 1053 or complete below