Deafness Research UK’s Bionic Ear Show steels the show in Sheffield

May 25, 2011 - PRLog -- It was tea, cake and a bit of science all rolled into one recently, as national charity Deafness Research UK hosted a unique science event at the University of Sheffield, featuring the world’s largest ear! The event took place in the University’s world renowned department of Biomedical Science, and was an opportunity for the charity to thank local donors for their support and to show them how their donations are being put to practical use in funding vital research into hearing loss.

The legacy event included talks from the department’s leading research scientists, a lab tour and a performance of the charity’s award winning Bionic Ear Show. Sponsored by BUPA and the BIG Lottery fund, the Bionic Ear show is visiting schools and events throughout the country to demonstrate how important and delicate hearing is and to remind young and old alike of the risks they face from exposure to loud noise.

As well as the serious underlying message about hearing loss, the Bionic Ear show is great fun and features “the world’s largest ear!” During the show, the presenter constructs a model to highlight the different parts of the ear, which is over 22ft and 116 times the size of a normal human ear! Through this interactive and entertaining demonstration, the audience learn how the ear works, what can go wrong and what can be done to put things right.

The Department of Biomedical Science at the University of Sheffield is one of the top five labs of its type, not just in the UK, but in Europe, which made it the perfect venue for the Bionic Ear Show. Progress in hearing research has been very fast and Sheffield has been at the heart of it. As one of a just a handful of Auditory Centres of Excellence (ACE) in the UK, the department is unique in the country and has benefited from grants from Deafness Research UK supporting research into everything from cell physiology to stem cell research.

For Sheffield to boast such a world leading research laboratory into hearing loss is particularly appropriate for a region once dominated by heavy industry, which led to many former workers being diagnosed with Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL).

The Bionic Ear Show deals with NIHL because, ironically, the patterns of such hearing loss once seen only in heavy industry areas are now being seen again – a phenomenon that  is now being put down to loud noise as a result of the mis-use of MP3 players. Yet NIHL for former workers in heavy industry remains such an issue that the Bionic Ear Show will be returning to South Yorkshire for a free public show on 15 July in Rotherham, supported by local firm Oxley & Coward Solicitors LLP.

The aim of this event will be to offer free advice to local people about hearing loss, including leaflets and free hearing tests for those who want them and the opportunity to find out more about Noise Induced Hearing Loss. You would think all hearing loss would be the same, when in fact the audiogram pattern for NIHL is quite distinct from the pattern made by natural hearing loss as a result of old age, so it is very easy to prove if people’s hearing has been damaged in this way.

Oxley and Coward have seen first had the damage NIHL can inflict on people’s lives and have helped many clients who have passed through their doors with the condition via its own Industrial Disease compensation service. They have been supporting Deafness Research UK with several projects over the years, including sponsoring free leaflets on hearing loss and this latest collaboration is an attempt to give something back to the community by giving local people a free event to come and find out more about coping with hearing loss.

Oxley and Coward Partner Richard Shepherd, who also attended on the recent event in Sheffield to see the Bionic Ear Show in action for himself, said: “Oxley & Coward has personally seen first hand the effects of noise on workers’ lives and we have successfully recovered millions of pounds worth of compensation for workers affected. We are naturally supportive of Deafness Research UK’s work and we are delighted to be sponsoring not only their latest leaflet, but the appearance of the Bionic Ear Show in Rotherham in July, which from what I have seen today will doubtless prove a huge success."

“We had a great time presenting the Bionic Ear Show in Sheffield, and thanking so many local donors for their support,“ said Danny Whiteside, Individual Giving Fundraiser for Deafness Research UK, who as a deafness and tinnitus suffer himself give a powerful speech on the day.

“With the twin approach of warning young people of the danger loud noise poses to their hearing health while at the same time providing help and advice for those already experiencing problems we hope to achieve the best of all worlds. The Sheffield ACE led by Professor Matthew Holley and his team is doing amazing work and we are delighted to be supporting their groundbreaking research. The progress made in the last 25 years has been staggering but we are all looking forward to working together moving forwards towards the ultimate aim of a cure.”

Professor Matthew Holley gave a talk outlining the progress that has been made in research into hearing loss, with a long term aim of stimulating the regeneration of damaged hearing naturally. Professor Holley explained that while research can take many years to filter through to clinical trials, great strides have already been made in discovering the genes involved and stem cells found in the inner ear being made into hair cells. While such exciting discoveries are a cause for optimism, it is important to maintain a sense of perspective on the timescales involved.

“Few people appreciate that it can take anywhere from 15 to 25 years to take a development from the research stage to full clinical trial and ultimately to licence new treatments for use in humans, said Vivienne Michael, Chef Executive of Deafness Research UK. “The Sheffield ACE is pursuing some of the most exciting and ambitious projects in deafness research, but the aims are possible and that makes it a very exciting area of study and one that Deafness Research UK is committed to supporting. Until we find a cure, our Bionic Ear Show is one way we get the message on hearing loss across and thanks to Oxley & Coward’s support, we looking forward to taking this message into Rotherham again on 15 July.”

With free hearing tests, plus interesting and informative demonstrations about how to protect your hearing, the Deafness Research UK Bionic Ear Show is available to come to your school, community group or college Call Laura Ganpot on 020 7679 8951 or email bionicearshow@deafnessresearch.org.uk . More information is available on the website at www.bionicearshow.org

‘Helping you to hear better: hearing loss and hearing’ aids supported by an educational grant from Oxley & Coward Solicitors LLP is available to order free from Deafness Research UK’s website at www.deanfessresearch.org.uk , along with a range of other information on hearing loss and conditions.

Interested companies and individuals can discover how Deafness Research UK can help by calling the charity’s freephone advisory service on 0808 808 2222. For information on deafness and deafness-related conditions e-mail info@deafnessresearch.org.uk  or visit Deafness Research UK’s website at www.deafnessresearch.org.uk
ENDS                                                                                                                                      

Photo and caption

Bionic Ear Show hits Sheffield (L-R): Tobin May, Tanya Bukvic and Andrew Goodwin of Deafness Research UK, with part of the ‘world’s giant ear’ exhibit – the outer ear - photographed in the quadrangle at Sheffield University Firth Court recently.         

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www.deafnessresearch.org.uk

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