What’s all this ear in Edinburgh?

May 27, 2011 - PRLog -- What can earwax tell you about your genetics and can your ear shape convict you of a crime? Some schoolchildren and adults in Scotland are about to find out as the award winning Bionic Ear Show from Deafness Research arrives in Edinburgh for six shows from the 7th to the 15th of June.

Sponsored by BUPA and the BIG Lottery fund, the Bionic Ear Show is touring the UK on a mission to demonstrate how important and delicate our hearing is and to remind children and adults alike of the risk posed to this amazing sense from loud music. Yet despite its serious message about hearing loss, tinnitus and other hearing conditions, the show is serious fun too, with a whole host of interactive activities and complete with an appearance from the worlds largest ear - a 22ft long pinna, over 116 times the size of the average human ear!

Bionic Ear Show host Tobin May will be taking his Scottish audiences at Bonaly Primary School, Craigroyston High School, Castlebrae Community High School, Blackhall Primary School, Dairy Primary School and the Edinburgh and South East of Scotland Tinnitus Group on a voyage of hearing discovery, covering everything from dancing hair cells to how your hearing system links to nuclear power and the Richter scale, with a focus on the dangers posed to hearing from loud noise.

As MP3 players become increasingly popular gadgets for children and adults alike, the Bionic Ear Show’s message has never been more relevant for today’s MP3 generation to hear. The high volume of music players can destroy hearing and Deafness Research UK is already seeing the onset of hearing conditions at a much earlier age than would be expected naturally as a result of old age. The Bionic Ear Show aims to raise awareness of these hidden dangers that so many of us are innocently exposing our hearing to.

Scotland is a particularly important target as research has highlighted a worrying trend of more under 35s approaching their GP in Scotland with tinnitus. The fact that so many younger people in Scotland are doing so is deeply troubling and makes the Bionic Ear Show’s mission a key weapon in Deafness Research UK’s fight against hearing loss and tinnitus.

“The revolution in MP3 technology has given us all music on the move, but an unwelcome side effect is we are pumping up the volume into our ears for longer and at an earlier age than ever,” said Vivienne Michael, Chef Executive of Deafness Research UK. “The fear is we are unwittingly ‘downloading deafness’ and risking permanent damage and tinnitus. The message of the Bionic Ear show is not to stop people using iPods, but to listen to their favourite sounds safely. Simply turning the volume down will enable all generations to enjoy their music for many years to come.”

The  Bionic Ear Show is taking is message and its giant ear to a town, city or school near you, so please contact Deafness Research UK if you would like the show to perform at your school, community group or event free of charge. Bookings can be made by calling Laura Ganpot on 020 7679 8951 or email bionicearshow@deafnessreserch.org.uk The Bionic Ear Show also offers free hearing tests and advice on hearing loss and tinnitus and a simple audiogram can quickly determine if your hearing loss is due to natural causes or is noise induced.

The schedule of the Bionic Ear Show is subject to change but an up to date version and further information can be found on the website at www.bionicearshow.org 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

Notes to editors

Photo caption: Bionic Ear Show Presenter Tobin May

About the Bionic Ear Show

The Bionic Ear Show continues the campaign first launched in 2006 to highlight that hearing is as important as sight and to encourage people to protect their ears against potential damage. In launching the campaign, Deafness Research UK is stressing that young people today are at far greater risk of going prematurely deaf than their parents because they are listening to mobile phones and MP3 players at far too loud a volume and far too often.    
                               
A national survey found that over a third of all 16-34 year olds listened to their MP3 players for more than an hour a day and 14% listened for more than 28 hours a week. It also showed that 54% of people did not realise that listening to loud music on an MP3 player, in a nightclub or at a concert could damage their hearing.

More than a third of people who have experienced ringing in their ears after listening to loud music listen to their MP3 player every day. Ringing in the ears, or tinnitus, is a sign of damage to the hearing system.

The Bionic Ear Show in Scotland
1.Bonaly Primary School. 07/06/2011 - 9:15am - 11:50am. 57 Bonaly Road, Edinburgh EH13 0FJ.
2.Craigroyston High School. 08/06/2011 - 9:20am - 1:10pm. Pennywell  Road. EH4 4NL
3.Castlebrae Community High School. 09/06/2011 - 8:30am - 9:30am. 2a Greendykes Road, EH16 4DP
4.Blackhall Primary School. 10/06/2011 - 10:00am - 12:00pm. 83 Craigcrook Road, EH4 3PH.
5.Edinburgh & South East of Scotland Tinnitus Group. 11/06/2011 - 2:00pm - 3:00pm. Murrayfield Church Centre. 2B Ormidale  Terrace, Edinburgh. EH12 6EQ.
6.Dalry Primary School. 15/06/2011 - 2:30pm - 3:00pm. 4 Cathcart Place. EH11 2JB

More events and dates in Scotland are planned and will be announced over the next few weeks.

About Deafness Research UK
•Deafness Research UK is the country’s only charity dedicated to finding new cures, treatments and technologies for deaf, hard of hearing and other hearing impaired people.
•The charity supports high quality medical research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all forms of hearing impairment including tinnitus.
•The Deafness Research UK Information Service provides free information and advice based on the latest scientific evidence and informed by leading experts. The Advisory Service can be contacted on Freephone 0808 808 2222
•For more information on research into deafness, tinnitus and other hearing conditions, log on to the website at www.deafnessresearch.org.uk where you can access a wide range of information. Alternatively you can e-mail Deafness Research UK at info@deafnessresearch.org.uk
•One in seven people in the UK – almost nine million people - suffer hearing loss.
•Deafness Research UK was founded in 1985 by Lord (Jack) and Lady Ashley of Stoke.
•In January 2008, Action for Tinnitus Research (ATR) was linked with Deafness Research UK under a uniting direction order under section 96(6) of the Charities Act 1993.

Press enquiries
Jon Gardner, BeyondPR. www.beyondpr.co.uk Mobile 07930 697773. Direct line 0114 275 6996. e-mail: jon.gardner@beyondpr.co.uk

Ref: DRUK0374 – BES in Edinburgh 2010

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