Warning over risks of hearing loss caused by noise

EXPERTS demonstrated the risks of noise-induced hearing loss to people in South Yorkshire at the “Bionic Ear Show” yesterday.

The event at Rotherham’s Carlton Park Hotel was organised by charity Deafness Research UK and provided free hearing screening using a video otoscope.

The Bionic Ear Show is currently touring the country, visiting schools, colleges and community groups, warning people of the dangers to their hearing from loud noise.

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Hearing loss remains a common problem in the UK and affects around nine million people – around a seventh of the population.

However, it is thought that people tend to wait 10 to 15 years before seeing a doctor.

Representatives from the Oxley and Coward law practice were also at the show yesterday to offer advice to those affected by industrial deafness.

Meanwhile, Deafness Research UK has also allocated grants worth £30,000 for groundbreaking hearing research projects at Sheffield University.

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The university’s department of biomedical science will be using the money to investigate the production of auditory sensory “hair cells” and mutations responsible for some forms of hereditary deafness.

Prof Matthew Holley hopes to reveal the function of a protein molecule which is believed to be responsible for the development, growth and survival of auditory hair cells.

Prof Holley said: “Our biomedical science Department is pursuing some of the most exciting and ambitious projects in deafness research and thanks to funding from charities like Deafness Research UK, this exciting work is able to continue.”

The chief executive of Deafness Research UK, Vivienne Michael, added: “The Sheffield laboratory led by Prof Matthew Holley and his team is doing amazing work and we are delighted and very proud to be supporting their groundbreaking research.

“The progress made into hearing research in the last 25 years has been staggering and we are all looking forward to working together towards the ultimate aim of a cure for deafness.”