Webinar Programme

Listen to Dr Hannah Stigall from Phonak UK, in a webinar on well hearing is well being.

Hearing loss can have multiple implications on one’s overall health and well-being. In this talk, Hannah dived further into these implications, specifically looking at the impact of hearing loss on one’s cognitive, social-emotional, and physical well-being. She discussed how hearing aids and specific hearing technology can be utilised to address and improve these areas of health, with specific focus on the Phonak Nathos product entering into the NHS in February 2021.

Key Learning Objectives:

• Be able to identify implications of hearing loss on one’s cognitive, social-emotional, and physical health
• Be able to identify hearing aid technology and features that can benefit one’s well being in each of the dimensions discussed
• Determine ways in which the Well-Hearing is Well-being model can be implemented into your daily clinical practice

Take Home Message:

Hearing loss is a highly prevalent, underestimated, and undertreated health disorder with significant implications on one’s overall health and well-being. It is important that we, as audiologists, seek to identify these health concerns and work to improve the well-being of our patients and their communication partners through the use of hearing solutions.

Follow up learning/activities:

Feel free to take a look at  the position statement that Phonak published in The Hearing Review in March 2020, titled Well-Hearing is Well-being.

In November 2019, Phonak convened a panel of researchers and experts to discuss a definition and clinical model of well-being, current research linking hearing rehabilitation to improvements in well-being, and research directions to guide future work,  aimed at improving quality of life of people with hearing loss.

In the position statement, the Well-Hearing is Well-Being model is proposed as a model of well-being that could easily be implemented into clinical audiology practice. The model, considers: social-emotional, cognitive, & physical well-being as core dimensions of well-being.

Company information:

At Phonak, we believe that well-hearing equates to well-being and is essential to living life to the fullest. For more than 70 years, we have remained passionate about creating a world where ‘Life is on’ for everyone. Our innovative hearing solutions are designed for people of all ages and all degrees of hearing loss, to connect social, thrive mentally and emotionally.

This webinar is sponsored by Phonak

This webinar introduces the ADHEAR bone conduction system and discuss its potential advantages in treating OME. The functioning of the ADHEAR system is reviewed, along with the treatment options for OME.  This may be of particular relevance in the current situation where surgical options for treating OME are limited.

Key Learning Objectives:

• Understand the ADHEAR device
• Understand it’s potential role in treating OME

Take Home Message: The ADHEAR system offers a viable non-surgical management option for OME.

This webinar is sponsored by MED-EL

MED-EL is the global innovation leader in hearing loss solutions, restoring hearing for over 200,000 individuals worldwide. In 1975, Ingeborg and Erwin Hochmair began developing cochlear implants, founding the MED-EL company in 1990. State-of-the-art technology for bone conduction, middle ear, and cochlear implant systems is the result of over 40 years of research and development.

Our recently-launched innovations include the new ADHEAR, now with lockable battery door. Originally launched in 2017, the ADHEAR is a non-implantable bone conduction device for patients with conductive hearing loss, the first of its kind in the world. This revolutionary hearing system does not apply pressure to the skin, like other bone conduction devices.

In 2020, we released a new detailed white paper from our ADHEAR experts:  The ADHEAR System – An innovative non-surgical bone conduction solution, and launched an ADHEAR podcast interview series.

To discover more about the ADHEAR and other MED-EL hearing solutions available, please visit medel.com/uk.

The presentation will introduce the new Starkey Esentia wireless CROS and BiCROS system. Utilising a 2.4 gHz wireless technology and new wireless accessories such as a table microphone, these products will be available in England very soon.

Esentia products can be connected to a smart phone app for further personalisation of the devices by the patient. Starkey have chosen to update the very successful CROS product they supply to the U.K. Health Service contracts in order to ensure that audiologists and patients have the opportunity to add telehealth to their patient pathways for these products.

Sue Falkingham is an Audiologist and Hearing Therapist working at Starkey Hearing Technologies in education and Training. With 30 years’ experience in both health service and commercial audiology she brings a unique approach to her work, training customers in all aspects of Starkey products.

This webinar is sponsored by Starkey

National Training Manager, Julia van Huyssteen presents Signia’s solution to remote Audiology, Signia TeleCare, an advanced remote hearing cares solution which allows clinicians to be in contact with patients any time they need support.  TeleCare is proven to improve user engagement during the most critical time after a fitting which results in higher satisfaction as new users take ownership of their hearing aid journey whilst giving clinicians full visibility of how users engage with their hearing instruments.  Referencing real life NHS examples from feedback received over the past six months, Julia explains how the technology is bringing professionals closer to their patients when delivered as part of a complementary service offering.

Key Learning Objectives

• Understanding the reasoning behind the introduction of TeleCare into Signia
• Understanding the modular offering within TeleCare
• Understanding the benefits of TeleCare for both Patients and Audiologists
• Understanding a new additional Patient Pathway
• Understanding how TeleCare complements existing services, not replacing
• Learning success stories from peers

Speaker Biography

Julia obtained her BSc and MSc degrees in South Africa before moving to the UK where she  worked in Paediatric Audiology for 13 years.  She was Head of Service and NHSP team leader for two years before transitioning into the private sector in 2015 where  she has experience in business development as well as Education and Training.  In  her current role with Signia she is responsible for creating and delivering Audiological and Technical training material internally and externally for the NHS, Independent and Key Account channels.

Her  interests and skill set includes Clinical Expertise, Management, Business Management and Training.

This webinar is sponsored by Signia

Smart hearing is on everyone’s lips, but how do we define this term in regards of our daily work?

2.4GHz Technology, smart ecosystems, AI, blockchain, artificial neuronal networks and tele-healthcare – All these are terms that fall in the context of the digitalisation of our industry. The rapid technological change and digitalisation is accompanied by significant changes in our working environment, these changes were again massively accelerated by Covid19, a global health crisis that once again showed GN Hearing’s pioneering role in defining new, industry leading audiological solutions.

GN Hearing’s expertise in engineering and audiology and continuous scientific research has defined these industry milestones and inspired competitors to follow GN Hearing’s pathbreaking audiological and technological philosophy that has always been leading towards to establish a fuller, clearer, richer and more natural sound-experience. But what does the term digitalisation and the corresponding transformation process exactly mean for our Industry?

Which perspectives and opportunities do these technologies offer and how can they be optimally integrated into the workflow in clinics to optimise fitting processes and patient satisfaction?

In his webinar, Hans-Christian Drechsler explains the backgrounds from a technological as well as business related point of view and gives a comprehensive overview of the current technological progresses and trends in our industry and as well practical approaches of the integration of the respective technologies. Recent studies on the general market development of digital technologies underscore the topic in addition from a business, practical and industry related perspective.

Key Learning Objectives:

• Understand digital transformation and evolutionary technology change.
• Discover the key technological drivers in the hearing care industry.
• Understand smart hearing ecosystems and connectivity solutions.
• Apply the learnings into the daily clinical work.

Take Home Messages:

• We are in the midst of a “perfect storm” of technology, demographic change, and disruption to the current distribution process
• Smart connectivity and tele-health is emerging as a driver of consumers healthcare decision making.
• The user is ahead of the market.
• The NHS and GN Hearing are already offering advanced technological solutions that cover literally all diverse hearing needs of today’s users.

This webinar is sponsored by Danalogic/GN Hearing UK

danalogic is proud to be part of The GN Group, pioneering great sound from world-leading hearing devices to Jabra office headsets and sports headphones. The GN Group is a global leader in intelligent audio solutions that let you hear more, do more and be more than you ever thought possible.

danalogic from GN works harder to drive positive outcomes across the whole patient journey, enabling the NHS to deliver better care where it really matters.

‘Stand and Deliver’: In previous years Cochlear would have welcomed you to their stand at BAA. This year, they deliver a virtual whistle-stop tour of short, punchy updates on topics including supporting the CI Champions programme, new developments in hearing implants, the impact of the recent International Consensus Paper and more.  Join them for lots of info, quickfire style!

Key Learning Objectives:

• Learn about the CI Champions Initiative from BAA/BCIG and how we can support your department with this
• Learn about the support available to your patients who may be considering a hearing implant referral
• What is the International Consensus Paper and how does it affect your department/patients?
• Introduction to the ‘Healthy Hearing Ears’ initiative
• Learn about our newest technology updates, including Kanso 2

Take Home Messages:

• If you are interested in becoming the CI Champion for your department, visit: https://www.baaudiology.org/professional-information/cochlear-implant-champions/ for more information
• If you are already the CI Champion for your department and would like access to information and support, email us at UKLearnNow@cochlear.com and your regional Engagement Team member will be happy to help

This webinar is sponsored by Cochlear

The Engagement Team consists of 5 audiologists and 1 non-audiologist, field based across the UK.

Among our team we have a wealth of audiology experience from both the NHS and private sector. We offer support to Audiologists working in regular Audiology departments which includes education sessions and information updates on candidacy and referral criteria for auditory implants.  In addition, we support communication between Audiology departments and their local auditory implant clinics.

The other important aspect to our role is supporting individuals who reach out to us as they gather information on hearing implants for themselves or loved ones, from referral and assessment, through to surgery and switch on.

BAA Member Update on Wednesday 8th July was an update on all things BAA and Audiology. There have been many changes and developments over the last few months. Much of BAA’s work has been Covid-related and has been shared with Heads of Services. Now, we bring you a webinar update for all BAA members

Watch the recording here.

BAA Member Career Development Webinar on Wednesday 22nd July offered a brief overview of the different schemes from the BAA along with some external training programmes that can help your career development.

Guest speakers offered some very practical advice about the different courses and programmes available to audiologists.

Maheen Boodhoo spoke about her recent experience of completing the Stepping Up programme. Stepping up is a leadership development programme for aspiring black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) colleagues who work within healthcare (the NHS or an organisation providing NHS care).

Helen Martin, chair of our HTS team, provided an update on the BAA Higher Training Scheme which is open to all members. More information can be found here, as well as in the webinar.

Gemma Hopkins provided an overview of the Scientific Training Programme, having recently finished the course.

Sam Lear, due to complete the Higher Specialist Scientific Training (HSST) in December, gave members an insight into what is expected when you sign up for the HSST.

Finally Lizanne Steenkamp spoke about the benefit of having or being a mentor, at all stages of your career.

Watch the recording here.

Wednesday 12th August – Beyond the screen: Best practice for working with your tinnitus patient remotely

Following the move by the NHS to do more online patient appointments, Debbie Featherstone, a dual qualified Hearing Therapist and Psychotherapist and specialist in Tinnitus Management, shared her best practice advice from many years of experience of interacting with tinnitus patients online. Her webinar also included recent research about her online CBT clinic. You can find out more about Debbie’s work here.

Watch the recording here.

Our second webinar on Tinnitus featured Declan Murphy who presented his research paper, ‘An effective-decision making aid for patients with tinnitus: A retrospective review of 205 patients’. (May, 2020)

Declan was then joined by Veronica Kennedy, David Stockdale and Julie Brady for a panel discussion about the NICE Guidance on Tinnitus: assessment and management.

Read Declan’s research: Tinnitus decision aid research

Access the NICE Tinnitus Guidance here

Watch the webinar here

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, cochlear implant services have had to change rapidly and evolve iteratively. The whole pathway of cochlear implantation has been affected. Changes happened by necessity, but which should sustain? What are the impact of the changes on patients, staff, services, access to cochlear implantation, age at implantation, and referral numbers?

Professor Helen Cullington, Professorial Fellow and Principal Clinical Scientist at the University of Southampton Auditory Implant Service and Chair of BCIG discussed the impact of Covid-19 on cochlear implant services and whether there will be lasting changes to the services provided.

Watch the webinar here

Bone conduction and middle ear implants can provide an effective intervention for conductive and mixed hearing losses, where a traditional hearing aid cannot be tolerated or cannot provide adequate benefit.

During this webinar Andrew Soulby addressed when an implanted acoustic device is likely to yield a superior outcome to a traditional hearing aid and which device is likely to be the optimal choice for given configurations of hearing loss

We also looked at evidence based fitting ranges and expected outcomes for these devices, explored their inherent advantages and weaknesses compared to each other and to traditional hearing aids, including evaluating their cost vs. benefit.

Watch the webinar here

Natalie Comas, Project and Training Specialist at Ida Institute, presented our first October paediatrics webinar on Ida Telecare for Teens.

This suite of online tools and resources aims to help young people develop the skills and confidence needed to self-manage their hearing loss as they transition to adulthood. The tools are designed for teens to use at home on their own or with family as they prepare for appointments. By reflecting on their communication needs ahead of time, teens can be more specific about their needs for support. It also helps clinicians provide more targeted support and save time in appointments.

Watch the webinar here

Dr Paul Johns, Consultant Neuropathologist & Honorary Reader in Clinical Neuroanatomy at St George’s University Hospital NHS Trust and St George’s University of London was our guest presenter for this paediatric webinar. Dr Johns spoke about the neuroscience of speech and language and the importance of early access to sound.

Dr Johns provided an update on the neuroanatomy of hearing and language, including an overview of the central auditory pathways, primary auditory cortex, cortical language areas and the main language-associated white matter pathways of the cerebral hemisphere.

He then moved on to discuss cerebral plasticity and the concept of critical and sensitive periods in the context of speech and language development. This theoretical framework will provide a deeper understanding of why early access to sound is so important in children with significant hearing impairment.

Watch the webinar again here

In this webinar, Dr David Maidment reviewed the current literature assessing the application and benefits of “connected” hearing technologies, as well as their potential to improve accessibility to hearing healthcare.

Over the past decade, there has been a proliferation of hearing devices that that connect wirelessly to smartphone technologies via Bluetooth. These devices include: (1) smartphone-connected hearing aids; (2) direct-to-consumer (DTC) devices, such as personal sound amplification products (PSAPs); and (3) smartphone-based hearing aid applications (or apps). Common to all these connected devices is that they permit the user to self-adjust and customise their device programmes via an accompanying smartphone app.

There has been a growing body of literature assessing connected hearing devices in adults living with hearing loss. Overall, the evidence to date supports the notion that all connected hearing devices can improve accessibility to amplification. It is unclear, however, whether connected technologies are a clinically effective alternative to traditional hearing aids. Nevertheless, the impact of connectivity is especially pertinent given the sudden disruption caused by the recent global COVID-19 pandemic, whereby connected technologies can enable patients to continue to receive treatment through mobile-based, tele-audiology platforms.

Key Learning Objectives. At the end of this webinar, you will be able to:
• summarise the evidence assessing different connected hearing devices;
• explain how connected hearing devices compare to traditional hearing aids; and
• discuss whether connected hearing devices can improve accessibility to hearing healthcare.

During the live webinar there were opportunities for audience participation. Sorry, you will not be able to participate in this when watching the recorded webinar.

Watch the webinar again here

Professor William Newman from the University of Manchester spoke about the point of care testing that can be undertaken to avoid gentamicin induced hearing loss.

Aminoglycosides are the first-choice antibiotic for empirical treatment of sepsis in neonates. The mitochondrial m.1555A>G genetic variant, with a prevalence of 1 in 500, predisposes to ototoxicity after aminoglycoside administration. This relationship is particularly profound in early childhood, with a single dose causing irreversible, profound sensorineural hearing loss. Current genetic testing can take days, an unacceptable delay in the acute setting. We aimed to develop and implement a point of care test (POCT) to detect the variant in a clinically relevant timeframe (<1 hour), facilitating rapid tailored antibiotic prescribing.

This talk described how we have introduced genetic testing by nurses in neonates to avoid hearing loss – the challenges and benefits and the next steps in getting this adopted nationally.

Key Learning Objectives:

Understanding antibiotic associated hearing loss
Use of point of care genetic testing to avoid this
How implementation studies work in the acute setting

Take home message: Genetic testing can be done quickly by neonatal nurses to prevent antibiotic hearing loss in newborn babies

Watch the webinar again here

Professor Chris Armitage from the University of Manchester discussed how behavioural science can address many of the issues we face in audiology.

Hearing loss remains prevalent and disabling despite there being widely-available and technologically-sophisticated treatments. Prevention and treatment of hearing loss require changes in numerous behaviours performed by the general public (e.g., attendance at hearing screening), patients (e.g., acceptance of hearing aids), healthcare professionals (e.g., use of behaviour change techniques to sustain patients’ use of devices) and policy makers (e.g., investing in hearing health research), yet behavioural science has rarely been used to bring about these changes.

This presentation showed how behavioural science can address these problems by building interventions from the ground up, or by using existing insights from behavioural science theory and evidence to deliver effective interventions at pace.

Key Learning Objectives:

• Understand the key role of behaviour change in relation to audiology
• Identify behavioural science approaches to behaviour change in audiology
• Awareness of ongoing behavioural science research into hearing health problems

Take home message: Behavioural science is key to improving hearing health outcomes and is almost never ‘common sense’.

Watch the webinar again here

Listen to Dr Alinka Greasley, Associate Professor of Music Psychology and Dr Harriet Crook, Organisational Lead for Healthcare Science at Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust talk about the hearing aids for music project.

The Hearing Aids for Music project (HAFM, 2015-2018, www.musicandhearingaids.org) explored how hearing impairments and the use of hearing aid technology affect music listening behaviour. Through a series of studies, including survey and interview studies with hearing aid users and audiologists, the project mapped the benefits and challenges of listening to music through hearing aids and strategies used to help improve musical experiences.

This webinar provides an update on progress, key findings and publications, and focus on how we have adapted the findings into a series of resources for hearing aid users and practitioners. Strategies that audiologists report finding useful when addressing musical needs in clinic are outlined along with how resources have been translated  for clinical delivery (e.g. counselling tips, fitting hearing aids in clinic, tools to aid discussion). Results of a small-scale impact study which asked audiologists to reflect on the usefulness of the resources are discussed.

Key Learning Objectives:

• To understand strategies that can be used in clinic to improve music listening for hearing aid users
• To reflect on your own clinical practice/experience and how this is similar to/differs from our resource guidance
• To be able to better support patients experiencing problems with music through awareness of empirical findings and developed resources

Take home messages:

Music plays a really important role in people’s lives – do ask about music in clinic where possible!
We have developed evidence-based resources for patients and practitioners that are freely available
There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach when fitting hearing aids for music, it’s important to take individual needs into account, and follow-up is recommended.

Listen to the webinar again here.
Dr Alinka Greasley is Associate Professor in Music Psychology in the School of Music, University of Leeds where she teaches music psychology at all levels, and leads the MA Applied Psychology of Music. Her expertise lies in social and applied music psychology in which she uses different theoretical approaches and research methodologies to explore people’s everyday musical behaviour. Recently, she has been focusing on how hearing impairments affect musical listening and performance. She is Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy; and a member of the Society for Education, Music and Psychology Research.

Dr Harriet Crook is the Organisational Lead for Healthcare Science at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.  She has over 20 years’ experience in NHS audiology, in adult rehabilitation and cochlear implants. Dr Crook has had a wide range of research collaborations through funded projects with the Departments of Music, Computer Science and Human Communication Sciences at the University of Sheffield. More recently, she has been clinical lead for the University of Leeds AHRC funded ‘Hearing Aids for Music’ project and contributed to Sheffield Teaching Hospitals ‘In and out of Hospitals’ project, funded by The Arts Council, providing music workshops for those with hearing loss.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in sudden changes to the Adult Audiology service. We will discuss the changes implemented initially and those implemented as part of restart plans. We will report on feedback collected from patients and staff on these new ways of working.

Based on this feedback, Susannah Goggins, Principal Clinical Scientist and Head of Adult Rehab and Balance at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board will explore potential elements of the service to keep longer term and elements to develop into new service models.

Watch the webinar again here.

Hear from Professor Kevin Munro:

The range and severity of symptoms arising from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is broad. There are long-term health consequences for a variety of organ systems, including the cardiovascular, renal, immune and nervous systems. Consequently, there are likely to be implications for many health disciplines

Viruses can cause hearing loss so SARS-CoV-2 may also damage hearing.  In addition, auditory neuropathy has been linked with Guillain-Barré syndrome, which has a known association with coronavirus. There are anecdotal cases of COVID-19 and hearing loss reported in national newspapers

In June, we published the first systematic review of coronavirus and the audio-vestibular system. The review highlighted five case reports and two cross-sectional studies, reporting diverse audio-vestibular symptoms including hearing loss (conductive and sensorineural), tinnitus, rotatory vertigo, otitis externa and undefined ear pain. However, the quality of evidence is limited due to under-reporting of details and significant methodological weaknesses.

More recently, we questioned post-hospitalised COVID-19 adults about their hearing. Participants were 121 COVID-19 adults admitted to Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester. Sixteen (13.2%) reported a change in hearing and/or tinnitus when questioned eight weeks after discharge. However, it is unclear if changes are directly attributed to SARS-CoV-2, or to the many possible causes of hearing loss associated with critical care, local or systematic infections, vascular disorders and auto-immune disease.

We are about to embark on a carefully conducted clinical and diagnostic study that will provide an estimate of disease burden and help us understand the long-term manifestations of COVID-19 on the auditory system. The findings will help ensure that future COVID-19 patients receive appropriate assessment and management. Longer term, an understanding of the physiological bases of COVID-19-related deficits will inform measures to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on hearing.

Watch the webinar again here (recording coming soon)

Recording coming soon

Join Dr Zara Jay, Clinical Psychologist from University College London for a discussion about a CBT informed mode of hyperacusis with children.

Dr Jay introduces a CBT informed model of hyperacusis she developed and uses in her work with children and young people. She explains how fear, avoidance and the perception of the sounds can maintain difficulties with sound sensitivity and the steps that can be taken to create change. She shares the child friendly explanation used and the cognitive and behavioural strategies that can help to break the maintenance cycle that often leads families to feel stuck. Case examples are included to further detail the approach.

Key Learning Objectives:

• Understanding of a psychological model of hyperacusis
• How it can be explained to children
• Helpful management strategies that can be taught

Take home messages:

Using a child friendly, gently paced, fun approach, children experiencing hyperacusis can be helped to better manage those sounds that they find difficult to tolerate and enjoy a better quality of life.

Watch the webinar again here.